Reaction from the players following their final rounds in the 137th Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.

More Stories

• The Open LIVE!!
• Fourth round scores

David Howell (67): "I am greatly encouraged by finishing so strongly. On Thursday I said to my caddie: 'What are we doing here?' I was playing so badly. But you don't give up, this is the Open. Today it was very strange. Putting is normally the strongest part of my game but I have struggled with it in these conditions and today I had three three-putts."

Padraig Harrington (69): "With a four-shot lead after eagling 17 I knew I had won. It was an enjoyable 18th hole. I did want to shoot 69, or in the 60s, for posterity. Very few people have won back-to-back majors. Coming into this week I was trying to play that down but winning a second one does set you apart. There are less people in that club. This week was worth everything."

Ian Poulter (69): "It was nice rollercoaster. I didn't get off to the best of starts, but then I steadied ship and started to hit some greens in regulation...It was a great run, a great adrenalin rush to see those putts go in. (On 17) I've had trouble on that green all week trying to get the ball up to the hole...But it's been a great week."

Phil Mickelson (71): "Consistently day in, day out it has been as challenging as I have played in for four days...There was enough room to play. This is what the R&A (organisers) wants, to test players in adverse conditions and have a course that's set up fair. The positives I take are that I probably hit it better in the wind than I ever have. I didn't capitalise on some of the shots I hit. I really struggled on the greens and consequently my score wasn't what I would have liked."

Chris Wood (a) (72): "I haven't got a clue what to say. I'm lost for words. What a great week it"s been. It's been amazing. I didn't really feel under that much pressure. Playing with Ian (Poulter), we were thriving off each other. The support I had today was brilliant. Everybody out there was cheering for me. It was an unbelievable experience to share with my father. He's not a bad golfer, but he's turning into quite a caddy."

Thomas Sherreard (a) (72): "It was a pretty exciting finish. A long pitch in at 17 for eagle and then to walk up the last was amazing. And to hole a 15-foot putt was amazing. You can"t put it in words. To be playing on the last day of The Open is something you dream of for years. Whether you"re in first place or last place it doesn't matter."

Greg Norman (77): "At the end of the day Padraig did a tremendous job and is a deserving champion. I enjoyed the week but I am disappointed at not getting it done."

Lam Chih Bing (81): "I just don't know what happened. I felt like I was two different players. I don't know what happened the last two days. It could be due to mental exhaustion. If I can get through this, other events won't be that tough. There are a few things I need to work on my game as I failed terribly in the winds. I had mixed emotions. Although I was having a nightmare, I was still enjoying just being here. I can't really describe it. It kind of felt like an achievement to be here but it's disappointing. I didn't have it n me to play two more good rounds."