Lorena Ochoa, defending champion

COLIN CALLANDER: Good morning, we have Lorena Ochoa with us. Is the win at St. Andrews still something you think about a lot?
LORENA OCHOA: Yes, a lot. Hello, everybody. For sure, St. Andrews was a special memory. I think I will have that at the top of my head for many years. It's great to be here as defending champion, and I'm really excited to start tomorrow really early and hopefully we get a good start and go from there.

COLIN CALLANDER: It's a course you know well and I believe you finished fourth here last time. Can you talk about your liking for the golf course?
LORENA OCHOA: I have good memories of the past and what happened four years ago, and I feel more mature today and I think I have more experience and that will help a lot and hopefully I can manage to make a few birdies. I think the weather is not too bad and the scores could be low, so it's important to take advantage of the par 5s and try to really make birdies on those holes.

Q. (Regarding importance of winning first major last year).
LORENA OCHOA: I think of course winning my first major was very important, not only because everybody was asking, ‘When are you going to win your first major?’ That was very important. I knew I could do it. It was just a matter of time and I just need to stay patient.
And after that, I loved winning the Canadian Open and that was a great summer, really put me in a different position as a player and also for other players to see my level of golf. And so that's what I'm trying to repeat this year and just continue that and I hope to start this week.

Q. Do you feel the pressure going to win a major; was it a relief?
LORENA OCHOA: No, I really think it was a lot of pressure and relief, not for me about, it was more something that I knew was going to happen and I have a lot of faith in my game. I was just trying to be patient and wait for the right moment.
I'm still the same person and know that I can do it at any time and I think that helps a lot.

Q. Have you done anything or seen any of the sights?
LORENA OCHOA: Not yet but I will do something. Let me finish tomorrow to see how it goes. That sounds good, I think I could go to Windsor and have dinner there and walk around there, I may do that if you recommend that. (Laughter).

Q. It looked for a while as though you would win every week, and recently not so much; is there any part of your game that has not been as strong as it was earlier in the year?
LORENA OCHOA: No. I felt so good and I won so many tournaments, and so it was going to happen, some time to rest and I'm okay with that, part of the season and part of golf. It was really tough mentally, just pressure and busy and too many things to do and the travel and back and forth in México was very exciting and I had a lot of things to do with my sponsors.
After the Open, it was a little bit too much for me. It was a good time to take a few weeks off and relax and rest and get back. I'm really excited right now. I'm very motivated and I would love to just have a great second part of the season. We have many tournaments and I would like to win many more. That's my goal.

Q. You said last month when you have time you like to talk about the St. Andrews experience with your family. Is there some memory from the final round that you saw or heard or a shot?
LORENA OCHOA: No. 17 when I was in the bunker, everyone panicked and even though I was winning by a lot.
I was excited, and I can't even remember the hole – 14, or 15, the par 4 coming in and the par 5 on the front nine. It was raining a lot. It was very cold and I hit a 5 wood to the green, I had like 175 yards and I had a huge putt, maybe the longest in my career, and it broke a lot and it was raining and I'm trying to keep my distance, I hit the best putt of my life probably, really close, and two putted for par. So that was a great memory.

Q. You said last year after you won that you would like to go back to St. Andrews and see the town at the time when you weren't under pressure and playing golf; you were going to look at all the other things. Have you done that in the last year? Did you go back?
LORENA OCHOA: No. I think it's something I will do maybe when I retire later on, maybe with my friends, maybe with my family.
You know, as busy as we are in the summer and as much golf as we play, when I take time off, I will not go and play more golf. (Chuckling) So maybe I will go later on. The time off I take is always in December, January, and so it's a bit too cold. That's one of the things I want to do later on in my life.

Q. Did it surprise you when you heard that Annika was going to retire at the end of this year, and has that got you thinking about how much longer you want to go on playing before doing other things?
LORENA OCHOA: I think we knew it was happening, this year or next year. It was surprising, the timing that she announced it; it was a bit early in the year. But we respect her a lot, and for sure it's something that makes us think how different it is going to be on the Tour without her, and how much she has given us and golf.
You know, like any other player, I wish her the best in the next stage in her life. She helped me a lot and motivated me a lot and was a great inspiration to me and I thank her for all of the great memories.
My career, it's not going to go on forever but I don't have a set number of years, maybe five, six more years, and I will see, but for sure, I want to be a little more normal person and spend more time in México.

Q. Just wondering from after the U.S. Open if you worked with Rafael Alarcón at all or if you just totally got away from golf, and if not, have you talked to him on the phone about any swing thoughts heading into this week?
LORENA OCHOA: I spoke with him the next day and we talked about things outside the golf course and inside, things that we think we need to work on. He gave me a few exercises that I've been doing for the last few weeks. But I didn't practise much. It was more like a time off to relax and refocus again and get start with my new golf for the second part of the season. I was thinking before we started last week, we both agreed that the time off was good and now I feel fresh and recharged.
I haven't talked with him this week. I think I should do it today. I think he's waiting for the call. I will see him next week, on Tuesday.

Q. Annika has said she's leaving, at 37 years old, and you talk about leaving in five or six years and you'll only be 31 or 32; isn't that too young to be leaving the game?
LORENA OCHOA: No, I have a very different way of seeing life, a different path, and that's why I don't want to necessarily win the same number of tournaments she won or play the same amount of years.
I'm a little bit younger, I'm aware of that, and life is too short. There are many things I would love to do, also, outside of golf. This is already my sixth year, so should be good, 10, 12 years, and then move on.

Q. Can you talk about when you have to get this trophy and put it back and you have to give it back to the (LGU), just the feeling of having that trophy, giving it back, something that you have to give back but you don't want to give back again?
LORENA OCHOA: I never thought about that. I have a great picture with the trophy and it's just tradition. I always agree with that, and I think it's a very important history and tradition as a golfer, having so many champions before. I'm just really happy to be part of that and my name is right there on the trophy.
We have a little smaller version of the trophy at home, and actually people come to the house and knock on the door and say, ‘Can I take a picture with the trophy?’ It's crazy, I have no complaints, and it's beautiful to have that, even if it's just for a moment.

Q. Could you expand a little bit on what you would like to do when you finish the game, please?
LORENA OCHOA: I don't know for sure. For sure my foundation is very important. That's my priority and I want to be there 100 percent and really work there and to make sure that those kids that are in need receive help and support. I think the opportunity to receive an education is very important and it's an opportunity to change people's lives. That's what I want to do and just grow that in that matter with the foundation.
I don't know, maybe golf course design; I would love to start a family; many things, but it's so far down the road. I'm just trying to focus now on the next few weeks and that later when the time comes.

Q. Do you have a target to what you want to achieve before you retire?
LORENA OCHOA: I want to stay at the top. I want to be number one as long as I play. I'm trying to focus like I said every week and just make sure I still achieve with hard work year by year and end of the year, November, I want to be top of the Money List, top of the Rolex World Ranking, which is the most important thing to be number one year by year, so we go one year at a time.

