Janice Moodie

COLIN CALLANDER: Janice, thank you very much indeed for coming in today. You managed to play the course yesterday. What were your thoughts on the setup?
JANICE MOODIE: It's tough, very, very tough. The wind was blowing and my blades are no longer in the bag, so I think it's just a little bit difficult hitting the ball lower. It's going to be a good test.

COLIN CALLANDER: Is there an extra buzz being here at St. Andrews or in Scotland, for that matter?
JANICE MOODIE: Oh, I think so, we're in the R&A clubhouse and it's just very special. The whole place is special, it's just got a buzz about it.

Q. Have you had any unusual experiences in the clubhouse?
JANICE MOODIE: I changed my babies diaper in the clubhouse. I would be lying if I didn't say it was a stinky one. I used the towel and I was very respectful and, you know, the whole place is just great, just the general energy is wonderful.

Q. Where about was this?
JANICE MOODIE: No, this is in the locker room it might have been, it might have been.

Q. Were you nervous about doing it?
JANICE MOODIE: I was actually. Yeah, it was either the car or the R&A clubhouse. The R&A clubhouse floor with a towel on it, and I was very respectful.

No, I just did it. It was in the player's locker room, so I thought I was okay.

Q. Does you baby have a pass?
JANICE MOODIE: No, that's a good question. He's about the only person that doesn't need a pass. All babies can invade the R&A clubhouse. There's a lot of them, Catriona was in with her little one, Cooper Diaz is over here; so I'm sure that we have a lot of in the R&A.

Q. Is there a crèche here?
JANICE MOODIE: There might be. I have my nanny looking after them.

Q. Was it a disposable nappy?
JANICE MOODIE: It was not biodegradable.

Q. How well are you playing coming in here?
JANICE MOODIE: Back to the golf. No, the game's been good. It's one of those things where, you know, you just feel as where you're so close and you just need that break to get back there. The game's fun again, which is nice. You know, before I had Craig, I had an injury you get over that and you feel like you're getting back a little bit, but the game is fun, which is good.

Q. Why has your game improved?
JANICE MOODIE: I started working with Gary Weir, Scottish guy. And ever since then, it's just started being a lot more fun. I know where the ball's going, I guess that's what's fun.

Q. When did you start with him?
JANICE MOODIE: Maybe 2 1/2 years ago.

Q. Where do you see him?
JANICE MOODIE: I see him quite a bit. He works in New York. He's at Westchester Country Club in New York in the summertime, and in the wintertime, believe it or not, he works out of Orlando. So I get to see him more than I would probably anyone else.

Q. What have you been working on?
JANICE MOODIE: Yes, I've got that one that stops on the green. But yeah, the ball flight's gone a little bit higher, and really short game as well. He's really been instrumental in that. He was a very good short game player himself and it's easier to team that when you're a short game player.

COLIN CALLANDER: Fair to say lot of the girls will they be struggling with the higher ball flight?
JANICE MOODIE: It's the higher ball flight and it's the club that makes it go higher. I used to play blades around St. Andrews, and now I have these cavity backs, and it really makes the difference in trying to keep the ball low.

Q. What do you remember about playing here before in the St Rule Trophy?
JANICE MOODIE: Amateur wise, I remember we played this in Royal Trophy (ph) and stuff but we played it from way forward. I can't really remember the yardage we played but I can only think it was maybe 6,000, if that, maybe 6,100. But they have got us back at 6,600. There's no way we played it at 6,600.

COLIN CALLANDER: Which holes are the big differences; do you remember that?
JANICE MOODIE: It's so long ago, I can't really remember. There were a couple where we were just that little bit further back instead of having 8 iron, 9 iron, 7 iron, you're back into your long irons.

Q. (Have you played here since you turned professional)?
JANICE MOODIE: I did. I came over with my husband a couple of years ago and played. So, yeah, I've been over just a couple of times.

Q. What are your views on playing the 17th as a par five?
JANICE MOODIE: When we played the St Rule Trophy, it was always a par 5, the ladies par 5. So to be honest, it makes no difference to me.

And to be honest with you, par on a hole, especially on golf courses like this, I don't think really matter. I don't think you can think about par. All you can really think about is maybe there's a couple downwind, like I think 9 is downwind and you've got to try and make your birdies while you can and you just know that there's some holes out there that even though it's a par 4 on the scorecard, it's not.

Q. Do you play 17 as
JANICE MOODIE: No, just depends where your drive lands, but absolutely you take it on, yeah.

Q. Are you in the Solheim Cup?
JANICE MOODIE: That's a question I am not eligible. I had Craig last year and there's no maternity clause on The European Tour to allow a player to have a maternity and then instead of playing the six mandatory events, play three. So there's no way I could play six. I could have played the three if there was a maternity clause if there was one, but I would not be eligible. I guess having a baby is a bad thing.

Q. Is there anything that can be done about it?
JANICE MOODIE: I think Helen's helping me with that. We already inquired. We inquired at the beginning of the year, and then I inquired a couple of weeks ago and I got a reply that they had contacted their lawyers and they can't change it midseason. I hate to say, you know, it's their loss.

Q. Is it definite that you can't get a place?
JANICE MOODIE: I heard. I finally got my response. It's just a shame because I would have loved to have played. But I physically can't play six events with having the LPGA as my you know, that's where I base my career.

And the other thing is, I have a baby. I can't travel back and forth six times a year to come back and play physically.

Q. Are there no get out clauses?
JANICE MOODIE: Well, no if there was a maternity clause; in the States I had a baby, so my eligibility of the Tour was 2007 and now it's 2008 because the year we play we don't count the year. I can play pregnant and it doesn't hurt me.

Q. There are only a few Scottish golfers in the field. Is that a shame?
JANICE MOODIE: I wish there were more. I wish there were more coming up behind. It seems to be myself, Catriona and Mary that have done well and gone on to the States. I played with Claire Quinn in a practise round and I think she's thinking of going to the LPGA Tour and I think she's good enough to go to the LPGA Tour. She's talking about financial backing to try and get there. I just wish maybe somebody could step up and get there. I told her there would be somebody to help her along the way, but I think, you know, hopefully she can get the funds to come over and play.

Q. Why do you think there are so few young British players coming through?
JANICE MOODIE: Are you talking about compared to the U.S. or compared to yeah, I think we're just a small population, as well. And the other thing is I think Sweden has more financing in golf, and they will take girls and they will go to the south of Spain and play all year.

We have a very, very short season as well, which I think people forget about and I quickly remember about when I come back here, Scottish summer.

Q. Why did you make it?
JANICE MOODIE: Well, I mean, I was a hard worker when I was young. All I did was play golf. I just I was work, play golf, practise, play golf. My whole life was just golf. Sounds quite boring. Maybe there was some drinking in between but it was mostly just golf.

Then I managed to get to the States through Lewine's help and I had some funding from the Scottish foundation and I slowly kept my amateur status and went to the LPGA Tour and got my card. But I would say the States and going there really helped me to get to where I'm at. And I did graduate.

COLIN CALLANDER: Thank you very much and best of luck this week.

