Retief Goosen Quotes (88 Quotes)

Last week wasn't a great field but I played well and it would be great to win again, ... I'm going to need to shoot 6-under to have a chance to win because there are a lot of guys up there, but hopefully there will be a bit more breeze to make the course slightly more difficult.

It was unfortunate, but you need to take some time out now and then. It put me back probably six weeks or so. I didn't play golf, but it was a good rest. I felt like I needed it, although it wasn't something I planned.

I think the course setup was perfect today. Tomorrow it might blow a gale, and we'll all be moaning at things. But I don't think anybody will be unhappy with the way the course played today.

At the start of the day I thought 11- or 12-under (would win), ... When I saw Tiger and Jay got off to a bad start I thought nine-under would be a good score.

Luckily, it doesn't really hurt me when I hit the ball. I know it's there, but it's nothing serious.

On 17 we both hit the wrong clubs, eight-irons instead of nine-irons. I didn't have much of a shot and it was a bad lie in a hard pan. It was a question of landing the ball in the right spot and it was a bit of a shock when it went in. But then it was a great up-and-down by Ernie as well.

On the front nine I never really did anything. All of my birdie putts were really too far away to make anything,

Obviously, the golf course is only going to get tougher as the week goes on. If I can keep striking the ball solid and keep it in play, we can try for Sunday.

I would love to win -- not too many players have won it three times, ... But this week, next week at the World Match Play and the American Express are three very important weeks.

It was one of those chips, that if I play it well, I can get it within eight feet and make par that way, and instead it went in.

I saw the greens very well today and I read the greens very well, especially on the front nine. That was the key, putting well. I didn't drive too well. I only hit six fairways out of 14, so I did well to shoot 64.

It wasn't any easier the first time, ... I knew Phil was coming at me, and I knew it was coming down to me and him. It turned out my way.

Hitting the fairways here is the most important thing, ... If you miss a green, you have a chance of getting up and down. If you miss the fairways, you have no chance of getting on the green from this rough.

The ball is running 30 yards down the hill. They are probably going to go and throw a ton of water on the fairways to make it not run. But I think it would be nice to see the course dry for a change.

We made the putts at the right time. The pressure was always on them.

The wind has been blowing differently and the par fives played easy as it was blowing downwind today. You can't win a tournament in the first round so I'll just hope to keep playing well,

I think the course is definitely a better course. It's tough, that's for sure. The rough is just slightly longer than it's been in the past two years. With the fairways getting so firm now, the rough tends to stop the ball a little bit from running into the trees.

Not many people have won it three times, he said. These next few weeks are going to be very important because if you win one of the events it is going to be tough for your rivals to catch you.

It can only get tougher out there when the wind starts blowing and the greens dry out.

People are wondering why you don't have the top players here, ... It's a shame that top players don't have any desire to come and play.

I just couldn't make a putt today to save my life. On a golf course like this, its so tough that anything can happen.

I put them in the cupboard. It's the first time I've done that - not played for five weeks.

I think the guys would like to play this type of golf course more often, ... I think this is a true test of your golf. You really cannot get away with any bad part of your game around here.

I turned pro and won Rookie of the Year on the South African Tour and then it took me two tries at the qualifying school on the European Tour and to get my card and the rest is history.

On the back nine I was just sort of hanging on but it's never over till it's over. I think on 15 was a big turning-point, when I chipped in for par and I think then the tournament was over.

Adam played well today, ... I struggled and was completely out of it on a few holes, but he kept us going.

He's such an inspiration to all of us. Very positive, great character to be around and learn from him.

I think the course is in as good of shape as I've seen it in the last five years. You know the fairways are running a little bit and some holes are actually playing shorter than it's played in the last five years, purely because you get some run in the fairways.

It's great to get off to a good start. Now, I have something to build on for the next three rounds. Obviously there is still a long way to go but I'm very happy to start off like this,

I didn't play all that great or putt all that well but I am only two shots behind, which is nothing on this golf course.

You always get more pleasure if you beat great players.

I started a little bit shaky but I had Phil to guide me around here. We made some good putts and it went really well.

You know, tomorrow it might blow a gale and we'll all be moaning at things.

I'm going to have to get really lucky tomorrow, ... The flags are going to be in some tricky positions to get up-and-down from.

It was an up and down day, especially on the back nine with three birdies and three bogeys. They were stupid bogeys, to be honest. I feel disappointed right now, but I have another chance tomorrow.

It's obviously great to get off to a good start in the tournament. Now I've got something to build on for the rest of the three rounds that's ahead,

The key is trying to get up early in the round, put pressure on the guy, ... The key is to be in the hole the whole time, trying not to give a hole away easy.

It's usually a 6-iron, depending on the wind. Sometimes, it can be a 5-iron, or even a 4-iron, when the pin is to the right.

Suddenly, it's back to normal.

Today we played very well, we just seem to play a similar sort of game. We gel well with each other.

I'm not that clued up on the American sports yet, really.

I worked on my temper and worked with Jos from 1998 to 2002 on the mental side of the game.

Pretty much whoever wins the tournament at the end of the week is the guy that putted probably the best.

I think any golf course they make longer plays into the hands of Tiger. I think he's just smiling. You haven't heard him complaining about that. The longer they can make it, the better for him.

It was nice to get off to that start and then I had a good run in the middle of the course. I must say coming out, I didn't expect a lot. I missed a lot of fairways, but I made a lot of putts.

This year I have been pleased with my level of consistency, but a little disappointed not to have won, ... But having won here in 2000, I have a lot of good memories of this golf course, so hopefully this is the week that I make the breakthrough.

We've played in sleet a few times on the European tour, but Europe is not this bad. We never have weather like this for eight straight weeks.

On Tuesday he hit the ball as good as I've seen him hit it. He's such a great competitor that he probably still believes he can win out here.

My schedule just worked out so that I'm able to play more tournaments in South Africa this year.

Ernie played very well and I got away with it at the end there. It's great to win this trophy again. The last time was ten years ago so it's great to get my hands on it again.