Q. And you hope to retire as number one?
LORENA OCHOA: Mm hmm.

Q. How hard was it for you to get to number one, and what do you think that you have to do to maintain that position?
LORENA OCHOA: It was very hard. It took me four or five years. I think for sure you need to decide to be one step ahead of everybody and just work twice as hard. There is no real formula. It's something that easy, and you really work hard, if you have a balanced life and you have your goals and you're very focused on what you want to achieve and don't get too distracted with things that happen around golf, and then most important thing is to rest and to practise and always have the time to do those two things.
And then I don't know, I'm still learning. I am still trying to find what is best for me. I do believe I have a lot of room to improve just year by year, and that's also one of the things that you have to keep in mind. There is always room to improve. There is always motivation. I think that's what is most important.

Q. In México, are women golfers in general seen as being as important as men, because here we have clubs where women are not quite allowed in the front door and things like that.
LORENA OCHOA: In México, golf is very hard. We don't have the public golf courses. The opportunities are very few.
I mean, I want to say they treat us really good. I think now, also, with what I'm doing and other professionals, there are about seven, eight professionals behind me that are trying to qualify for the LPGA, they open new spaces and new areas for women, for girls.
I have no complaints. I mean, it's not the same for women and for men. There's only a few golf courses that you can practise in the morning or you can play in the morning on one or two days a week. But it's okay. That's the way it is and it's tradition, and I feel that I have support from the people at my club and in Guadalajara, and we are changing that, little by little.

Q. Do you think México can ever get to the situation that Korea are in now where women's golf is bigger than men's golf?
LORENA OCHOA: I think it's already bigger for sure. I mean, we don't have a women's professional circuit, but we have better results than the men internationally. Of course, we are not going to be like Korea and have 30 Mexican players in the next few years. We don't have any Mexicans this year on the LPGA, and we have about seven or eight professionals that are playing on the FUTURES Tour, and we have another ten that are playing in college, so they are coming.

Q. When people knock on the front door hoping to take a picture with the trophy, do you or your family invite them in for coffee or anything? Have you made any new friends?
LORENA OCHOA: (Chuckling) It's more close friends and relatives, not strangers. For sure I try to keep my private life just private, and then friends, first thing they open the door, it's like, ‘Where is the British Open trophy.’ It changed a little bit, their priorities coming to the house.

Q. Do you get inspiration from the fact that Padraig Harrington retained the men's open title, and do you believe that you can do it this year as well?
LORENA OCHOA: When he won, I was thinking the same, you know, I want to do it, and it would be the two of us the same. For sure I think it would be a great story. You know, it would be great, yeah.

Q. I think you said recently that one of your weaknesses is eating too many desserts; do you allow yourself that weakness because you train so hard, or is somebody telling you not to eat as much as you do?
LORENA OCHOA: That is my weakness and it's been forever. I like to treat myself; when I play good, I have a good dessert.
It depends, tomorrow, if it’s a nice day, I have 6 under, I say, ‘Okay, I can have a dessert,’ but even par with four holes to go, I tell him (caddie), ‘Two birdies to finish and I get dessert,’ so every day it changes, but that's my motivation.

Q. Sunningdale has a great history in golf. How do you view the course and the event this year, the Women's British Open?
LORENA OCHOA: Like I said, played here before. I was here four years ago and I know the course very well. I already played 36 holes, and this is a course that you need to be mentally prepared for, and like I said, just play really good, the par 5s to get birdies, that will be important, and just stay one day at a time. It important to get a good start tomorrow, and then just try to really focus one day at a time and I hope to have a position to win on Sunday.

Suzann Pettersen

COLIN CALLANDER: Thank you very much for coming in. Have you had a chance to see the course out there yet?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yes, I've seen it. The course is in very good shape. I'm excited to be here again, a few years back. What can I say? I'm looking forward to starting off and getting going.

COLIN CALLANDER: Is it one of these courses that fits your eye?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I mean, all courses suit my game, but of course the par 5s, that's where you make the scores this week, and a lot of short par 4.s, but it's about staying in trouble off the tee and get the putter going.

Q. How is your form coming into the week?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I feel pretty good. I played decent last week. Never got anything going. Kind of loading the energy for this week I guess.

Q. How long have you been working with David Leadbetter?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: We worked since end of June, so it's been a very short time. But at the same time, it's been a lot of good things happening. I've adjusted a little bit to the things that we're working on and I feel very good about it. It's just keep doing it, I think that's the key.

Q. What are you working on?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: It's mainly the posture. Posture and getting the face more square, very simple.

Q. What do you think of the course?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: All of the holes have their own little character, and only a few blind tee shots which is rare when you play a course like this. It's pretty much when you see is what you get. The greens here are in great shape. What can I say? I mean, it's a great golf course. I'm glad we're back.

Q. How much will you use your driver this week?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: It really depends on the wind. Like today when it's in on one, you might actually grip down on a 3 wood. Second, if you hit a good drive, you might even have a 7 iron, depending on the conditions.
Ten, you don't even need to hit driver. You can even hit a hybrid or a 3 wood and still have a long iron left to the green.
Fourteen is probably the longest one, and you've got to try to be a little bit aggressive off the tee there. The bunker will be in play, but it's kind of worth the risk, because then you get there. So the amount of fairways, but just one of those par 5s where you have to be aggressive and that's a drive, 3 wood pretty much. And there's a lot of short par 4s.
If it plays like it is today, the course will be harder and harder. They say it will be raining a little bit, but it's fairly hard already. I probably hit driver on four or five holes.

Q. Can you predict the winning score?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I have no idea. I don't know, what the score was the last time we were playing here, but it's playing very similar. The course is in, from what I remember, very similar shape.
But like I was saying, all of the par 5s are reachable, so if you play the par 5s good this week, I think you will do well.

Q. Do you have any favourite desserts?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Pudding, chocolate pudding.
Coming from France, all we've done is eating desserts for a week. So trying to get on a little healthier roll here and go to the gym every day and put your sneakers on. No, I'm fairly good.

Q. What was happening in France? What were you eating in France?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: In France, there's so much good food, you can not not have any sweets or deserts, because it's just way too tempting.

Q. Well, now you're in Britain. (Laughter)
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yeah, don't worry, we're safe now. (Laughter)

Q. What made you go to David Leadbetter? Did you go thinking there was something wrong with your game and that you needed him?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: No, there was nothing wrong with my game. It was good enough to win out there but for me, it's all about improving and moving in the right direction. As a player, you always look for improvements, and improvements probably more in accuracy and keeping things consistent.
And all my earlier teachers have been kind of – they are all from the Leadbetter school, so I figure I might as well go to the main source.

Q. I was wondering if you would rate your season from one to five, what would it be?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Three, four.

Q. Why?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Well, I've been very close. I know my game is good, and good enough to win on the LPGA. It hasn't happened yet this year. I've been very close. There are a couple of times I may be should have pulled off a little bit better on the back nine than I actually did but at least I put myself in contention, and that's pretty much what you've got to do out there.
I won twice in Europe, which is probably harder because you come there and they expect you to win. So I mean, if you don't win, you have a disappointing week. Those wins actually feel better because we go in there with probably higher expectations, not only from yourself, but from everybody else. So that was good. And I played good in Ireland, which is a little bit similar to this, not very, but you still have some of the same shots.
No, it's very, very close. And we are still only halfway through the season.

