SuggestedLeadIn:

Players spoke on Wednesday ahead of golf's Alfred Dunhill Links Championship which starts on Thursday (October 1st).

Script: SOUNDBITE (English) Luke Donald:

"I've played here quite a few times, not for a few years but certainly played here four or five times probably in the past and had a couple of chances to win here so.... It's an enjoyable tournament, great atmosphere, the amateurs really love it and if we get weather like this it will be even better."

SOUNDBITE (English) Martin Kaymer:

"It doesn't really matter where you win, it's never easy to win golf tournaments but I'm very close. You just need to be patient. This week is a very good one here, you know, I've won before. When the weather stays like this it's probably one of the best weeks that we play all year long. So, it's just a little bit that's missing in golf sometimes, that gets you over the line."

SOUNDBITE (English) Shane Lowry:

"Yeah, I've done OK here in the past, a couple of top tens in the last two years and back here this year and the weather's amazing so it's going to be a great week.. I've got the same amateur partner that I always have - Gerry McManus - so I'm really looking forward to playing and getting out there. We've got a good draw for the first couple of days, we've got Padraig (Harrington) and his brother JP and we've got G-Mac (Graeme McDowell) and AP McCoy the next day so it's nice. Nice to play with a few familiar faces, we'll have a good laugh out there and hopefully get a way up that leaderboard."

SOUNDBITE (English) Shane Warne:

"All of us, there's about six or eight of us that keep talking about it and think it's Christmas Eve at the moment. We love coming up here, Dunhill do a great job looking after it, we're always very, very lucky and privileged to get an invite. And then to come up here and play, especially if the weather stays like this.... Actually it's irrelevant about the weather, this just adds to it. We love the camaraderie, we love the banter, we thank the pros for their patience with us when we're hacking it all over the place. But it's just a great week, it's the best week of the year for me and I know a lot of the other guys are in the same boat, they can't wait to get amongst everyone, get into the jigger (bar) and have some drinks and chat about it. What your best shot was and how you topped one on the second and all that sort of stuff. It really is a wonderful, wonderful week and something that, when that invitation comes through in the mail, you're high-fiving yourself!"