Pre championship player quotes

Colin Montgomerie.

"The door is a little open, a little wider open than it has been in the past because Tiger is not playing, very much so, and it's given a lot of players on form the opportunity of winning a major that they wouldn't have felt that confident of winning before".

Padraig Harrington.

"I go into any event with a constant battle with myself, and am focused on what I'm doing to get the most out of me. I'm trying to have as many good weeks as possible. Whether Tiger is in the field or not, you're only competing with him when you play your game, so you've got to concentrate on that".

Sergio Garcia.

"I always like to take 2 or 3 weeks off before the Open, and I don't like to play too much going into it, because I know that after that, I'm going to have 5 or 6 weeks playing, or something like that. It's quite a hectic summer."

"The Open is my favorite event. It's an amazing championship and i've been close to winning it, so I think it would be the one that I would pick to win this year".

"It took me a couple of days (to get over last year's Open). Obviously it was a good opportunity for me. I feel like I gave it my best, and I just pulled my final putt about half an inch too far left".

"Everything happens for a reason, and if I wasn't meant to win at the Open last year, there must have been a reason for it. It's just a matter of waiting for it and seeing what happens in the future".

"Birkdale is a great golf course. There's been a couple of changes to it, and a couple of new tees here and there. Last time I played it was in 98, and I like the course, so I'm looking forward to going back".

"I don't think Tiger not being there will affect the atmosphere at all, I don't think there will be fewer people there. The British crowds loved golf before Tiger was playing, The Open was still great. The Open is still the Open, and it's bigger than anybody else".