Q. (Inaudible)
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I'm pretty happy with what's happening in my game and in my little world. I mean, I'm trying to improve to get better, and one day I will settle down a little bit and I think that will be a very smart move, and I feel very good about the changes I've done. I kind of changed from last year, I have a new caddie, new physical trainer, I have a new teacher, and so it was a good thing last time I did it, so maybe it's the same now.

Q. Are you happy with the changes?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: No, it's changes for the better, and that I'm 100 percent sure of.

Q. (About state of women's golf).
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I just think the women's golf now is as strong as it's ever been. I mean, you have – from last time we were here, kind of the picture of the golfer has kind of changed. I think ladies golf is being played at a higher level. There are more good players out here. Kind of sad that Annika is on her way down, but there are so many young, hungry Americans, Koreans, Mexicans; there's such a variety of players from all around the world, which kind of helps women's golf and kind of helps it kind of launch it.

Q. What about Norwegians?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I am, at least. Yes, we have another Norwegian girl playing here this week. She's playing on the European Tour. It just seems that it's very hard to get girls to start playing and kind of taking it seriously back home. They all do what the next door neighbor is doing, so I don't know.

Q. What is the next door neighbor doing?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Probably not golf. I think they team up. Girls, I think they just like to be with each other, and I wasn't like that. I had two older brothers and I did what they did, and that kind of got my career kind of going in the right direction.
But I think for us it's very hard to get girls to kind of put in the effort that needs to be put in.

Q. What else would you do?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: In Norway, it's a ski country and all winter they ski and that's taking up so much time. A lot of that takes up the summertime. And then there's all kind of – I don't know, golf is easier to get boys started playing golf than it is to get girls started for some reason.

Q. Do you see the players in the west and Europe as unable to compete with the girls from Asia and Korea, that as good as they are at the age of 14 and 15, that there will be no way into professional golf?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: It's just crazy how many Asian players come out as such an early age and comes out and plays great golf. It's unbelievable. They are 18 year olds, fearless, just play their game; they go out and they win. It's just unreal. I mean, I'm 27 and I kind of feel old. I don't know what the other players out there feel, but it's just amazing.
That's their culture, especially in Korea. I mean, they start from when they are seven, eight, nine. I think if you start at age 14 now, too late, sorry. Everyone at that age is far ahead of you if you come from Asian countries.
At the same time, we have something we can learn from that. I think it's a good way, it's a good structure. Especially in golf, such a technical sport like golf, the earlier you start, the better so, they actually got the point there. They have a head start there.
Just imagine when China starts playing golf. There's only one Chinese girl here now. If one percent of China start playing, that's 60 million.

Q. Can you see a day when the LPGA is secondary to an Asian Tour?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I hope not. I hope that's not going to happen. It seems like the PGA has kind of got that strong brand and they will never have an opponent as strong as themselves, but there are a lot of good supplements. The European Tour for the guys is a strong tour, which is a good kind of support to the PGA. I think the same is always going to be in ladies golf. I think the LPGA will always be the main tour and that's where all of the best players will play.
At the same time, it's important to go around and show ladies golf to the entire world.

Karen Stupples

COLIN CALLANDER: Ladies and gentlemen, we have Karen Stupples, the winner the last time the Women's Open Championship was held here in 2004. Perhaps we can start with a few of the memories.
KAREN STUPPLES: It looks love to me, my name in first place here, it would be lovely to do that again. It's brilliant to be back here at Sunningdale, and first time I've been back here since winning. Brings back a lot of good memories and a different feel to it with Ricoh being a new sponsor, but it would be good because I'll be able to make new memories and hopefully still as good.

COLIN CALLANDER: Do you still wake up sometimes and think about the start to the final round.
KAREN STUPPLES: No, but I think Cristie (Kerr) and Rachel (Hetherington) do, but not me. The strange thing about it is, you would have thought playing the first two holes this week would have brought the magical thing back for me. It was playing the last few holes was really more magical, because I finished with three birdies in those last few holes and I could really enjoy the walking, enjoy the moment. And I just have – the vivid memory I have is looking at the crowds and seeing the English flags everywhere and everybody shouting for me and that is my biggest memory and my best memory of the whole event I think.

Q. When you look back to that famous victory last time in 2004, what was the key to winning around this golf course?
KAREN STUPPLES: I've thought about that, and really it was for me keeping it out of the fairway bunkers and keeping it in play, and I made some very crucial six to eight foot putts. Any time I got into trouble or hit a putt that was too far past, I would make the next one coming back. I seem to remember leaving myself some very testy five footers at times and I just seemed to make more, which is what you need to do in a major championship. You have to make the putts that count.

Q. You're having a great season. Can you just talk about this year and how you feel coming back, and you must be pleased with how it's going.
KAREN STUPPLES: I am. I've been really pleased. I really spent time last year getting to know the travel and what I needed to do to prepare each week and getting used to the day care system and what we needed to do.
So I really look last year as a bit of a learning year so I could come out this year and try and play the best I could and I'm lucky I have great support with Bobby and who takes care of Logan a lot of the time, which frees me up to practise when I need to. The day care on the LPGA is fantastic and I feel very free when I'm out on the golf course and I can play my game without any worries.
Yes, I'm very happy that my golf is returned. You never know when you have a baby if you're going to play well again or not, and that was the risk that you take in terms of your career. But in terms of me personally, it's best thing I ever could have done. He really has been the most fantastic addition to my life.

Q. Can you talk about the day care this week?
KAREN STUPPLES: My mom and dad. There is no day care this week. But my mom and dad fortunately are only two hours away and they don't see Logan that much, so they are more than happy to come up and take him. They went to the zoo with him yesterday but I think he wears them out now.

Q. As a previous winner of the Women's British Open, what changes have you seen in terms of your own career and levels of expectancy since you won that major?
KAREN STUPPLES: I think my own personal experience, my expectations of my game increased significantly. I think it hurt me for a while, there's no doubt about that. I think everybody else's expectations I think some what increased.
I don't think they are expecting me to be, you know, world number one, which I was happy with. I didn't really want that. I'm a pretty low key kind of person. I kind of like to fly under the radar and take what comes my way, and especially now. I have more important things in my life than just golf now, and in a way I'm happy for that, because it frees me up to just enjoy golf for the game that it is.

Q. With the Asian players coming through, you've done a lot for junior golf; what do you think of the state of Women's British golf at the moment?
KAREN STUPPLES: It actually looks very positive. You see girls like Melissa Reid coming through, and a number of other players. Rebecca Hudson has now won a couple of tournaments and is starting to fulfill the promise that she showed as an amateur and I think it all bodes well.
I would like to see Curtis Cups being won again by Great Britain and Ireland, that would be good, but I think that will happen in the future if they keep on with the same momentum that they are getting now.