Laura Davies

COLIN CALLANDER: Thank you for coming in. Amazed when I heard you had never played the Old Course before. What are your thoughts?
LAURA DAVIES: No, I think it's probably a heck of a course. It's just natural. When you watch it on telly, you get certain ideas of how you think it's going to be, and it was nothing like it. It's much smaller, the way all of the fairways, you know, tie together and everything's close by. It's just a great atmosphere to play a championship like the British Open.

COLIN CALLANDER: Is it the atmosphere or the golf course that makes it so special?
LAURA DAVIES: Everything, it's magnificent. The greens, I've never been on greens like it, it's natural, blending into the edges of the fringe and running into the fairways. The size of the greens are amazing. You can't appreciate it; you hear about it and think they are exaggerating and they are not.

Q. So I take it you plan to come back?
LAURA DAVIES: If we have The Open here, I'll be back.

Q. We heard you changed your shoes in the car park the other day. Is that true?
LAURA DAVIES: Yes, it's more convenient. Yes, it's easier, you meet on the putting green and come over.

Q. Have you been in the locker room?
LAURA DAVIES: I had my golf balls down there went and got some golf balls down there it's fantastic, The Open trophies, see them up close like that obviously the history, everything about it, it's amazing.

Q. What is the locker room like?
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, underneath when you go in reception, around the staircase, it's beautiful, very nice. It's just numbers, there's no names on the locker. Just locker No. 32.

Q. Your caddie Johnny has been a help hasn't he?
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, because he knows the course and obviously he's giving us all of the lines today. And the greens, you need to really study really hard. I think if you paid them for loads and loads of times, two or three rounds wouldn't help you necessarily. But if you're local and knew them a lot, it would be really worth coming up and studying them, they are just so different.

Q. (Some of the players have hired local caddies to go around with them in practise).
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, I heard that, not a bad idea. One of the guys we had in the group today, they were giving me and Johnny a few tips. Yeah, obviously they know how to play the grass.

Q. Does this course suit your game?
LAURA DAVIES: Yes, I think so. All of the championship courses you could play I love Lytham, my favourite course but didn't necessarily suit my game and this one does. Not necessarily saying that I'm going to do well and win or anything, but if I play my game, I'll have a chance because it sets up so well.

Q. So today is the first time you played?
LAURA DAVIES: Today no, I lied. I played 18 1 and 18 yesterday. Ripped it out of bounds on the first and I was a I saw an Ian Baker Finch, somebody saw me do it, knocking it out of bounds. It was windy.

Q. Do you wish you had played here in your prime?
LAURA DAVIES: I still am. Yes, I think I've got as much of a chance this week as I had in '94, '95 or '96, my three best years. I'm striking it better now than I've ever done, so as far as I'm concerned, it's come at a perfect time.

Q. Is there any reason why you have never played St Andrews?
LAURA DAVIES: Well, I don't I've been playing for, what, 23 years now. And I play 33 tournaments a year, and the last thing I want to do when I have a couple of weeks off is fly up to Scotland and get a tee time with loads of amateur golfers; so that was my idea of hell. (Laughter) So I waited for the right time and here we are at the British Open and it couldn't be better.

Q. Have you ever played it on PlayStation?
LAURA DAVIES: I don't like PlayStation. I'm not keen on that. No, I'm just really pleased to be here. It's not like I've got anything against St. Andrews. It's just our paths have never crossed before, and the British Open obviously is the ideal opportunity to come and see it.

I'm not saying I don't want to play it or haven't wanted to play it. There's loads of great golf courses I've not played, but maybe when I stop playing on the Tour I'll play all of the courses I've missed out on. At the moment it not on the schedule to play golf on a week off. I haven't played golf with my brother I think for about 16 years, so ask him about it. I just don't play.

Q. What do you think about the 17th being a par 5?
LAURA DAVIES: Well, I've never played it as a par 4 so it just seems as an easy par 5 really. Whether it's a par 4 or a par 5 it's a really difficult hole. I hit a great tee shot today and hopefully I'll hit four more of them. But if you don't hit the tee shot, you won't hit the green; and if you miss the green, we all know what can happen.

Today was the Pro Am and pretty much straightforward but I'm not daft enough to think it might be that straightforward again. The fact that it's 5 probably helps a little bit, but it's not an issue either way I would expect.

COLIN CALLANDER: How close did you hit it?
LAURA DAVIES: 30 feet. My only birdie of the day. I could not make a putt out there, not for lack of trying but couldn't make any.

Q. Should you play the 17th as a par 4 for a par 5
LAURA DAVIES: Like I said, we've never been here before. So who is to say the men shouldn't play it as a 5, who knows. It's a great hole as it is, and whether it's a four or a five; it makes a difference, four shots at end of the week. So the winner will be four shots more under par than if it would have been a par 5 four. Maybe mentally if you say it's a par 4, the average would be slightly less purely because it's a par 4. I think if you mind that, you play it that way another year, the stroke average on the hole will be lower than if it was a four.

Q. Do you like it here because it suits your game?
LAURA DAVIES: Well, you know, we play lots of courses I like, and I think this is just one that is so generous off the tee, as long as you keep it out of the bunkers and there's a lot of it out there and a lot of fairway and a lot of light, wispy rough. I played hitting a tee shot it was easy for me as I've ever seen probably but I've only played it once in a mile wind. If it it's blowing a gale, hitting the fairways

Q. Did aybody tell you about the course before you got here?
LAURA DAVIES: My caddie, Johnny, he's played here 30, 40 times. He's said all year that looking forward to getting there because you're going to love it, and he's quite right.

Q. What's his name?
LAURA DAVIES: Jonathan Scott.

Q. Is everyone looking forward to playing here this week?
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah about this week? Oh, no, everyone has really been looking forward to. I have not heard one person say anything other than how excited they are to be here. The men come here so often well, they probably don't get blasé about it because it's that sort of place, you're up for it when you see it. But for us it's an extra special treat because it's the first time we've been here.

Q. Does this course suit your game?
LAURA DAVIES: It could suit anybody, can really can suit anybody. But if you start losing your confidence a bit, you're not 100% sure on where you're going, if you're not on the fairways, you can find bits of trouble. I think it's a great test for everyone and not just for a links; it could be low or high depending on the wind.

Q. Which side on the first did you hit it out of bounds yesterday?
LAURA DAVIES: I did a Baker Finch. Left (Laughter).

Q. Did it go out on the fly?
LAURA DAVIES: Oh, no, it ran a long way. It was a pretty decent strike. No, I was knocking it around I had people heckling me on the first tee, as well, so it was a hard shot.

Q. What were the hecklers saying?
LAURA DAVIES: Just tell them, don't hit it out of bounds, basically.

Q. You were quoted recently as saying the British women's game is in trouble. Do you think that's true?
LAURA DAVIES: No, I never said it was in trouble. I don't think it's a shame I was asked questions whether there were young players coming up to take mine and Trish's place, we had Becky Morgan in America has been playing very consistently. But there don't seem to be an enormous at the moment it seems like you have to be 14, 15, 16, to be considered you have to be really good at that age to become one of the next really good players and I haven't even that many young British girls about.

