Ernie Els (66): "I felt my confidence coming back
last week and since I've got next week off I may as well play as hard as I can
here.
"I've worked hard since the Masters with David Leadbetter and on mental
attitude almost more than my swing.
"I needed to be ready to play and to believe in my own abilities."
Tiger Woods (67): "I played real solid, consistent golf and two-putted when I had
to." The 17th, where he was 65 feet fron the flag in two, was a case in point.
"They watered the greens and fairways and there was quite of bit of
adjustment needed. But they are starting to dry out again.
"I know what I can do here and it's something I would love to do. But all you
can expect is to do everything you can and let the chips fall when they may."
Padraig Harrington (68): "I had the ability to be a few better, so while I'm relatively pleased with the
score I'm slightly unhappy with how I got it.
Ian Garbutt (68): "I would have taken that before the start - and I'll take three more of
them.
Notah Begay (69): "I did just about everything today, but the 17th was a nightmare.
"I tried to play conservatively and kept going left and further left.
"A 69 is not a bad start, but I wish it had been better. I was just trying to
avoid that bunker."
Darren Clarke (70): "I managed to avoid the bunkers but the course was playing very quickly and
it brings a lot more of the hazards into play.
"Traps 320 yards away you wouldn't normally be concerned about have to be
avoided because the course is playing so quickly.
"I have played at St Andrews many times but this is the fastest I have ever
known it."
Nick Faldo (70): "It's not really an advantage to know the course, you still need that little
bit of Lady Luck.
"On a links it is very much in the lap of the gods, it's a
major part of the course."
Justin Leonard (70): "After starting with that double bogey, I have to be pleased to finish under
par.
"The combination of the wind and the fast pace of the greens makes it very
difficult to put your ball exactly where you want.
"You have to make your putts and not take too many chances.
"To my cost, it
takes three or four holes to establish just how the course is playing."
Jesper Parnevik (73): "I have been worried about my hip for the last month but it didn't cause me
too many problems today," said Parnevik.
"It locked up once on the 14th but apart from that it felt fine.
"The major problem for me was my short putting. I missed a couple of easy
chances, including a two-footer for a birdie on the 10th, and it was an uphill
battle after that."
Paul Lawrie (78): "There was nothing wrong with my wrist and nothing wrong with the putter. The
problem was the puttee,"