Q. Do you feel that good European players or young British players should try to get on to the LPGA to improve?
KAREN STUPPLES: I think there's no doubt in my mind playing on the LPGA improves your game because you're playing against the best players in the world.
I always remember my first golf coach said, ‘You'll only get better by playing with people that are betting than you.’ So I always tried to play with the men and people that are better for me for improvement, and I think the same is true with the LPGA. You have the world's best players playing there; why wouldn't you want to go there to improve?

Q. Who do you see as the main contenders this week?
KAREN STUPPLES: Lorena Ochoa is going to be tough. Annika will be tough because this will be her last major. I think you can have Suzann Pettersen. She's yet to win on the LPGA this year; she's won in Europe, so I think she'll be pretty tough. I don't think you can rule out any one of the Korean players, because they all putt particularly well and they all drive it straight. Seon Hwa Lee has been playing particularly good this year.
I think it's pretty open. This golf course is a great golf course because you can play it either way. You can play it very aggressive, and you can either be burned or get rewarded for it. It's very risk/reward, or you can play it very strategically. So you don't necessarily have to hit it a mile off the tee in order to get good results around here. You just have to make the putts.

Q. Just back to the state of the game, two British players in the Top 50, do you think that says more about golf elsewhere rather than us being in a slump, as it were?
KAREN STUPPLES: Definitely. It’s a tough comparison really because Korea is so strong with their golf program coming up now, and so they do get them at a very young age and put an emphasis on the golf.
In this country, we like to be more broad with our achievements. We like to go to university and do other things, as well, and we are not just boxed into playing golf from the age of eight or nine or 10; whereas a lot of other countries, from the ages of eight, they just play golf, golf, golf, and I think that's probably what you're seeing. We are more well rounded I think because we have got other things and we are not as competitive maybe with lots of production of players.

Q. Do you think they burn themselves out?
KAREN STUPPLES: No. They just have an appetite for success and they are driven and work extremely hard. And how long a playing career does somebody want? You look at somebody like Juli Inkster, she keeps going and going and going, but she also started fairly young I think. She didn't come up at 25 I think, she was very young, so it very much depends on the individual. They might. They might have had enough by the time they get to 35 and be done but by then they will have been playing 20 years and in the Hall of Fame.

Q. The ones in the lead seem to sort of fade; do you know what happens to them at all?
KAREN STUPPLES: I wouldn't know. I would assume they would probably go back to a normal life in Korea and maybe have a family. I don't know.

Q. What's your connection with Faldo?
KAREN STUPPLES: I have lessons at the Faldo Institute in Orlando with a man called Chip Koehlke, so I'm supporting them.

Q. After you won, you had some problems with sponsors, didn't you?
KAREN STUPPLES: I did.

Q. Can you just sort of go over that and tell us what you got instead of the sponsors that reneged?
KAREN STUPPLES: Really, well nothing new has come up. I don't have a bag sponsor. The hat I'm getting a little bit from Marriott, from the Faldo institute here. But the shoes, Titleist have stepped up, Titleist and FootJoy, so I'm getting a bit from them, as opposed to Hi Tec, which pulled out of their contract; and Dalhousie, which was the golf course that sponsored my bag and hat, they decided not to renew. So nothing has come up. I've only just started playing well again. I'm always on the lookout.

Q. What Koreans are playing well at the moment?
KAREN STUPPLES: I think Seon Hwa Lee is definitely playing particularly well. I don't think you can underestimate anyone. I think at any particular time they can pop up and play particularly well. They are just good at what they do and they work so hard and they are very driven.

Q. This week is a great opportunity for so many people to see the women's game around the world. How do you assess the current position of the ladies game?
KAREN STUPPLES: I think it's on the up and up to be honest. We have a lot of very talented players and I think as a profession, we've got something for everyone. You've got mothers playing, you've got young players playing, you've got a player from probably every country in the world playing, and so there's something for a fan everywhere to watch. We've got long hitters and you've got short hitters and you've got something that people can learn on every aspect of the game, and I think it's looking very good right now.

Q. What sort of fitness regime would you have?
KAREN STUPPLES: Chasing after Logan and carrying him and picking him up.
No, actually I did a little bit earlier on in the season. I did a lot of stuff trying to get my hips back in order because after having him, they were a little bit out of whack. But time wise I really struggled for time between trying to practise and get as much as I can golf wise in and then running around and chasing him, I kind of pushed it at times and I just don't have the time or energy sometimes to do that. I want to try to hit the bed and try to get as much sleep as I can in the middle of the night.

Q. Are you as fit as you’d like to be?
KAREN STUPPLES: No, no, I'm definitely not as fit as I would like to be. I really feel like I'm still 15 to 20 pounds overweight after having him. I could do with losing that. I'm sure that every person that's had a baby knows exactly where I'm coming from with that. It's been very difficult.
But I've put an emphasis of trying to get my golf game back more than trying to get my fitness back. I hope this season I'll be able to rectify that and put more time in on my fitness without losing sight of the main goal, which is trying to play good golf, as well.

Q. Sorry, interested about these hips being out of whack. Can you explain, is this a common thing, or was it just your hips that were thrown, and how much did the baby weight?
KAREN STUPPLES: Logan was eight pounds, five (ounces) when he was born, and I'm sure I'm not the only person that has had hip issues after giving birth.
Just the fact, archaeologists, when they get bones of females, that they can tell whether they have children or not tells you your bone structure is different once you've had children. So you have to assume that everything has to kind of work its way back, and my hips were a bit stuck to be perfectly honest. They didn't want to move, and even just doing walking exercises, just walking with weights to try to get them to free up to move again, which is kind of interesting. You don't realise that you put so much stress on your body but it really does.

Q. Any more children anytime soon?
KAREN STUPPLES: Yeah, that's a long way off. Not even a little twinkle in my eye.

Melissa Reid, low amateur at 2007 RICOH Women’s British Open

COLIN CALLANDER: Ladies and gentlemen, we have Mel Reid here, as you all well know, finished as leading amateur last year at St. Andrews and subsequently turned professional and had a fantastic first year on Tour. How do you feel 12 months in?
MELISSA REID: Yeah, I feel like I've progressed a lot in the past year. I've worked really hard, and I can see the improvements already. Turning pro is quite a big thing. I just thought it was my time to go and I feel like I've really fitted in on Tour and just changing myself every week and it's nice. I'm really enjoying it.

COLIN CALLANDER: What sort of memories do you have finishing leading amateur at the RICOH last year?
MELISSA REID: It was an unbelievable week. I had to pre qualify and the whole thing. It was great to have my dad on the bag and pretty special week for all the family. I just love St. Andrews, and it's the home of golf and a fantastic atmosphere to be around, and honestly one of best weeks of my life. And I learned so much about my game and I got to play with some great players in practise, Annika and Jeong Jang and Cristie Kerr, and I loved the whole week.

COLIN CALLANDER: Look forward to this week.
MELISSA REID: Yeah, I played it a few times and this is one of my favourite courses, and it really does suit my eye. It in the best condition I've ever seen it in and it's just looking absolutely superb. I just can't wait to play and tee it up tomorrow.