Q. Why is that?
LAURA DAVIES: I have no idea. Who knows? The Americans are producing really good players again now. The Swedes had their run at it. The Spaniards are going to come through I think in a couple of years. They have got lots of really good young players. Hopefully our turn will come and the young girls I do a clinic with Se Ri every year in December, and there's a girl, she's eight now, I think one day she will be a fantastic player. She's not very tall, very little, thin, but just whacks her driver about 190, 180 every single time, got a great swing, a bit of touch. So there's a potential youngster that might come through in ten years time maybe. (Laughter).

There's a few girls that come along on Sunday morning in the winter and they all I forgot their names, the swing stands out, her name doesn't but her swing does.

Q. How old are they?
LAURA DAVIES: She was eight, some are nine and ten, the oldest that comes are at 12. The youngest is six, and they are keen.

Q. What are your thoughts about Michele Wie and the way she is struggling?
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, it's just a shame, she's struggling. She's obviously had the injury and it seems to be going on a bit. But hopefully she's over the injury and can start getting confidence back because I know what it's like to lose confidence. I was practising next to her on the range at Evian last week, and she doesn't look that confident on the range at the moment but it will turn around. She's too good. It might be six months, it might be six weeks, would knows. But no question, as good as she is, she will hopefully be winning tournaments soon because it will be good for all of us.

Q. How much did the wind affect your drives today?
LAURA DAVIES: Well, we've got it close to the front on 18 downwind so that was 290 something I think we've got there and drive into the win on No. 2 probably went about probably best drive of the day on two and it went no more than 250. So there's a 40 , 50 yard difference. But you get very few down or into the wind shots. You get a lot of cross wind.

COLIN CALLANDER: Thank you very much, Laura, and good luck this week.

Lorena Ochoa

COLIN CALLANDER: Thank you for joining us, Lorena Ochoa, World No. 1.
LORENA OCHOA: Thank you.

COLIN CALLANDER: I think you've played the course three times, what are your thoughts?
LORENA OCHOA: Hello, everyone. Thank you. Yes, I played in the Pro Am and it was my first round. I got here on Sunday and I played the first practice round early on Monday. I was by myself. It was really good just to have a little time around the greens and really see all of the new things. It was a great experience.

It's complicated because my caddie, we had to figure out where to hit it. From the tee it's a little bit crazy. It's a really good course, and we enjoyed it. Today, I think today in the third round I finally really just remembered all of the you know, every hole, thinking where should I aim the ball, because everything is very different in the wind. You just have to have a picture in your head of how the golf hole looks and just try to make a decision every day, you know, on every hole, it's very different.

And then long putts is very important. I think we all know that this is new and just having those 50 or 60 or 70 footers, putting is a very unique experience and I've been doing a lot of those.

I'm feeling good and very excited about tomorrow and I can't wait to start playing.

Q. What exactly does it mean to you to be at the home of golf? Is that something special for you?
LORENA OCHOA: Yeah, for sure. I think for all of us, you know, first time for me and we don't know if this is going to be the last time. We need to just enjoy every step and every moment. And here we are, stand on the first tee with a big smile and just appreciate. You know, golf is golf, but just if you start thinking about how many legends and players have been here, walking on that 18th fairway, the green, it's very special.

Q. Did you know much about St Andrews before you got here?
LORENA OCHOA: Just like all of us, I think we watch mostly the majors on TV and actually my coach, Rafael (Alarcón), he played here before many times. He played here at the Dunhill two years ago with a lot of good players, Ernie Els and a lot of good players. Every time we are being practising on a course, he was like, you know, "This is a shot like St. Andrews." Like at 3 or 7 or 11, or he always talks about 11 the par 3, how tough it was.

You don't realise how hard it is until you get here. It's like the Masters. You don't see 100% how the course is, how hard it plays, until you are here.

Q. Have you any special memories of St. Andrews?
LORENA OCHOA: I remember David Duval's birdie that's not the first one, but I remember when he won, very good. And of course when you have those that they replay on the biggest moments of many years before; obviously when Tiger won by a lot, and hopefully we get that good weather.

But just it's nice to just remember those memories.

Q. Have you been practising specifically for this course?
LORENA OCHOA: Yes, you know, we always on the range, we always spend time the last three or four months, we know that we are coming here so just try to spend I'm hitting lob shots and trying not to get spin on the ball and try to play against the wind, different shapes and a lot of running like low chips around the green with 6 iron, 5 iron, 4 iron. Just trying to do something similar that we are going to use this week. And it worked, I think it was important just to get your mind set. I just feel comfortable now. My rhythm is good and my swing and I'm feeling good.

Q. Why do you think there have been so many first time winners on the LPGA Tour this year?
LORENA OCHOA: Well, for sure, that means that there are just more players that can win every week. Before maybe you could be only three or four and now it's 20, 25. It's hard to mention a name or say a number. But just the level of golf, it's really high right now, and as we all know, a lot of it is because of Annika. She just pushed and trying to be a better player and also be really healthy and strong and just right now it's tough. The competition is really good.

At the same time, that's why I know there are so many good players coming. You know, I really need to keep playing good if I want to maintain my position of being No. 1. It's going to be a fun race and I'm excited.

Q. If you had a choice, would you rather be world no. 1 or win your first major?
LORENA OCHOA: What do I prefer? Both. (Laughing).

Q. Is there more pressure on you now to win?
LORENA OCHOA: Do I feel more pressure? No, no, no.

Q. The longer you go without winning a major?
LORENA OCHOA: If you have that in your mind when you are playing, I think it would be really bad but I don't do that. I just go out there and enjoy myself and try to play some good golf. If it happens, it happens.

Like I said, I think in 2007 was a year for me to start winning majors and I still have one more chance. I'm going to try hard.

Q. Why do you think there are so many good Korean girls around at the moment?
LORENA OCHOA: I don't know, maybe you can ask them. I just think in a way I don't know. That's a tough question. You know, they do have a really good mental side. They are very strong and the way they practise. They practise really hard. They get up really early and stay really late. They are hard workers.

I don't like it very much when they come too young, not only Koreans, but other players when they are 18 and they just turn professionals. You see a lot of players like Paula Creamer and Morgan Pressel, but I think at the end to me, going to college is a great experience and I wouldn't change that for anything. I would do it again and again and again.

You know, I think it's great to see different players from different parts of the world, but hopefully they wait a little bit longer to turn professional.

COLIN CALLANDER: I think the second part of that question was, do you think your success will encourage more Mexican girls to come through?
LORENA OCHOA: We are waiting for maybe one or two next year, and it looks good. It may be 35 or 45, but hopefully.

Q. What would it mean winning your first major here?
LORENA OCHOA: I think for sure, if they will ask you at the end of the year, which major do you want to win and the answer would be all of them and all of them are special. But if you put everything together, it would be very, very special. And here we are, so, you know, hopefully start tomorrow with a good round and the important thing is to be in a good position on Sunday and just try hard.

Q. Where does golf rate in México?
LORENA OCHOA: Well, it is improving. It is really making a change in the last three or four years. And we have a lot of golfers read now, a lot of girls playing junior golf or just in college and there are a lot of girls just trying to become professional and play on the LPGA.

