Paul Azinger about the course conditions:

``This is a course where unfair hasn't been the issue for a long time. It's difficult, but I think 90 percent of the players would rate this as one of the top five we play on every year. Maybe it was unfair at one point, and when Greg Norman shot 24-under, I'm sure (course architect) Pete Dye said to himself, `What have they done to my course?' But last year they set it up to be hard, but it's fair. It isn't the pussycat that it was.''

Corey Pavin on the course conditions:

``The course is in great shape this year. It is very nice. I think the greens are as full as I have ever seen them. And I think they are going to have to lower Mr. Mower down a little bit and get them faster. They are not quite as fast as they were last year, but I think they will be by Thursday.''

Nick Faldo on his game:

"I think it has been going well. I had a second, a few top 10s and I have played well. My game is in good shape, a lot of things have improved, so I think I'm sort of waiting for it all to blossom. So far I'm gaining more confidence with my swing, and hopefully some good things are in store." Greg Norman on how seriously the players take this event:

``You can see how serious the guys are by how long it takes to play a practice round on Wednesday. At other tournaments, you can play a practice round in four, four-and-a-half hours. Here, it's more than five hours because they're all out there grinding. It goes to show how the guys are more keen to learn about the course and get ready.''

Normon on how the players view this tournament:

"It's not a major, not a fifth major. But it's the best tournament we play at this next level. If you try to make this a major, there are other tournaments, such as the Memorial or someone else's national open that could make that claim. But it's one of the three, four or five tournaments we all love to play. I'd like to see it in May, if it's at all possible, which would give us that run of April, May, June, July and August with a great tournament every month."

Lee Janzen on being the defending champion:

``It feels great to be here. Not because I'm the defending champion. I just feel great to be here at this tournament because I think it's one of our elite tournaments on Tour. The course is in magnificent shape, and it should be a great test of golf.'', barring any major rain, which I hope we won't have. This course challenges you to hit good shots on every shot, from tee to green.''