Q. How do you think you measure improvement? Does it come down to pure results or do you kind of listen to yourself at the same time?
MELISSA REID: Obviously you've got to go on some results. I just feel that this year I'm shooting lower scores more consistently on lower courses with tougher competitors and finishing higher than I did as an amateur really.
So that's really how I see my improvements, and Clive, that's how he sees my improvements, and my caddie, Brian, he sees the improvements throughout each tournament and I feel like I'm progressing each tournament I play in, which is a fantastic feeling to have.

Q. There's been a lot of stuff written about your link with Sir Clive Woodward and the expertise he's provided to you. What has he brought to your game?
MELISSA REID: I'm very lucky to have met him and for him to have introduced me to such great people that are on my team and we're a very strong team. I think what I've learned from everybody is what hard work is and there's no shortcut to success. As an amateur, even last year I was doing very amateur things and whereas now I'm a professional and I feel each week and each day I'm becoming more professional in the way that I am and the way that I train is getting better.
So I think that's the main thing that I've learned is what hard work and dedication and obsession actually.

Q. Obsession, meaning attention to various details?
MELISSA REID: Yeah, the thing is that everyone is a great player. They would not be here if they were not talented. But to become a fantastic player and a major winner is a little different and to make a big difference in the future, and they are the small details that I feel do make may huge difference, and they are the small details that I am trying to find all the time.

Q. Given so many Koreans seem to have been playing since they were so young and playing for such a long time, how do you rate their threat in this tournament?
MELISSA REID: The Koreans are very good players, very strong. Yeah, they are tough, but it's great to be competing against them. I want to be competing against the best players and it's great and I want to see where I am compared to them and where I can improve. The better the field, the better it is for me.

Q. What's the biggest difference turning from amateur to professional?
MELISSA REID: I think that I've just matured a lot. As an amateur, you're in team environments quite a lot, and the problem with that is that you can only be as good as the worst player that way. You can't really push yourself to your limits.
As a pro, I'm pushing myself as high as I can go. It's a glass ceiling; it's as high as want to go and I think that's what it is. I think since I've turned pro, I've just had myself to compare and how good I want to be in X amount of years and that's what's really driven me since turning professional.

Q. In your quest to play against the best, when will you go to the LPGA Tour?
MELISSA REID: I'm going at the end of the year. The European Tour has been fantastic to me this year. It is a very, very good tour and it's getting stronger and stronger and I've really enjoyed my year here. I will always be part of the European Tour no matter what, but I want to be the best player in the world and to do that I have to compete against the best players, which is on the LPGA Tour.

Q. Are we in England doing as much as they are doing in Korea to get their youngsters good?
MELISSA REID: I don't know, I don't really know what the Koreans are doing. All I know is the Koreans work very hard. I just feel that, you know, not necessarily English, but British players and British sports people in general, especially youngsters don't understand what hard work is. I mean, I wouldn't have done if I hadn't had met Clive and the team that I've been around. I've been very, very lucky to meet some great people, but I didn't know what hard work was two years ago.

Q. What was hard work to you two years ago?
MELISSA REID: Hard work was going to the gym three times a week for an hour and a half session, and practise wise, I was doing probably two, three hours a day. Whereas now, I can do up to ten hours of practise or 12 hours of practise, and two hour gym sessions. It's a full on day for me now.
It's everything. I look very much into my nutrition. I look very much into the way I stretch and my whole day is completely dedicated to this game.

Q. How many years do you think you will do that?
MELISSA REID: As many as I can keep it going. I don't want to say it's going to be to years, three years. I want to still be winning British Opens when I'm 45 years old.

Q. Of all the experts you've been exposed to via Clive Woodward, who has made the biggest impact or difference?
MELISSA REID: Yeah, each of them have played their own part. See, they all work together. For example Dave Reddin, my fitness guy, I would not be able to do what he does to me if my body wasn't right, which is from Marco, my physio, and we couldn't do that which I didn't eat the right foods which is Adam Carey, and I couldn't do any of this right, which Charlotte Cowie helps, my doctor.
I think if I'm completely honest, would I say I have four priorities, and I would say them four have made the biggest difference.

Q. Is there a boyfriend?
MELISSA REID: There was. We unfortunately split up about a month ago. So that will be that. (Laughing).

Q. Having almost scientifically worked out what you should be doing to be a better player, is the game still fun?
MELISSA REID: Yeah, you see, this is what I've got to be careful in what I say, because it's really not mechanical what I'm doing. It's very much feel. The nutrition stuff, for example, I just bring into my life, it's part of my life, and stretching.
Golf is a game of feel. That's what's fun about it is that it's completely a feel game and you use your imagination. I wouldn't practise if I didn't have fun. I get bored very, very easily. You know, the day I beat him is the day I think I'm a pretty good player, which I haven't beat him yet, so I've still got a lot to learn, but you've got to keep it fun. I'm out there for a lot of hours and, you know, 90 percent of my time is practise and training and stuff. So you've got to keep it fun.

Q. Does the fact that you split up with the fellow a month or so ago because you work so hard and he couldn't quite cope with that?
MELISSA REID: No, he was a fantastic guy, I won't go into too much detail. He's a normal 24 year old lad, very, very nice, but I'm not normal, and we basically just grew apart and that's what it was. He wants to have career and I want to have mine, and it just wasn't going to work.

Q. What do you make of the decision by Michelle Wie to not come here and try to make the cut in the men's event in America?
MELISSA REID: That's her decision and it's completely fine. It's not something I personally would do. I personally would be on this tour until I win tournaments and until I win majors and see what Annika did to push herself even harder because she's achieved everything in the women's game.
Yeah, you know, if I manage to become anything like Annika was, then yeah, maybe I would, but right now I'm just focusing on improving myself on the women's tour.

Q. Do you think someone like Michelle Wie could benefit from the sort of information you've been given by Clive Woodward and his team?
MELISSA REID: I'm not too sure. I think that anyone would benefit from the expertise that I'm receiving. I just feel very, very lucky that I've been given access to these people and it's just a great opportunity which I'm sure any player would be thankful of having.

Q. You mentioned about going on the LPGA Tour. Have you made any plans at the moment in terms of going out to the States and what your program would be out there?
MELISSA REID: Yeah, we're working on my scheduling with my schedule guy, who is actually my fitness guy, Dave Reddin, and we are going to work out when we are going to get there and what tournaments we are going to play beforehand. And yeah, he'll look into more detail throughout the week, and it will be different conditions. It's 95 degrees out there and I have to prepare myself so I'm fresh, and that includes jet lag and everything like that. So, yeah, that's what we are working towards as soon as we can.

COLIN CALLANDER: You finished tied 16th last year, and you said in the last few minutes that you have improved in the last 12 months; does that mean that you can genuinely challenge the best players in the world?
MELISSA REID: Yeah, I'm not here to make up the numbers I'm here to win. And I do understand this is my first year on Tour and this is my first proper British Open as a professional. I'm not going to expect too much of myself or be too hard on myself, but really do think I have a chance to win, and I wouldn't be here if I didn't and I wouldn't put in the hours I do if I didn't believe that I can do this.
I'm just looking forward to this week and it's going to be a great challenge for me and I really, really want to play well here.