So it's a great improvement. I think we are making progress and it's looking good.

Q. Have you ever teed off just after 7.00 am before?
LORENA OCHOA: No, never. My aunt told me yesterday what are we doing the rest of the day, I don't know. (Laughter) but it's good. Hopefully it's not very cold.

Q. How important is it for you to have your family here?
LORENA OCHOA: Very important. I have pretty much my whole family. My mom didn't make it but my dad, my two brothers, my sister and an aunt. A lot of close friends, some relatives, like 25 Mexicans are here. So it would be nice. It's very important for me that they are here, and they know and it would be great to share the moment with them.

Q. No Mexican greenskeepers here?
LORENA OCHOA: No (laughs)

Q. How many friends and family do you have that have come over to watch you?
LORENA OCHOA: 25.

COLIN CALLANDER: Lorena, thank you very much and good luck this week.

Annika Sorenstam

COLIN CALLANDER: Annika, thank for joining us, fresh from the Pro Am, long day. Give us your thoughts on the golf course this week.
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I'd be happy to. This is a fabulous place. I'm excited to be here, and, you know, it's a treat to play the golf course. I love it here. I've been here as an amateur many years ago, but it's just fantastic. It's amazing to walk down the fairways and kind of remember some of the shots from TV, you know, that the men have played and just kind of absorb the history. It does not get much better than this. I'm thrilled to be here.

COLIN CALLANDER: You are being modest, you won the St Rule Trophy. How does it compare then to now? It's much longer now?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think it's a little longer, yes, it is. I would say my game is a little bit different than it was. I remember some of the holes but not all of them. It's really kind of starting from scratch.

But it's just I think now, you know, I've been around golf a little bit more; I probably appreciate it a little bit more now than I did when I was an amateur just coming here and playing. So like I said, it's a treat.

Q. Were you able to pick up any tips from Tiger?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yes, I've talked to him.

Q. Did he help you with anything specific?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yes, I have his yardage book, so hopefully that will give me some pointers. But I play different tees and I've been hit something different shots, but I talked about it. I talked about the course with him.

Q. What did he tell you
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, he just told me to hit it left which I already knew. (Laughter).

But you know, he told me to practice my long putts, just do a lot of lag putting, it's going to be key. And he's absolutely right. That's really the only thing I've been working on on the course. I've been putting from 30 yards off the green, just totally different shots than I would use in the States. But here, it works beautifully that way, and I would say those are the two big things he told me.

Q. When did he give you the book?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: In Orlando a few weeks ago.

Q. Did you ask him for it?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No. He said, "You know, I have a yardage book, would you like to use it."

I said, "I would love to, are you sure?" He said yeah. I got it before he left for Scotland himself.

Q. Are there any notes as well as yardage?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah. (Laughter).

Q. How he played the holes?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No.

Q. He won here a couple of years ago and didn't hit in any bunkers the whole time
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Why would it be any different for a woman? Yeah, you just have to play smart. You've got to know where the bunkers are and you have to hit it where you want to hit it.

Q. You've been working with your coach yesterday, what were you working on?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, I've been working a lot on my backswing and now I've got the backswing figured out. Now I need to trust it coming down to the ball, especially when it's so windy like yesterday. It was a little tougher, and you know, just a few things from the top coming down. Today was a lot better, so I feel good about it.

Q. Did you have any idea where your St Rule Trophy is?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: My trophy? At home.

Q. Is it in your trophy cabinet?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, it's not, but it's at home. Yeah, I don't I haven't displayed all of the trophies to be honest. I haven't got room (laughs)

Q. What would winning here again mean?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Oh, I think it would be tough to describe in words. You know, the British Open has always meant so much to me, especially being a European. And then to come here this week with so much history. I really think this is a milestone for women's golf.

You know, I try not to think about it. I just want to come out and play and enjoy the place, and see how it goes. But I mean, it's going to be history tomorrow when the first shot is hit and history again on Sunday when the last putt has been made. This is a really incredible week and you know, I'm happy to be here and having a chance to compete.

Q. How are you feeling with your injury?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I am totally pain free but my strength is not back and I'm still recovering from trying to get better, but luckily no pain.

Q. What was your score today?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I don't know my score but I played really well. I made the turn at 3 under and that was about the last time I checked my score. I think the wind was a little different today, not as strong, and the holes are playing a lot different. You know, the Pro Am is all about helping your team and it's not always about putting your own score together.

On a course like this, you really want to just kind of make sure that make sure you know exactly where the bunkers are. I was paying a lot of attention to the course more than my score.

Q. How would you assess your year?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I wouldn't say it's a great year. I would say it's a different type of year. I haven't played as much. I haven't played as well. It's been very, very different.

Off the golf course it's been a fabulous year, so, you know, I'm happy.

Q. Has your links golf strategy changed over the years?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I don't think so. I think the last few years getting some experience on these courses is just going to help. I mean, I love this type of golf. It's fantastic. I wish we got a chance to play it more often, and I need to do it more often because it just creates a unique so many more different shots than in the States.

But I think it's wonderful to be here. Strategy tomorrow is just to listen to my caddie, trust my swing and make putts.

Q. Is it your intention to play a lot more golf or have you discovered you don't need to play a lot more golf?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, it's a combination, I would say. Right now I want to get back to 100 percent. I want to play to the level that I know how, and you know, I've had, I thought, anyway, I had a good schedule in January, and obviously the schedule has changed. Now I think I've played eight tournaments, and by now I probably would have played about 12.

So, you know, I want to get back to where I'm competing regularly, definitely. Not as much as rookie year or the first few years, but you know, a schedule where I play 18 on the LPGA and a few around the world. I think that would just suit me perfectly.

Q. Challenge for No. 1, is that a goal?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, I want to get back like I said to play the golf I know that, and if I can do that is correct I'm happy and I'm sure things will take care of themselves after that.

Q. Were you nervous when you were in contention last week at the Evian Masters?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, you know, it's been a while and it was fun. I loved it. I have to admit, a was a little nervous on Saturday, just playing in the second to last group and just at least looking at the leaderboard and seeing my name there, it's been a while.

You know, that's the feeling that I love. I mean, that's why I practice and that's what gets me motivated. You know, not being up there just makes you feel like I mean, you're part of it but then you're not really part of it. It's the thrill of coming down the last few holes and having a chance again, that's where it's worth it.

It was fun, and I feel like I've played better every week since I came back. We started with the Tribute was a very rusty tournament, and McDonald's was rusty and the Open was better and last week was a lot better.

Hopefully I can continue this progress and get really comfortable being out there and playing and scoring again.

Q. You said last week your injury was about 85% right. What about this week?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Maybe 86. It's tough to tell. I feel better every day. I'm working out regularly and I think that's really helping. You know, obviously it's tough to figure out exactly what percentage, but you know, I'm getting closer to a hundred but I would say it takes three to four months more.

Q. How has it impacted you the most?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: My driving distance. I hope not. I feel like I'm further away than I really want to be. I think with a driver, it's a combination of distance and accuracy. I feel very comfortable with the irons and, you know, my 7 wood is the longer club and that's tougher for me. I think a lot of it has to do with the strength and timing that I just haven't had for a while.

