The Lists Issue: 10 Best Quotes: Golf Digest Magazine

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2

: "Bill, just give me one of those things you're advertising and I'll cut my throat."
--Byron Nelson to radio announcer Bill Stern, whose broadcast was sponsored by Gillette razor blades, after the final round in 1946 at Canterbury. During the third round Nelson's caddie accidentally kicked his ball while ducking under a rope. The one-shot penalty dropped Nelson from the lead into a three-way playoff, won by Lloyd Mangrum.

3

: "Go ahead, Arnold, you're hot."
--Billy Casper to Arnold Palmer on the 18th green at Olympic in 1966 after Palmer asked Casper if he should mark his ball. Palmer blew a seven-shot lead on the back nine and needed the short putt to tie Casper. Palmer made the putt, but Casper won the playoff.

4

: "My God, I've won the Open."
--Ken Venturi after sinking the final putt at Congressional in 1964.

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5

: "Nobody wins the Open. It wins you."
--Cary Middlecoff after his 1956 victory at Oak Hill.

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6

: "I would rather fight Sonny Liston than go through what I have to the next nine holes."
--Gary Player, to Bobby Eaton, his 15-year-old local caddie, after he had moved into contention on the front nine during the final round of the 1963 Open at The Country Club.

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7

: "No, we're trying to identify them."
--Sandy Tatum, championship committee head, when asked if the USGA was trying to embarrass the world's best at Winged Foot in 1974 -- dubbed "The Massacre" by author Dick Schaap.

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8

: "I'm glad I brought this course, this monster, to its knees."
--Ben Hogan at the trophy presentation after his final-round 67 at Oakland Hills in 1951. The problem? Hogan probably never said these exact words. The sentence is a blending of several quips Hogan made after the round, which over time emerged as the legendary quote.

9

: "Eighty acres of corn and a few cows. Just because you cut the grass and put up flags doesn't mean you have a golf course."
--Dave Hill to a reporter after the second round at Hazeltine National in 1970. The reporter asked Hill what the course -- a puzzling and unpopular selection -- lacked.

9

: "Nothing. You're too far back."
--Bob Drum, sportswriter, responding to Arnold Palmer asking him what a final-round 65 would do for his chances of winning at Cherry Hills in 1960. Palmer shot 65 -- and won.

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11

: "I am such an idiot."
--Phil Mickelson after double-bogeying the 72nd hole at Winged Foot in 2006 to hand Geoff Ogilvy a one-shot victory.