Q. Karen Stupples won here in 2004. Have you spoken to her about her victory around here?
MELISSA REID: I think I'm playing with her tomorrow which will be good. I'm looking forward to playing with her. She seems really, really nice, so should be a really enjoyable game. I haven't seen Karen that much, but I will talk to her and she what it entailed and felt like and stuff. She's major champion. He's a great player.

Q. Is Clive coming down to watch you?
MELISSA REID: He's not. He's in Beijing at the moment so I don't think he's going to fly over and pop along, I'm afraid.

Helen Alfredsson

COLIN CALLANDER: Welcome, ladies and gentlemen, to the 2008 RICOH Women's British Open. We have Helen Alfredsson here before us having just won the Evian Masters for the third time in your career. Congratulations. How do you feel?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: I feel great. I love that event and it's been quite good to me so we do good together.

COLIN CALLANDER: You've also won this tournament, as well, albeit not here. Do you have fond memories of this event?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Yeah, I do. Not so much in the last few years I haven't, but you know, obviously since the British Open was my first win on The European Tour, it means a lot to me.

COLIN CALLANDER: How has the win in Evian changed your perspective in any way coming into this tournament?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Not really. I played well this year. It was nice to win. That was awhile ago. No, I've been playing quite well so I look forward to it.

Q. What got you going again?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Well, I know it sounds so odd to say it, but that injury was something that had probably been there for a long time, and just something that I feel in my right hand having strength and feel, which was something I didn't realize how bad it was compared to how I feel now.
So all of the practise and everything that I had put in the last five or six years never gave any results, and then this year, you know, because they found this problem with a herniated disk in my neck. They obviously went all the way out, and now my finger, I couldn't even hold the club in my right hand.
It gradually gets to that point, but the practise I put in this year and the swing changes that came with it, obviously, you know, you get some feel back.

Q. Do you feel winning is now possible again?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: It's all possible. It was nice to win again and nice to make such putts when I needed to. That's the biggest thrill in life I think as a golfer to make them when you need to and finally to walk off with the trophy.
Obviously I feel like in a very different perspective now. I probably enjoy golf the way you probably should do from the beginning. I enjoy playing golf and I enjoy hitting good shots. It's not the end of my life anymore. I have other things. I love my life outside the golf course. I have a great family and everything and it's kind of a happy medium. I care enough about the game now.

Q. Now that you've won again, will you be changing your schedule?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Not really. I still go as I feel. I don't sit in January and plan. I go as I feel. Obviously when this happens, it gives you a few more options. I didn't play much any of the last four or five years. I've been tired and haven't been feeling very good. I might even go to Asia this year or I might get a chance to play another few events.

Q. Was there a point last year where you thought you might be done?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Well, it was hurting and I was not having any fun. You know, every day felt different. I hit shots that I had no explanation for. You know, usually my iron shots had always been my strength. If anything else failed, I had my irons, and I would hit my irons 40, 50 yards off target, which has never happened, and I have no explanation for it. Obviously somebody, please, if you look at it in video, it doesn't really show if you hold it with your right hand or not if you're hitting it.
I think I welcome the fact that I was injured, and obviously I was busy with The Solheim Cup anyways, so it all turned out to be a good thing, but of course, not just last year. I mean, I've had questions six, seven years ago. Because it's hard to come in with a good attitude every year and work out really hard in the off season and feel like you're in good shape, and you work out on the golf course on hitting golf shots and absolutely no results.
I think it's the hardest thing for an athlete when you feel like you're doing everything you can and you're getting nothing out of it. I think golf is as hard as it is because you lose so much more than you ever win, unless you're Annika, but there's only one of her. And then where do you then gain your strength from or your energy from? It's from the game, and I never got it. And it wasn't just last year; I would have felt this for a long time.

Q. When did you first get the diagnosis?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: No, it was last year. I think it was after Sybase, I just had all this tingling, the arm felt like a huge noodle, and I would have to lift it up. I couldn't even lift it up on my own, and then when the Tour – thanks to the guys in the fitness van which have been great to me. They sent me to this doctor and they X rayed and they saw that it was pretty bad herniation.
So then they started to help me with some therapy and it started to ease up a little bit, and then my nerve, it took a little bit longer for the nerve to calm down, but it was basically last year that that was a problem.

Q. What has been the reaction of your fellow pros since winning Evian?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Actually quite nice to me. People have been congratulating me and it's been very genuine. I guess they feel that I've struggled and I think I've always been nice to them, too. It's nice to see people win and it's nice that they enjoyed my win, I guess.

Q. Anyone in particular?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: No, I didn't know the Koreans spoke so well English. They have been very, very nice and I think that's been a very pleasant surprise. They have been terrific, all of those. Obviously we all know each other, the other ones and they have been terrific.

Q. Did they not usually speak?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: No, they speak. I think we understand them more and more. I've had some great conversations with them this year. But I think sometimes it's hard for us to understand our parents in Sweden; they can't wait for us to move out and be on their own, you know. And the Korean parents, they stay with them for all this time, and you know, like I didn't even know Seon Hwa Lee had been pro since she was 14. And when you've been told basically what to do all your life and not to have any opinions; I think it's hard for us to expect them to start asking a bunch of questions when that has never been asked of them before.
I think they started feeling much more comfortable with us and we enjoy them more, and I think that the Tour is getting very good with that. I mean, we integrate a lot better and we understand each other.

Q. What was your husband's reaction to your win and what was his input in it?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Well, he was more happy that he got 10 more years to stay at the Royal Hotel because he enjoys that, too. He enjoys that week.
It's fun because he's a very good golfer himself and he loves to practise. For me to just have somebody to practise with, when times are rough and you don't always feel like getting up in the morning and go out, he has always been the one that's been keen on going out.
Then he wants to learn new shots and that sort of kept me on my toes, too, and so I help him and a lot of times we get very complacent. We hit the same shots and we work on our games, and he's like – he loves to play and have fun.
Just to keep me up and keep me practising. It's been tough sometimes to get up, because you wonder why, because you don't see any results, and then you start questioning yourself and when you start going down mentally, that's the last when you go into a slump, I think that's the last part that leaves you, but it's also the last part that comes back, because you have to work so hard coming back.
I think obviously with his experience in sports, he's been a great help and just helped me getting out there and helped me staying fit and working out. So no, he's been great.

Q. Do you still hit the ball as far?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: I think I'm hitting the furthest that I've ever done, yeah. I have no idea why. I guess because I think it has to do with how my right hand it working. I can be much more aggressive. Before I just basically swung with my left.
So, yeah, it's been a nice addition, actually. I'll take it.

Q. Your chances this week?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Well, if I can continue to play to where I played, and obviously my putting was the big key, which is always is when you win to make putts. You never know, but this is a big event, and, you know, we have so many good players now on Tour. So it's obviously it's harder and harder to win. I was very happy for my win last week and of course I'm going to give it my best shot. You never know.