Q. Does it help to be a long hitter to play here?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I would say it totally depends on the conditions. I mean, yesterday, I don't know if it helps to be long. I think it almost helps to be short so you don't get up in the air so when it kicks it, it rolls longer.

Today, conditions were different. I think today distance helped and no wind, I think distance definitely helps.

Q. Should the 17th be a par 5?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, the last three days were almost downwind, and yes, I am surprised. But everybody tells me that the prevailing wind is opposite; then I think a par 5 makes sense.

But I think overall if you think about it, it really doesn't matter what the par; because yesterday if you would have shot 77, that would have felt like par. I'm sure when we have no wind, you expect to shoot maybe 70.

So it's pretty irrelevant I think at the end of the day. You just have to get it from A to B.

COLIN CALLANDER: Annika, thank you very much, indeed, and good luck this week.

Catriona Matthew

COLIN CALLANDER: Thank you very much for coming. Ladies and gentlemen, Catriona Matthew from Scotland. You won as an amateur here in the 90s, and you know this course very well, how does the course today compare?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I think obviously the course is just the same. We're just playing from further back now. Hopefully I hit it a little further now.

Yeah, it's just different tees really. I don't think they have changed this course much over the years.

COLIN CALLANDER: You've been out for a practice round today. Very tough I would imagine.
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah I played this morning. This is probably one of the toughest winds because it's a crosswind left to right going out and right to left coming in. You know, it makes all of the holes pretty tough. There's not many where you're just straight into the wind or straight down.

COLIN CALLANDER: What does it mean to you as a Scot to be playing the British here at St. Andrews?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: It's fantastic. Obviously to be here at St. Andrews of course I played well in Scotland, hopefully I can play well here.

Q. When was it you played here before?
COLIN CALLANDER: '93 and '94.
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Just what I was going to say.

Q. Have other players asked you about the course?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Maybe not so much about the course. Just, you know, places to say and what it's like and everyone's just been exceeded to come here, kind of the home of golf and obviously watched the men play here over the years.

Q. Anybody ask you about the weather?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Just what it could be like. I said anything. Bring shorts, trousers, waterproofs.

Q. You grew up playing links golf.Any reason why you haven't played well on links courses in this Championship?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: No, I mean, there hasn't really. Like you say, I grew up on links courses. Played obviously well as an amateur on them but turned pro and can't play in them anymore.

But no, yeah, I don't know why I haven't played well. No reason why I shouldn't be playing well this week, so hopefully I can go and do it in the tournament.

Q. Could your lack of success be down to pressure?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: It might be. Obviously, yeah, there's a little more pressure playing at hole and having more people play here, watching and you things.

Yeah, like you say, I can't really put my finger on why I haven't done better than I have in the British. Done well in the other majors but haven't done particularly well in this one. Maybe this week I can change that.

Q. Do you play much links golf when you are back here in Scotland in the winter?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: No, not really, not a whole lot. Come back and kind of have a break. I'm fair weather golf in the winter now.

Q. If the weather stays like this, what sort of score do you see winning this week?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I think if it stays as windy as this, if you're roundabout even par, I'd take that right now.

Q. What's the lowest score you've ever had here?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I think I may be had a 67 but that was obviously, you know, from different tees.

Q. This week the 17th is a par 5. Do you think it should be a par 4 like the men play?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I don't really think it makes that much difference what the par on the hole is. I actually had kind of forgotten when I played it today that it was a par 5.

Q. What did you make?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Well, it's just a score. You're just trying to get a score really. Really I don't think it makes much difference. It's just the number that's on the scorecard.

Q. How is your daughter this week?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah, she's sleeping pretty well, just getting some teeth, so a little grumpier, but she's still sleeping well.

Q. She's here with you?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yes, she is.

Q. What to you are the most memorable parts of the Old Course?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I think obviously 1 and 18, teeing off in front of the clubhouse and coming up 18. It doesn't even matter if there's a tournament on, there's always people there watching and things. I think 1, 18 and 17, kind of three, really, you know you are at St. Andrews.

Q. Have you been in the R & A clubhouse before this week?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yes, I have been, actually. You're allowed in at St. Andrews, aren't you? Came through yeah, I think ladies are allowed in.

Obviously it's nice to go in there. I registered in there. I actually haven't been to the locker room yet. Yeah, I mean, it's lovely to use it.

Q. How historic is it having an LPGA event here?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Obviously it's great having the ladies playing here. I think everyone's obviously really looking forward to playing this week.

I don't know if it's historic. There was no reason why we couldn't come and play here. It's not a men only course. So, yes, I'm looking forward to it.

Q. Do you see it as a breakthrough for ladies golf?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: No, I really don't think it's a breakthrough. There's really no issue at this course. Ladies play on it and have just as many rights as the men, so it's really no big deal.

Q. Are you surprised it took so long to play a women's event here?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: A professional one, yeah, I think obviously when the British started going to Woburn and going around to more Open courses, there was always the chance that it might come here. I think it's just great that they decided to bring it here.

Q. Do you think St Andrews is now too easy for the top men players?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I don't think so. I think all links courses, it's just the wind. The last couple of times I think they have played here, the weather has been perfect. Uncanny on links courses, with wind, doesn't matter if you're not playing well. If you go out there today, it's certainly a test.

Q. Why do you think there have not been more successful lady golfers from Britain?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I don't know. That's a good question. Yeah, obviously just I don't know whether it just goes in cycles or what. I don't know what they do in Korea; there must be something in the water there.

Yeah, I really don't know why there are not more lady professionals from Britain. Certainly when I turned pro, obviously Janice and Laura were behind me and they both turned pro, and yeah, there really has not done anybody who has done overly well since then. You've got a few coming up now, Scottish players certainly, Claire queen man, and there's a couple of amateurs that are probably going to do well. Yeah, I can't really explain why there are not more.

Q. Do have any good stories about trying to get into the R&A building?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: No, because I think I knew I wasn't allowed in, so I never tried.

Q. Is it difficult to watch Michele Wie struggling like she is at the moment?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah, you hate to see anyone struggle like that. Obviously she's got played with her a lot in the past. She's got all the talent, got all the shots. Maybe just a little bit of lack of confidence. I haven't really seen her play this year. But maybe it's just the lack of confidence maybe just from having some bad scores. It's amazing how it kind of filters through the game.

I'm sure she'll get it back.

Natalie Gulbis

COLIN CALLANDER: Natalie Gulbis, fresh over a victory in the Evian Masters. How does it feel coming to St. Andrews with a victory under your belt?
NATALIE GULBIS: It's great. I love the way that opening sounded, of course. It's a lot of fun to be around the players and get the feedback from the players. I think I've hugged about a hundred people today. So it's been a fun day.

COLIN CALLANDER: You've had a chance to look at the Old Course. What are your thoughts on that?
NATALIE GULBIS: It's so much more than I thought it would be. I knew that it was hyped up, and I also knew it was the first golf course that was ever built. So I wasn't really sure if it was going to meet the expectations of what I thought it might be, and it definitely supercedes them; beautiful.

