CARNOUSTIE 2007 - WHAT THE PLAYERS THINK

Colin Montgomerie

“I was at an R&A Patrons Day six weeks ago, and it was very fair then. You had a fair amount of rain so the rough will be heavier than the norm, just through nature. But the fairways are a lot more generous than they were in ’99. I think the lessons have been learned and I think that the course will be in fantastic condition. I’ve never played on a better fairways and links course, and the greens will be superb. They were left a bit long for obvious reasons six weeks ago, but they have cut them down and firmed it up and it should be a great Open”

Darren Clarke

“I drove up to Carnoustie on Sunday and it’s in magnificent shape. It’s nothing like the course we played the last time The Open was there. We’ve got a chance at finding our ball this time if it goes in the rough. If there’s a bit of wind it’s going to play tough, but it’s going to play fair.”

Phil Mickelson

“I didn’t realise what a wonderful golf course it is. It’s terrific. I was excited to see how Carnoustie would be set up. It’s very challenging but there are lots of opportunities (for players) to separate themselves through good play.”

Luke Donald

“I played there back in early May. Caught a reasonable day, it was quite chilly, but the course didn’t look like they were setting up with huge amounts of rough. It looked like they were going to let the weather dictate scoring this year rather than how it was in ’99.”

Angel Cabrera

“It’s a tough course. If you play badly, you’re going to shoot over par, and the weather conditions are going to play a factor in the tournament.”

Ernie Els

“I haven’t played Carnoustie since the Dunhill last year, but I’ve spoken to Darren Clarke, who was up there on Sunday, and he says it’s in great shape. It’s the only links course where you always have wind. At St Andrews you sometimes have it calm but, at Carnoustie, there is always a breeze, I think that absolutely plays to my strengths.”