Q. Who will be the most dangerous Europeans this week? Or who else will go well?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Well, of course Lorena is always going to be there. You have the Koreans, they are very strong and very steady. Annika, I think she's sort of keen on finishing on a high note obviously, which she has won everything, so I would have just quit a long time ago and just enjoyed it, but I'm not her obviously.

Q. Did you try to persuade Annika not to quit?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: I asked her last week, how she felt with the decision she made, and she said every day, it's more and more clear for her. I think we mentioned this last week in the press conference, and I think asking athletes – because obviously with the struggle I've had, you know, when that day is going to come, how are you going to feel. And I talked to my husband who played hockey and other people, and they all say the same thing, you know exactly when the day comes that it's over.
I think what Annika said is the best point is to quit on your own terms, which she obviously said in a few interviews, because I think it's the hardest one you have to quit because of injuries, that you never feel like you finished. As an athlete, it's a blessing if you can finish on your own terms.

Q. Thoughts on Sunningdale?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Oh, I think it's a fantastic place. It's so fun to play a little different type of game. Obviously you never know what you're going to get here. It could be very nice and calm, and, you know, just need a little bit of wind and your total course management has to change.
But it's fun. It's a great change from what we normally play, and I think I have never heard anything bad about this golf course. Everybody super enjoys it, and from what I hear, it's in fantastic shape, so we are all looking forward to it.

Q. What are the differences?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Yeah, I think it's how far the ball runs and how you play into the greens and how you play much more of the slopes. You really have to know how the greens work in order to get close to the pin because you cannot always throw it at the pin. I don't know how it's been now because it's been raining but you play the course much more.
You have to play with the course. A lot of times in the States, you have to drive up in the middle and throw up, because the greens are very receptive. Here, you have to sort of play with all of the breaks, even on the fairways and on the greens, and it keeps you on your toes.

Q. Do you think Annika is going to find this hard to win?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: I don't know, I think it would be the first time she finds anything hard on the golf course because she's won so much.
I admire the fact that she still goes and finds the interest in doing it. I think she has a lot on her mind and it sounded to me when we talked last week that she has a lot of other projects she loves to do. I think what makes her so good is that when she sets her mind on something, she does it very, very well. You know, when she decides to do something, which she has done in the last ten years quite nicely, you know, if she ever wins again, I don't think anybody would really be surprised. I don't be surprised.

Q. Will this be a really big week for her?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: You know, obviously I cannot speak for her at all, but I think it's one of those things that she knows what's coming and she has achieved everything.
I think you can want to, but if your heart isn't in it, I don't know. There's so many things you can tell yourself: I really love this, but do you really want it? And after all that she has achieved, I don't know, obviously, but I would find that it very hard, especially when you know what's coming; because you know it's the end and you've been here and you've done this so many times, how could your heart be in it as much? Obviously she's from a different breed, so I wouldn't be surprised if she, you know, finishes on top here.

Q. As a young player, did you ever imagine that she be as successful as she has been?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: I didn't know her very well, because I was already in the States, but I remember I think I saw her and she had an enormous work ethic, and I think that really is something that shows a kid that stands out.
You know, the ones that are really willing to work hard and work on something and get it done. I saw that today, the kids come out today and they have a little excuse for this and that and surround themselves with people that tell them they are good enough and that's enough for them and I think she belongs to that category that she wanted to perfect everything; and she did, and I think that she really set her mind on something and she achieved it.
But just what I remember from as a kid, she worked really, really hard, and it is no shortcut. I think that's the same what Tiger did. All of the really top players, they worked really, really hard and you set a very good base for yourself, and then you can just move on from there.

Q. Does she work as hard as the Koreans?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: You know, I don't know, I never – no, I think in the later, I think she found stuff going on. Right now I think the Koreans do everything. They work out, they do this. I think she started out finding stuff as she went along to really get better. She can she can she worked out much harder in the end she decided they wanted to hit it further.
I think the Koreans, they just do everything. They work out, they absolutely –

Q. Did she work ‘Korean' hard?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: I think it was very healthy what Annika did and worked very hard on her golf game, and when she turned pro she added stuff just to become a little bit better all the time.
I think sometimes when you're young and you try to do too much, and every day, every waking hour is golf, I think that's very difficult. And I know that Annika was a little crazy on the national team, she loves to do pranks and stuff, and obviously that's not really the Korean way and I think she did have fun. And when she moved on and became as good as she is, she just kept finding ways to become better and better.

Q. What do you think about Michelle Wie playing on the U.S. men's tour this week?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Oh, she does? She is? I feel kind of sad for her. I think she's a very good person. I feel sad for the guidance that she seems to not have in the right direction. She was so good a couple of years ago when she finished second a few times, and instead of worrying about – I don't know who won the McDonald's, I think it was Se Ri, and Michelle should really have won it. She missed the green with wedges and couldn't get up and down; and instead of just keep working on that and working on winning – winning is tough. It takes a different mind.
I'm sure if you put yourself enough times in that position, you know, then you can deal with it, and I think that's how you become better. That's how you learn to win. But if you never get yourself there and if you're always trying to do something, I think the exhibition time for her is over, and we have some great, great players on the LPGA right now, and obviously Morgan has won, and Paula Creamer is a fantastic player and you have a bunch of young Koreans.
I think if she wants to be a golfer, she should really concentrate on being on the women's tour and dealing with them and learning to win. Winning is what we are out here for, but, I don't know, I just don't see the interest really on being on the men's tour. I didn't know even know – I thought she had quit that idea but obviously not.

Q. Will this event be great for women's golf?
HELEN ALFREDSSON: Well, I think a lot of them, I think, you know, the way Jacques Bungert and Franck Biboud has taken Evian Masters and what they have done with that tournament, I think the prize money is coming up significantly; British Open. I think the players and the way everybody looks now and the way everybody cares about themselves now, I think we are in a great time.
I'm very proud to be a part of the LPGA and how everybody, you know, performs and how they are week in and week out and taking care of themselves. It's a bunch of great girls. We always say that girls can't get along, but I will always remember how you have 144 girls every week and very little jealously because you respect people who do well, and I'm very proud to be part of an organization that is in that way.

Annika Sorenstam

COLIN CALLANDER: We have Annika Sorenstam here. Annika, your last experience in a major championship I believe for you. Must be an emotional week for you.
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I believe you're right, it is my last one, and it's going to be emotional. I think it's mixed emotions because I'm happy to be here. I've always liked the British Open and I've always liked Sunningdale, so I'm looking forward to the week.

COLIN CALLANDER: What is it you like about Sunningdale?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, I think it's a true golf course. You know, it puts a premium on your driving. I would say it puts a premium really on all your shots. It's a long golf course. You know, it has a mixture of a links feel the way it plays, but when conditions are the way they are after a little rain, you can still be a little aggressive and attack the pin.