COLIN CALLANDER: What about that makes it so special?
NATALIE GULBIS: Just being in all the spots of where I've seen players on TV. I went into the bunker today where David Duval was on 17; and I walked across the bridge and I've seen players and hearing the different stories and getting to go to some of the places that have the different memorabilia and the moments from this event. It's really special.

Q. Who have you received feedback from?
NATALIE GULBIS: Players, caddies, family, it's just been a lot of fun. It's been a lot of fun the last couple of days, and being around the players, and basically being here at the start of golf. It's really cool.

Q. What else do you know about St. Andrews that makes it so special?
NATALIE GULBIS: Oh, no, this is a quiz now! I think what really makes this special sits the first time we've ever had a women's event here. That's going to supersede everything. It's been something that's been on the schedule for a couple of years. We've been really excited about coming over here and having an LPGA event. And having a major over here at St. Andrews, I think the players have been excited all year. This is one of those golf courses that you're not sure if you're ever going to get the opportunity to play, not only to play this golf course, but to play it in a major championship. It's going to be a lot of fun.

Q. What do you think of the clubhouse?
NATALIE GULBIS: I'm a bit confused about the clubhouses. I've been to the one off the left, the R&A clubhouse, but it was to register and walk through. It's beautiful, from just looking at. And it also coming back towards the clubhouse seeing St. Andrews as a backdrop, it's pretty beautiful.

Q. You played at Turnberry five years ago
NATALIE GULBIS: I've always been a big fan of the British Open. It's really a unique event. I mean, today I was working on putts from 50 yards away, and I was working on them for five, ten, 15, minutes, just 50, 60, 70 yards. Usually I work on wedge shots, 50, 60, 70 yards. But there's a green that's a hundred yards long.

There's some shots that at first look like at a course you would see at a semi links style in the United States, and it's not the case here. You can't take any of these shots for granted. Going out tomorrow we are going to take my caddie and I have hired a local to go out with us just to get as much information out of him as we can.

COLIN CALLANDER: Have you ever putted from 100 yards before?
NATALIE GULBIS: No. Today was the first time. First putt was pretty good. Greg hyped it up before, but I got it to within ten feet so that was pretty good.

Q. How surprised were you to win last week, especially after your injury?
NATALIE GULBIS: Not surprised. Was very pleased. Every week I go out to the event to try and win it, and I really do. I thought that I was going to win it when I started the week, I prepared that way. I went into Sunday that way having a number in mind of what I wanted to do. Some of the times it didn't work out; last week it worked out and the timing was perfect.

There's good things and bad, for sure, and I'm looking forward to playing this week.

Q. Can you talk the injury you had?
NATALIE GULBIS: Yeah, I got hurt using a swing actually, just kind of a weighted device that I was working on some swing changes with, and that was just enough to push it over the edge. I have a tendency, if a trainer tells me to do it ten times, I do it 20, and that was one of the things that I couldn't do 20 times. I was swinging it a lot and little did I know, I got hurt.

COLIN CALLANDER: Natalie, thank you very much and good luck this week.

Ai Miyazato

PAM WARNER: Thank you for coming in and joining us. You're playing well recently and you're at the Old Course here at St. Andrews. Have you had a chance to go out and play the course yet?
AI MIYAZATO: Only today.

PAM WARNER: What were your thoughts on the course?
AI MIYAZATO: It's just an amazing place. I can feel the history and this golf course is tough. But, well, everything is really fun for me. So it's great, just great.

Q. What history did you know about the course?
AI MIYAZATO: That's a good question.

Just about the organisation before, about the formation of the R&A, that was formed about 340 years ago. I heard about that, but other than that, nothing in particular.

Q. Back in Japan you were under a lot of pressure to win, do you feel that it's affecting your performance?
AI MIYAZATO: No, I don't feel any pressure at all. I actually like the pressure. And I don't think even if I do, I don't feel that relates to me playing negatively or badly. And I also want to think positively about those kind of feelings that I get, and make it into a good makes me concentrate on the situation a little bit better.

Q. How does this course fit you?
AI MIYAZATO: I think you can play the course in many ways, and it suits many types of golfers.

Q. Have you been in any bunkers or anything that you recognize as landmarks?
AI MIYAZATO: I especially remember about two years ago when the men's Open was held here and when Jack Nicklaus retired at this tournament at this golf course; and I also know about Tommy Nakajima, what he did in that Tommy Bunker, I guess is what they call it.

So those are some of the particulars. I don't know the other particulars of each of the other holes.

Q. Did you drop a ball in the bunker today?
AI MIYAZATO: Yes, I did.

Q. Did you get out?
AI MIYAZATO: Yes.

Q. In one shot?
AI MIYAZATO: Actually twice. (Laughing).

Q. Were there any surprises for you on the course? When you first saw the first hole, were you surprised at the shape of the hole?
AI MIYAZATO: I noticed that there's no real difference between the fairway and where the green starts, as well as on each of the tee boxes, I can't really see the fairway. I thought that was different but fun.

Q. The wind here is not like you've seen in Japan; how do you play it?
AI MIYAZATO: I've always felt that I'm a pretty good low ball hitter, so I don't think I need to make any particular changes. And I also feel that shots from 50 yards from the green, I really feel like the wind will have a big effect on those kind of shots. So maybe I'll have to do a little bit of 80 yard shots that roll on the ground on the fairway. So I feel like I do need to be able to to be more careful around the greens instead of just trying to hit the fairways all the time.

Sherri Steinhauer, defending champion

COLIN CALLANDER: Sherri, welcome back. How does it feel to be here as defending champion here at St. Andrews?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: It's an amazing feeling to come here to the home of golf. I have to say, I've just been in awe of the golf course and the city, and the aura is really magnificent here.

COLIN CALLANDER: Have you ever been here in your life before?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: Never.

COLIN CALLANDER: Was the course as you expected it to be?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: I think it's always different from what you see on TV. To actually be on it and see that, really, a lot of the shots are blind shots and being here is completely different than watching it on TV. Everybody who plays golf, everybody should come here at some point.

COLIN CALLANDER: Did it live up to your expectations?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: Oh, yeah. You know, the links style golf that I played over here before at Royal Lytham, it is really with the wind, you've got to hit the ball low, run it up. You know, it's just your true links style type golf course, and it's so different than back in the United States. It's a whole different type of golf game, and one that I just really, really enjoy because of the imagination that you have to use to play the golf course.

Q. Do you find it intimidating?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: Would I find it intimidating, yeah, but I have to say that yesterday, I hired a local caddie and went out there with my caddie and a local who has worked here for nine years. He was just a tremendous help just pointing out so many different things; that there's no way I would have grasped how to play the golf course on my own.

So just hearing it from experience from someone who just completely knows the golf course and has seen it in every well, as he says, every day is different. It's never the same out there. But he's seen it in so many different conditions; that was a huge, huge help.

Q. What is the local caddie helping with specifically?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: Yeah, he was basically giving targets. There's a number of different ways that you can approach the golf course. So he was giving me the different schools of thought of ways to approach it. .

He wasn't saying, you know, this hole you have to play like this or you have to play like this. He goes: Now, here are the conditions, if the wind is doing this, you can do this. You know, some people on this hole, some people like to play down here, some people like to go over here. It's what fits your eye. And that was very, very helpful.

Q. Will you use him to caddie for you all week?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: No. I just used him for just the practise round, and I'll have my regular tour caddie caddie for me the rest of the week.

COLIN CALLANDER: Quite a few of the girls have been taking out local caddies to practise, haven't they?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: Yeah, I think just never being here, and because we have such limited time to prepare, it's definitely beneficial.

Q. Have you ever been to Scotland before?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: I've been to Edinburgh, but that's it. I've never been here to St. Andrews.

Q. Is there anything you recognise, any landmarks or anything you've remember seeing on TV?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: Probably Tiger's win last year. He just played flawlessly. It was just a brilliant round of golf and he stayed out of trouble. He makes it look really easy, and I know it's not easy out there.

Q. Do you feel the history as you are out there playing the course?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: I guess, you know, when you walk across the bridge, you think of Jack Nicklaus posing for the picture. You think of Tom Morris, the history; it's just hard to describe the feeling. It's a surreal feeling being out there and knowing that you're walking the fairways that all of the greats from the past have walked.

Q. From what you've seen so far
SHERRI STEINHAUER: I think it's hard to compare because there's just nothing you know, there's golf courses all over the world that people try to they try to copy and make a links style course, but this ground has been here forever and you just cannot recreate something that they haven't made changes to.

Maybe they have, you know, changed the sides of the bunkers or whatever, but the lay of the land is what it was when golf started and, you know, the subtly, changes that have happened. But you can't recreate this golf course. In that respect, knowing that how old it is, it is a great, great golf course.

Q. From your reaction, you have not quite
SHERRI STEINHAUER: Absolutely. The players have been talking about it ever since that it was announced that we were going to be playing here in 2007. I know from players that weren't planning on playing even golf this year, but they said, "I'm going to St. Andrews," and not going to miss that opportunity. There has been a buzz for quite some time.

Q. What is the difference of playing links style golf?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: You know, the difference is that you're playing a running game. You're hitting it low, with the wind you're hitting it low and you're bumping it up. In the States we don't play like that. But that's the only way that I'm changing is probably making a shorter swing and using a lot of imagination and rolling it up. Like I said, that's not how we play in the United States. But that's what I believe you have to do over here.

Q. Was you surprised at your victory last year?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: Was I surprised at my victory last year?

Q. You hadn't won in a while before your win last year. Were you surprised when you won?
SHERRI STEINHAUER: Yeah, I guess it had not been since 2004, I had not won since.

But going back to Royal Lytham brought back great memories and I guess those carried over and I came out on top in the end.

But if you say I'm surprised by, you know I've been out here a long time, and you expect to do well every week. Obviously when you win, it's a great feeling. I don't know that I was surprised. Not that I mean, there's a lot of great there's a lot of great players out here, and to beat all of them is truly a wonderful, wonderful feeling.

Michelle Wie

COLIN CALLANDER: Michelle, welcome to the home of golf. Sorry it's so cold today. I understand you played the course today. What were your initial thoughts?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, it's so lovely. It's the greatest honour being able to play here. Just watching it on TV and actually playing it is completely different. You know, when you're watching it on TV, everything seems like it's straight in front of you. Everything looks like, 'oh, this looks like a straight course, a lot of bunkers,' but it's just so different when you play it. I never realised that almost every shot on the front nine is a blind tee shot.

I had my caddie and David everyone telling me to hit it that way and that way. I'm like, "What, hit it down the middle, hit it down this fairway, hit it down another fairway?" It's the most interesting golf course I've ever played. You have these golf courses and the first time where you actually aim to hit it in another fairway well, this year, I've been doing it on accident but now I've been doing it on purpose (giggling). It's just really interesting.

And the greens, they are very strange and interesting. The ledges, there's like Mt. Everest on the greens, basically, and you have to putt from like 50 yards away from the greens. It's just so amazing. It's just breathtaking and it's quickly become almost one of my favourite golf courses. It's so interesting.

Q. What do you know from what you've watched on television?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, I've seen obviously Tiger play here. He made the golf course seem like a real easy golf course.

But my goal is to play like him this week, not to hit it in any of the pot bunkers for all four days, and that is the way to play this golf course. If you hit in a pot bunker you have to chip out, you have to like blast it out.

I've seen John Daly play here, and obviously, you know, seeing people tee off, walking over the bridge; obviously seeing Jack Nicklaus and him waving over the bridge, which I imitated after walking home from dinner. But it's just really cool, actually seeing them play here, but like I said, it's completely different playing it.

Q. What will you do for your tee shots this week?
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, there's a lot of you know, using a lot of drivers, using a lot of hybrids. Obviously depends how the wind blows, because it changes, even during the day and even during the round.

It depends how the wind blows, but definitely my main goal is to avoid the bunkers.

Q. Is it intimidating playing the Old Course knowing all the history it has?
MICHELLE WIE: I guess it's intimidating because there's so much history on it. I mean, it's the golf course; so it's intimidating where you're actually playing, like, oh my God, I can't believe I'm actually playing here. It's like you can't believe it.

But when you're actually on the golf course, you're so intrigued by it, that I actually don't it is a very tough golf course. But I feel like there's so many ways to play it that you just have to use your imagination and creativity. And it brings out so much more out of you than playing, just hit the fairway, land it all the way to the hole where you have to like chip it around and hit around the boulders, hit around the hills and miss the pot bunkers. It's really exciting.

Q. Some of the other players have been using local caddies in practice rounds this week. Have you done the same?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, my caddie has played here before for the British for one of the tournaments that they played here; I forgot which one.

David Leadbetter, my coach, has obviously taught a lot of the players that won here, like Nick Faldo and a lot of the great players like Ernie and them. So he obviously knows where to go.

And like today, he was telling them to hit the ball, my tee shot in all of these places and I'm like, you've got to be kidding me. But actually when I got there, it was like the place to be. So you just have to really trust your lines and trust your caddies this week.

COLIN CALLANDER: What is your caddie's name?
MICHELLE WIE: David Clark.

Q. What would you consider to be a successful performance this week?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, you know, I think this week, I will consider the fact of, you know, I can play pain free completely. I felt like last week was a really good, I felt like last week I was feeling a lot better and not hurting this much. This week I would really like it to be 100% pain free, because obviously it's a lot harder this week and you have to hit a lot of knock down shots which requires hitting into the ground. If I can go through this week without having any pain, no stinging, no letting go of the club, I'll be very happy. But obviously shooting a low score would be really nice, too.

Q. How is the wrist bearing up to the hard St Andrews turf?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, a couple of shots felt like I was playing on concrete, but it's been going really well. I'm real happy about it.

Q. How difficult is it to play in a wind like this?
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, I did. It's amazing because everyone has been telling me, oh, you must be you're playing in Hawaii but the wind here is completely different in Hawaii. Actually like the wind in Hawaii because it cools you down, but over here you're freezing as it is already and then it's blowing 50 miles an hour. It's a heavy wind and it makes this golf course a lot more interesting.

I think it wouldn't be a links golf course without the wind, so it's going to be really awesome.

