Paul Casey, Angel Cabrera and Padraig Harrington assess their games as they prepare for the US Open at Bethpage Black.
Paul Casey: "My golf has been great this year and I need to continue that run and keep putting in the hard work. We're getting into the meat of the season right now. Not that the beginning of the year hasn't counted for anything but with three majors coming up in fairly quick succession, it's very important that I continue to play that good golf.
"The majors are still the things on top of the goals list... Although this year it has been phenomenal, those are the things which ultimately define guys' careers. I don't have a Major, and I would dearly love one. So this is very important for me to try and play great golf, continue that good form through the next two, three, four months.
"The Open Championship is obviously the one that's closest to my heart because it's my home major, my home championship. But I think the US Open would be second. To me, the US Open was always the toughest test in golf. The Masters has always been the one which I felt I had the best opportunity to win and this would be the one that maybe I've struggled at the most. So (winning this week) would almost be a greater achievement."
Angel Cabrera: "I hope I can play the whole tournament with Tiger. Playing with the number one is the best... Can it make it harder for me? Well, I take it as a challenge. Of course, it gets a bit complicated with the movement of the people but I insist I'd love to play all the tournaments with him.
"The victory in the (2007) US Open took me by surprise because I'd been playing badly, I felt error-prone and I only just qualified. I was much better prepared for the (2009) Masters.
"The biggest change has been in my mentality, knowing I can win the big tournaments. I had always been close but...I lacked daring. I realised I didn't believe in myself. I've improved my short game and my putting which is what I lacked.
"I want to be the best in the world. Now I stand on the first tee, I play with Tiger and I know I can beat him and take the US Open. I feel really good, eh?"
Padraig Harrington: " I generally have played very well in boisterous crowds (as we'll have at Bethpage). The more noise around the golf course, the better for me.
"It adds a buzz to the event where there's an ambient noise reverberating around the golf course, cheers and everything like that. It just makes it more exciting.
"In some ways I would say I'm obviously not playing my very best golf at the moment... I have to be patient and just do the right things over and over and let it come back itself. There's no forcing it at this point in time."
Sergio Garcia: "There has been some good work done around Spain, around sportsmen, and obviously (Pau) Gasol winning the (NBA champions) ring a couple nights ago. So it's great. It's great to see all these things happening.
"I'm just proud to be a Spaniard and I try my best, and the better things I can do for my country, the prouder I feel. I think we know that New York and New Yorkers are very passionate. I love New York. I love the people around here. And I'm just looking forward to seeing where I can go this week."
Source:www.nydailynews.com
Paul Casey: "My golf has been great this year and I need to continue that run and keep putting in the hard work. We're getting into the meat of the season right now. Not that the beginning of the year hasn't counted for anything but with three majors coming up in fairly quick succession, it's very important that I continue to play that good golf.
"The majors are still the things on top of the goals list... Although this year it has been phenomenal, those are the things which ultimately define guys' careers. I don't have a Major, and I would dearly love one. So this is very important for me to try and play great golf, continue that good form through the next two, three, four months.
"The Open Championship is obviously the one that's closest to my heart because it's my home major, my home championship. But I think the US Open would be second. To me, the US Open was always the toughest test in golf. The Masters has always been the one which I felt I had the best opportunity to win and this would be the one that maybe I've struggled at the most. So (winning this week) would almost be a greater achievement."
Angel Cabrera: "I hope I can play the whole tournament with Tiger. Playing with the number one is the best... Can it make it harder for me? Well, I take it as a challenge. Of course, it gets a bit complicated with the movement of the people but I insist I'd love to play all the tournaments with him.
"The victory in the (2007) US Open took me by surprise because I'd been playing badly, I felt error-prone and I only just qualified. I was much better prepared for the (2009) Masters.
"The biggest change has been in my mentality, knowing I can win the big tournaments. I had always been close but...I lacked daring. I realised I didn't believe in myself. I've improved my short game and my putting which is what I lacked.
"I want to be the best in the world. Now I stand on the first tee, I play with Tiger and I know I can beat him and take the US Open. I feel really good, eh?"
Padraig Harrington: " I generally have played very well in boisterous crowds (as we'll have at Bethpage). The more noise around the golf course, the better for me.
"It adds a buzz to the event where there's an ambient noise reverberating around the golf course, cheers and everything like that. It just makes it more exciting.
"In some ways I would say I'm obviously not playing my very best golf at the moment... I have to be patient and just do the right things over and over and let it come back itself. There's no forcing it at this point in time."
Sergio Garcia: "There has been some good work done around Spain, around sportsmen, and obviously (Pau) Gasol winning the (NBA champions) ring a couple nights ago. So it's great. It's great to see all these things happening.
"I'm just proud to be a Spaniard and I try my best, and the better things I can do for my country, the prouder I feel. I think we know that New York and New Yorkers are very passionate. I love New York. I love the people around here. And I'm just looking forward to seeing where I can go this week."
Source:www.nydailynews.com
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