Office blog: Quotes of the week

My personal favourite came at the Alfred Dunhill Championship and wasn’t from a player but a very matter-of-fact commentator. Remarking on Harry the Hippo - a huge local spectator roaming the course - said commentator remarked something along the lines of: “Don’t run into him, that’s Harry the Hippo, get too close to him and he’ll snap you clean in two.” What followed was Attenborough-like as the watching golf fans learnt how the hippo secretes oil or “factor 15” to protect its skin from the sun.

Anyway…here are some quotes of the week:

"I'm both happy and sad. The motivation is no longer there but I'm very proud of what I've achieved in the last 15 years.” Annika Sorenstam following her retirement from competitive golf after finishing seventh at the Dubai Masters.

“Obviously I wasn't feeling very comfortable on that hole and I played it exactly how I wanted to play it. I would like to have hit my first putt a little closer, but fortunately I knocked it in. I don't think many people have won coming back from a triple and double (bogey) on that hole." Richard Sterne on tying up the Alfred Dunhill Championship after some previous hairy moments on the notoriously difficult 18th hole at Leopard Creek in South Africa.

"I was looking to take a drop and the camera was six inches away from my face. If I was 10-under par I would have felt the same. My eyes are still burning from the flash of the camera. I feel it was very rude to put a camera that close to anybody's face in any situation. The guy that had the camera had already taken a dozen shots at close range." John Daly after a miserable round at the Australian Open where he grabbed a spectator’s camera and smashed it against a tree.

"The Ryder Cup is in my blood. It is the greatest event in the world, certainly in golf.”

Corey Pavin reveals his passion for the Ryder Cup following the announcement he'd captain the side, giving the Europeans an insight into how pumped up the American will be for the contest at Celtic Manor in 2010.

"You know, it's this funny old game called golf. You know, you just plod along and all of a sudden, things start to happen and you get the ball rolling, sink a few putts and next thing you know you hit 11 under par.

Thomas Aiken shoots a course record 61 before falling away on the final day at the Alfred Dunhill Championship.

Where next?

Gallery: Pictures of the week: 8-14 December  

Post a review: Win over £2,000 worth of Nike Golf gear

The perfect Christmas gift without the high street hassle - Save up to 35% on a Golf Monthly subscription