Olympics: The best quotes from day one in Rio
A round-up of the best quotes as women golfers return to the Olympic fold..
Leona Maguire (74) on her caddy (and sister) Lisa
“She was good. She did everything she needed to do. She was under a lot of pressure especially to keep up when we were on the clock. It’s easier when you’re not on the clock.
“She is a better putter than me, I’ll give her that. I could have had her hit a few putts for me today.”
Charley Hull (68) on her dream start as an Olympian
“I played well but feel like I left so many shots out there on the back nine. But I feel like I am hitting it pretty well and at the end of the day I’m pretty happy with that score. It’s nice to come into an event without all the build-up and pressure I had at Woburn, although I thought I handled that pretty well. And although it’s quite an easy hole, it was nice to birdie the first and be able to say I birdied my first hole as an Olympian.”
Brazil’s Miriam Nagl on hitting the opening shot…
“Nerve wracking but what an honour to be hitting the first shot. It was very similar to a play-off situation where you just want to not hit an awful shot.”
Inbee Park (66) on her mysterious thumb injury…
“My injury felt pretty good and ball-striking to putting, everything, felt like I was quite ready. I’m very happy to see the results like today.
And after more questions on the injury..
“I really think it doesn’t matter how my thumbs feels right now. I want to give it my best this week, and that injury is not going to be a problem this week.”
Catriona Matthew after a level-par 71
“A little bit disappointed. Had a lot of chances the last kind of five or six holes. Hit some good putts that just didn’t go in. I guess overall, I’m still in it, so that’s the main thing.
I don’t think it feels any different. I think more probably come Sunday if you’re in with a chance for a medal, it will feel different. But at the moment, it’s just trying to get in position for Saturday.”
Maria Verchenova on the course set-up
“You know, it’s weird, because when I get to the village, I feel like I’m playing in the Olympics. As soon as I get to the course, I feel like I’m playing a big major, especially this golf course. I was thinking five times today, I feel like I’m playing the US Open. It’s so long and it’s so windy. It’s a course which would suit a US Open course.”
Lexi Thompson on the 1st tee nerves
“The nerves were there, that’s for sure. But it is a whole different feeling, just stepping on that tee, saying that you’re an Olympian golfer. There’s nothing like that. But it was an adrenaline rush. Hopefully we’ll get more and more people out on that first tee as the days go by. But it was an amazing feeling to have.”
Nicole Broch Larsen (67) on being put on the clock
“We had a few situations on the front nine where we needed a referee or someone had a really tough shot where you obviously use a bit more than the 45 seconds. Then we just got, yeah, too much behind and got on the clock.
“I think three of us stressed, all of us, I’m pretty sure both me and Paula Reto’s bogey on 12 was because we were stressful, and that’s just too bad, because we are at the Olympics. But we shouldn’t be behind the clock.”
Jutanugarn leads after 65, Charley three back
Gallery from the opening round
Betting tips – who wins Olympic gold?