Q. Are you feeling more confident?
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, I do. I'm starting to build more confidence, because last week, you know, I hit a lot of good drives. It's getting better. Definitely working on hitting off the deck and hitting off the tees and hitting different shots, but I'm starting to feeling like I'm getting stronger and I can handle the long length of driver.

I feel like I'm starting to have authority over the clubs and the clubs are not having authority over me. I'm feeling a lot stronger and on the road to recovery and I'm feeling a lot more comfortable.

Q. Has it been tough coping with the problems you have had this year?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, it's been really interesting because up till this year, if you look at the tournaments I've played at, I've had fun, and every single tournament I've played exactly how I wanted to. I wish I would have won, but that problem is a good problem to have. Every single time I went out there, everything seemed really easy. My life was going exactly how I planned it. It was on a very fast track and then I hit my first bump. And obviously with my wrist, I've been struggling with my right wrist end of last year and then I, you know, fell and I really injured my left (wrist).

So it's been my first little bump. So I feel like, you know, it's going to make me a stronger player after all of this has happened after I get through this. Like I said, my wrist is definitely recovering. And at first, you know, I would have to say that I underestimated how badly I injured my wrist. At first, I was like, 'oh, I'm out of cast now, I should be right where I left it,' and it isn't. You have to start back at square one.

I felt like I just have to build up, build up, build up, until it gets really easy and natural for me, because I'm still thinking about what I have to do. It's not coming 100% natural to me. I'm still thinking about, what do I do off of here, and I'm still thinking about my swing more than I want to.

So I definitely think that this year has been a very hard year for me because things have not gone the way I wanted to, especially with my wrist and my body not being able to hit the ball. I've been hitting not being able to hit the as far as I wanted to hit it, and obviously, leaving myself in really awkward positions.

I feel like what doesn't kill me is going to make me stronger. I just have to get through this and I feel like I'm on the way to getting through it. I feel like I'm on the way to recovery and I just need to be patient with myself and not underestimate my situation right now and not underestimate how injured I was and how I need to get through this. Because it's golf is a hard game as it is, and I'm just working now on the way to recovery and I just need to be patient with myself.

Q. Do you regret coming back as soon as you did?
MICHELLE WIE: No, I don't regret it at all. I don't feel like I came back too soon. Obviously I wish I could sleep and let myself recover but that's not the way life works. Like I said, it was my first injury, and I didn't know how to go about it. I just thought, I'm young and I can beat myself again.

But you know, I felt like I took enough time. I felt like I took I don't know how many months off not playing. It was hard for me to fit another minute watching golf on TV anymore. I had to be out there, and I don't think it would have helped for me to rest a lot more, because I have to gain experience; and over the past couple of years, I gained a lot of strength by hitting golf balls. I try and hit golf balls for hours and that's where I gained a lot of strength.

So I felt like I had to do that all over again to gain my strength and to get the experience of playing golf again, playing in tournaments, being in competition, being competitive. So I just have to be out there, and I just feel like it's a very slow recovery.

Q. So you can't make it any worse if you're playing?
MICHELLE WIE: I feel like as of now, everything is healed. The bones got back together really nicely, and you know, just have to make it stronger. I haven't used for a long time so it's kind of really weak. I've been having a lot of problems with it because it's really weak and I've been hitting a lot of golf balls.

I've been starting a new workout program and really getting my wrist really strong, my body strong, my shoulders strong, every part of my body strong so it can support the wrist. I do feel like it's getting stronger, but I think any kind of injury sucks really.

Q. From the outside it looked like your confidence took a big hit in Switzerland last year.
MICHELLE WIE: I have to say, you know, starting before a little bit before the tournament, my right wrist unfortunately started hurting. But got back to school, started college applications. I have to go school and then after a week of school, I had to leave again. So I had to do a lot of work. I'm not making any excuses about it. I really enjoyed playing in Switzerland, but obviously I didn't play as well as I wanted to. But that's just the way it is. Sometimes I play good and sometimes I play bad.

You know, I just feel like I'm getting better.

Q. Do you think your problem started with what happened in Switzerland
MICHELLE WIE: No, I don't think it's because of Switzerland. I think it's because of what state my body was in. I was struggling with injuries and you can you can compensate until a certain point. You can compensate, you can like try to fix it. You can ignore the pain as long as you can, but at a certain point it's going to hit you and it unfortunately did.

You know, it's just unfortunately after that, I hit two shots off the cart path at Samsung, and one I accidentally hit fat, which was quite smart of me. But at a certain point, you just can't compensate anymore. I just felt like after the Sony I just had to stop and rest it and decided I had to run and unfortunately I hurt my left. But it's been a very unfortunate series of events that happened.

I feel like last week, after playing under par for the first time in a very long time, it felt really good. Last week it felt like I was hitting the ball a lot more solid, a lot more consistent. Like I said, I almost played pain free last week, so I feel like I'm getting a lot better.

I don't want to look back anymore. I just want to look forward.

Q. Other than the injury, do you think public expectation adds to the pressure on you?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I didn't really feel that. Obviously you know, there are points in my life where I do feel pressured, but that's what I took on. I mean, I didn't start playing golf and I didn't turn pro knowing, that, oh, this is going to be an easy life; there's going to be no pressure and this is going to be wonderful. It doesn't start out that way.

I knew what I was going to put myself into, and I enjoy it. I enjoy the pressure and I enjoy the stress because it makes life a lot more interesting. I feel like it's going to be bad when people start to not have an expectation. I think it's great that people have expectations of me, whether it's higher than what I have of myself or lower than what I have of myself because I think that expectations are great, and if I can fulfill them, that's wonderful. I'm going to try as hard to fulfill what I have myself, and as of right now that's playing pain free, that's playing confidently and that's like when I'm having fun and I feel like I'm doing that.

Q. Do you plan to play more golf next year than this year?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, you know, hopefully I'll be able to play more golf than I have been in high school because I can, you know, change up my schedule. I can make my own schedule and my own courses at Stanford. Hopefully I'll be able to practise a little bit more, play a little more tournaments, take more online courses.

I'm definitely excited to go to Stanford. It was a dream come true when I got into Stanford. It's going to be a lot of fun.

Q. How many tournaments will you be playing?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, I mean, I'm not really sure. I just have to see what I can do and how many I can play. But I definitely want to try playing more.

Q. Has your recent problems been physical or psychological?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, I think I think it's a combination of both. You know, you always have I think every athlete has mental hurdles to come over when it comes to a tournament, facing pressure, facing golf course.

But you know, I just want to I want to take the pressure off of me this week and just be able to play pain free. I don't really see it as hurdles. I see it as challenges. I think it's going to be a good challenge.

Q. Do you think you can win this week?
MICHELLE WIE: I think that if everything works out, if I hole a few putts, stay out of the pot bunkers like Tiger did and obviously keep it in one of the fairways out here, I think I'll be good.

Q. Are you doing to join the LPGA next week?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, I haven't made any decisions yet. I'm only 17, so I still have my whole life in front of me so I'm still deciding what I want to do with my life, so we'll see.

COLIN CALLANDER: Michelle, thank you very much and very good luck this week.