THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 19, 2013

Mark O'Meara

MARK O'MEARA: It was a tough day. Obviously I didn't play as well as I did yesterday. I didn't drive it as good. I had a lost ball out on No. 6. I didn't make many birdies. The course was different wind direction, but still very playable, but still a good test. And I just played pretty poorly, to be honest with you. Bogeying the last two holes didn't help.

Q. (Inaudible.)
MARK O'MEARA: Yesterday I hit it good, drove it really well, hit 15 greens. Today I just didn't drive the ball in the fairway like I needed to and I missed a lot of greens and my short game wasn't that good. You shoot 7-over quickly. It can happen fast out here. You can make bogeys pretty quick.

Q. (Inaudible.)
MARK O'MEARA: No, not really. Certainly different wind. But in saying that, it's pretty simple, you don't hit it good in an Open Championship with the rough the way it is out there, you're going to make some bogeys. The short game is key, you have to putt well. I did none of those well, that's why I shot 7-over.

Q. (Inaudible.)
MARK O'MEARA: Not really. I'm disappointed. I know I can play better than that. It's never fun having a poor round, especially off a good round yesterday. I was expecting to play better yesterday. When you don't, you're disappointed. At least I'm playing on the weekend and that's a nice thing to be here in an Open Championship and have a chance on the weekend, but I just should have played better today, to be honest with you.

Q. (Inaudible.)
MARK O'MEARA: Yeah, Birkdale.

Q. (Inaudible.)
MARK O'MEARA: I think, yeah, playing links golf is a good preparation for Birkdale, anytime you come over and play. This is a good test of golf right now because it's firm and fast. If the wind gets up and it's stronger, it's going to be even tougher. But it makes you think out there. You're accountable on all your shots. I enjoy that. I think it's fantastic. I just know I should have played better.

Q. (Inaudible.)
MARK O'MEARA: It will firm up even more. You've just got to land the ball short of the green, like Darren did right there and just chase the ball up there. You can't be overly aggressive. When you short side yourself, especially with the greens as firm as fast as they're going to get, you're not going to get the ball up and down. You have to play smart and pick your spots.

Q. (Inaudible.)
MARK O'MEARA: I think short game is always essential in any Major Championship, especially here in The Open.

Q. (Inaudible.)
MARK O'MEARA: No, I don't think they really made many changes right there, I think the greens weren't quite as fast this morning, but that's earlier with a little more dew on them. But I think the golf course is -- look, my opinion, I think it's fine. I think this is a Major championship, this is the way it should play. I don't think it's unfair. I said that yesterday. I still don't think it's unfair. It had nothing to do with the course setup.

Q. (Inaudible.)
MARK O'MEARA: Grant, I felt bad for him. He didn't play well. He hit some poor shots for him. It's a learning experience. He's still a young man. He's got some good skills, he'll be fine.

Q. (Inaudible.)
MARK O'MEARA: I know how much this tournament means to him. I know how much he loves links golf. It doesn't surprise me to see him playing reasonably well right now.

Q. (Inaudible.)
MARK O'MEARA: I think he's always nervous, to be honest with you. Nobody is not nervous. If you're not nervous, then you don't want it. So he's nervous. He's trying to win. But I know he knows he's got experience. But that doesn't necessarily give you the right to go out and win, you still have to play the shots. Certainly he knows how to get around links golf. He doesn't have to hit a lot of drivers around here, so that's a good thing.