Q. What are some of your fond memories of playing in the British Open?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: What memories I have? I have a lot of great memories. This has been a great tournament to me. I finished in the top 10 a lot of times. I finished second several times and I've won it. I've always enjoyed it here.
Like I said, I love this golf course and I love links in general, and being a European, I've always looked up to the British Open with the history and so forth, so tons of memories.

Q. Does it feel any different coming to Europe now you have announced you retirement?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, I don't really feel any different. Everybody has been treating me well since I joined the Tour. I'm just here to play and I'm here to play as good as I can, and with that said, this is not a farewell tour by any means. This is my last season and I'm going to give 100 percent and have a good year and hope to finish at the top.
My mind set is the same of course, talking about it is different, but the way I look at it is it's another golf tournament and I want to focus on it and I want to do well.

Q. Is your heart still in it now you have decided to retire?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: It is a little tougher to get motivated nowadays. That's one of the reasons why I'm stepping away, because it doesn't come as naturally, and the desire and hunger is not there as it used to be.
I mean, when I was a rookie, I just couldn't wait to play, and now I have to drag myself out to practise and to get going. But having said that, it's different when it's majors, tournaments that I really care about, and I get excited to play.

Q. Do you think you'll come back in two or three years? Or four or five?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I wouldn't say in two to three years, no. I'm not really sure. I want to finish this year first. I want to start the next chapter in my life and we'll see what happens. If I get the urge, then I know I can come back

Q. Is the door closed on you coming back?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, the door is not closed, and that's why I didn't use the ‘r' word. I said I'm stepping away, and all of my sponsors are staying with me. Maybe they are hoping that I'm going to come back.
So I'm going to continue to be involved with golf, either through the ANNIKA Academy, or, you know, these golf tournaments I'll be hosting and so forth. So I'll be keeping my game alive. Maybe not to the extent where it is today, but I will be still swinging and doing clinics and so forth.

Q. Was there one moment when you realized the motivation wasn't there any more?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, it wasn't one particular day or one particular moment. I think it's been coming on for a little while, and I felt this winter that it was very obvious that my focus wasn't there. You know, the motivation wasn't there, and it was very hard to set up goals. Setting up goals is very easy for me, I can do short term goals, and I can do long term goals. But it got to a point to where it's one thing to say I want to win majors and tournaments, but how do you really feel about it, and does it drive you as much as it used to, and I realized it doesn't.

Q. Was it a sad realization for you?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I would say that, I mean, it's mixed. Really the key is to be realistic with yourself and listen to what your needs are and what you want. I've tried to push myself very, very hard the last few years, and now it's very tough to put in another gear. It's like there's no other gear for me to put in. I used to have one or even two extra gears when I needed to, and I just don't have that anymore.
It's sad in a way because I enjoy the competition, but the reality is what it is, and you know, I have a desire to do some other things, and I feel like I have extra gears there and it's time to put them into work. So I'm excited about that, and I think there's some fun challenges ahead, and I really can't think of a better timing, because you know, I'm leaving on my terms. I'm leaving on a really healthy stage for the LPGA, and it feels good.

Q. Looking into the future 15 years ago, would you have believed what you have accomplished?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, I would not. There's so many things I wouldn't believe. Looking at the LPGA book right there, and I have several pages. I would have been happy with a photo and a bio of, you know, kind of – some of my stats, but I've got five pages. So, no, I never would have believed you, no.

Q. Are there any particular projects you can tell us about?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I can talk about what I'm going to do in the future for a long time. Like I said I'm excited about that. I'm going to start with the ANNIKA Academy which is my place and I'm going to share my passion for golf and fitness with my coaches. And really excited about the ANNIKA Foundation, which is all about creating dreams for kids either through scholarships or golf tournaments, designing courses. I'm on my fifth project right now, and I have a few others lurking around the corner that I hope to be able to get. Hosting events, clothing lines, and you know, the Web site that we've continued to improve, and then also I've just been announced the Ambassador for the USGA. It's a great honour for me and I'm looking forward to working with them in different ways to grow the game and so forth.
So, you know, like I said, I'm not using the ‘r' word because I will not be sitting still. I will be going in different directions and I think it will be fun.

Q. Once you finish, do you think you will be able to play social golf with you friends?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: You know, I doubt that I can go out and play social golf just for fun for a while. The reason I didn't say that is I competed in tennis for eight years and it took ten years for me to get over that. I've been a professional golfer for 15 years, so I mean, I hope by the time I'm 50, I can go out and shoot under 80. I guess that would be nice.

Q. Did you discuss with Tiger in any way your plans for the future?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I didn't discuss with him, but I called him before I made the announcement and shared with him my plans and what I was going to do.

Q. And what did he say?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: He said: ‘I'm glad that you're at peace with your decision and wish you all the best."'
He did tell me that I beat him to this and I said, ‘Well, it's the only thing I beat you at,' but on the other hand, he's kind of stepped away already, so I have another five more months.

Q. Have you been very emotional at tournaments this year?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I haven't been that emotional. There have been a few tournaments where I've kind of choked up coming down the stretch, but I think it's easy when you make the decision on your own, you know, when you feel content about something and you know it's the right reason. I really don't get that emotional.
You would think that I would be showing maybe more sadness of leaving, but you know, I am going to leave, but on the other hand, I feel like I'm not really leaving.
So therefore, you know, this is the last major, and I would love to play well here, but you know, it's not the end of the world. I think I will come back here and play some golf some other time.

Q. How high are your expectations this week?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, my expectations are always high. I believe in myself and I know I can play this golf course, but the competition is tough and you just don't know. But I mean, I'm going to try and stay as competitive as possible. I mean, I would love to win here. It's the only major that I haven't won two or three times, so you know, if I could win here this week, and then I would say I've pretty much achieved everything that I possibly can.

Q. Do you feel any pressure?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I don't feel any pressure. I would love to win. I'm in a different state today than I was a few years ago for that reason because I'm content with myself and I practise hard and I know the course and all these things, but I'm not going to go out there and pressure myself.
That's another reason why I'm stepping away, is it's very hard to wake up every day and go to every tournament and put pressure on yourself every single day. That's very hard.

Q. What's the most common question you've heard throughout the years?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: ‘What do majors mean to you,' that's probably one. I know the answer well: I care a lot about them.

Q. What will you miss the most?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I am a very competitive person. I love coming down the stretch when you have to hit that perfect 7 iron or you have to make birdie to force a playoff or hole a putt to win. You know, there's a special adrenaline that pumps, and I think I will miss that.
You know, I will miss all of the friends out here. I will miss some of the courses, but I'm planning on taking my competitive drive into the business world and I think I'm going to need it.

Q. It's very well documented that as a young girl you were very shy. How have you overcome that?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: You know, I think I've been lucky in the sense that I'm well known within the golf industry, and when I wear a hat or my Oakley's, people recognize me. But when I kind of dress up or when I'm more casual and let my hair down, not a lot of people recognize me, so I've always felt like I've got a good mix. If I want to be recognized, I just put a hat on. If not, I take it off pretty much.

Q. Do you think Tiger has it worse then?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I do, yes. He's in a different world there. I don't envy that at all. Like I said, I have a good mix.

Q. