Tom Watson, 1982 U.S. Open champion, competing in his 15th U.S. Senior Open
On the importance of the U.S. Senior Open:
“It's always one of the couple of tournaments that I point to all year. It's a major championship to me. I always had the feeling that any time I played in a USGA event, it was going to be the toughest golf course we play all year.”
On how his game is different than it was when he was younger:
“Well, the tools that I don't have are my length. I don't have the chipping tools. I used to be a very deft chipper of the ball. I used to be able to get the ball up and down.”
“I still feel as if I understand how to score. That's the biggest part of it, if I can do the right things and understand how to score.”
Quote of the Day:
“Playing the game of golf is what I love to do, and I love to do it well. I get frustrated as hell when I don't do it well, just like anybody else, but it doesn't make me want to say that's enough. I'm not anywhere near that yet.”
Rocco Mediate, competing in his fourth U.S. Senior Open
About Scioto Country Club:
“The shot qualities here are second to none. If you don't drive it good here, you can go home, take your stuff and leave, because it's not going to work.”
“I think the harder the better. It separates people, and the best guy wins that week. You can't really fake it around these places. I've played Scioto a few times. It's fun to play a golf course that the USGA touches. Simple as that. I love it because you know what's going on that week. You don't hit good shots, you don't get to play again. It's real simple.”
On his recent victory in the Senior PGA Championship:
“I was playing against some of the best players ever. Colin is just a class player. He doesn't mess up a lot. Obviously, Bernhard was behind us – or in front of us, excuse me. You know he's always going to be around somewhere doing something crazy like he always does, which is cool.”
“So the fact that those guys were in the mix made it better. If I'd have beaten Tiger in 2008 instead of anybody else, it would have been better. I don't know to explain it.”
Quote of the Day:
“Arnold [Palmer] taught me one thing. Not one thing, but one really cool thing. This is the coolest thing. He said, ‘The only time you worry about autographs, son, is when they stop asking. The only time you worry about someone saying, hey, can I get a picture, is when they stop asking for pictures.’”
Bruce Fleisher, 2001 U.S. Senior Open champion, competing in his 14th U.S. Senior Open
On Scioto Country Club, where he won the 1968 U.S. Amateur:
“I can honestly tell you, I know they've made some changes. The trees are gone, obviously, that I remember that were there, but I don't really remember a whole lot about it, which bothers the hell out of me.”
Quote of the Day:
“Yesterday, as I'm walking to the putting green, there's a picture of me shaking [fifth-place finisher] Bob Barbarossa's hand, and there's a guy next to me, taps me on the shoulder and says, ‘Do you remember me?’ So I'm looking at him, and I'm thinking, let's see, 48 years ago. I don't remember last week. But he says, look in that picture. He said, that's me carrying your golf bag. And he was my caddie. And I said to myself, my God, it's just so – I can't really find the word for it, but coming back, looking at the memorabilia in the clubhouse and the pictures, it's pretty special.”
Bernhard Langer, 2010 U.S. Senior Open champion, competing in his ninth U.S. Senior Open
On the success he has had so far in 2016 (three victories, including two senior majors):
“I feel pretty good about my game. It's been a phenomenal year. I've already won two majors, and lots of good finishes. I've been in contention a number of times. There's always – last week, I finished two shots out of the lead, and I hit one in the water on 18 that cost me on Saturday, but you can always say that.”
“You're taking chances. Every time you pull a club, you take a chance in executing it. Sometimes you pull it off, and sometimes you don't. Sometimes I've got to pinch myself, all the good stuff that's happened.”
Quote of the Day:
“It would be an amazing achievement and honor to [win] right here where [Jack Nicklaus] started his career. But Jack is in a different class altogether. Nobody might ever achieve what he's done. We're just trying to get a small part of his footsteps and try and follow along.”
Scott McCarron, making his U.S. Senior Open debut
On how his game is shaping up heading into this week:
“I've been feeling pretty good. I didn't play well last week. But going into that, I seemed to be in the hunt almost every week. It's been a lot of fun. It's been a learning experience.”
On being a television analyst while still playing competitively:
“It's been a lot of fun for me to see the best players in the world playing their best, what they're doing, and it has really helped my game. It taught me patience more than anything. Guys don't always play their best, but nothing really ever seems to bother them. So that has helped me quite a bit.”
“I do a lot of work on the golf course before the tournament starts. I'll be there Tuesday walking it, Wednesday walking it. I'll walk the golf course just like I'm going to play it. What would I do here? What would I hit off the tees here? I'm talking to the players constantly about what their strategy is, what they're trying to do, so I can bring it in.”
His thoughts on Scioto:
“Great golf course. Tough golf course. They've got it set up, it really looks like a U.S. Open out there with the rough up. The greens are firm. Some tough, tough par 4s, and the par 3s are extremely daunting. They are long, tough greens. A lot of strategy involved. You've got to keep the ball in play.”
Quote of the Day:
“I love playing golf. You know, you've got to remember, I played college golf at UCLA. I quit golf for about four years after college, went into business selling shirts and manufacturing headwear and all kinds of stuff.”
“So for me to come out here after thinking my career was never going to happen on the PGA Tour, it's like I can hardly wait to wake up every morning and get out there and practice and play.”