“Hale Irwin is the exception. He just does everything so well.”

I had a few miracles happen out there today.

The reason the Road Hole at St. Andrews is the most difficult par 4 in the world is that it was designed as a par 6.

But, if you miss (the supposedly easy pin) by just a little bit, you’re looking at the next putt from 30 feet. The ball just rolls away.

If we are to preserve the integrity of golf as left to us by our forefathers, it is up to all of us to carry on the true spirit of the game.

I have felt terribly from the beginning when I saw the problems and recognized that they would be ongoing. We were hired to put back the contours of the greens as closely as possible to George Thomas’s designs and were real proud of what we did. It’s a sad situation now.

It’s Star Wars golf. This place was designed by Darth Vader.

The game embarrasses you until you feel inadequate.

I don’t have any big secret about putting. Just hit at it. It’s either going to miss or go in.

I was horrified. Absolutely heart sick. All I could think of was that after 23 years together, I’d lost my faithful ally. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t get the loss out of my mind. It was like discovering that someone in my family had died.

I had a 15th club in my bag.

You learn to accept defeat graciously in golf. Unlike other sports, the game itself is a constant opponent. It never stops. A golfer is fortunate to win a few times. We spend our whole lives trying to conquer something, and we lose a lot more than we win.

I feel like I’ve won the tournament.

I’m about five inches from being an outstanding golfer. That’s the distance my left ear is from my right.

I do not think I could go on living unless I felt that one day I might win the Open Championship at St. Andrews.

It’s emotional for every champion who decides to step down, it’s a tough decision. It’s probably easier for some, like me. But I’m just going to try to take it in stride. It’s part of life.

A good golf course makes you want to play so badly that you hardly have the time to change your shoes.