The Open: The best quotes from round one

What the players said: From Shane Lowry’s pub pep-talk to Eddie Pepperell comparing himself to Brooks Koepka…

Rory was fighting his game, and now he wants to fight himself
“I would like to punch myself. I made a couple of stupid mistakes. I let myself down more than anyone else and need to pick myself back up.”

*You can read more about his horror start by clicking here

Shane Lowry was grateful for some words of wisdom from coach Neil Manchip 
“I don’t feel like practice went unbelievably well this week. I felt a little bit uncomfortable. We went for a coffee yesterday down at the Bushmills Inn and we found a little quiet room, we had a great chat for about 40 minutes. We just put everything out in the open, everything out on the table, what could happen, what might happen. I left that room full of confidence and ready to go. [But] I was probably as nervous as I’ve been in quite a while on the first tee, almost ever, I’d say.”

David Duval had an excuse for shooting 90, but that was before it got adjusted to 91.
“I almost didn’t play because the tendonitis in my left arm made it almost impossible to play. And then as the day progressed, because of some of the shots I had to hit, my arm got worse and worse. So it was just a downward spiral. I wasn’t hurt enough not to finish. You’ve known me long enough, unless I’m really hurt or sick, I post my score. That’s just not something I’ve done as a professional. I’ve posted 85 twice, but never a 90. It was a long day, rough day.”

*You can read more about the R&A’s scoring mix-up by clicking here

Eddie Pepperell isn’t a fan of practice days
“I’m like Brooks Koepka with practice rounds. Difference is he wins majors and I miss cuts.”

Graeme McDowell was still smarting after losing his ball and carding a triple-bogey seven on the 18th
“It happens to amateur players every day. As a tour player we don’t lose many balls. It’s just golf. Did I do a whole lot wrong? No.”

Andrew ‘Beef’ Johnston’s evening plans sound typically British
“I might take my fiancee to the Causeway, I think. We’ll see how it goes. Or I could be on the sofa with a cup of tea and pack of biscuits.”

The rain got Brooks Koepka pretty worried at one point
“I felt like the world was going to end.”

Jordan Spieth all but admitted he didn’t pay attention in his geography class at school
“This is a country, right?”

Tommy Fleetwood finally revealed why the BBC called their documentary about him ‘The Weary Dodger’
“Dodger is my nickname. My dad’s always called me that. I’m not sure why to this day. And then, yeah, I used to get grumpy on the golf course when I was a lot younger. Just one of my dad’s famous statements. I’m not too bad now.”

And it turns out Adam Scott is pretty accepting of his putting woes…
“I missed two short ones today. What’s new? I missed two short ones at the U.S. Open, too.”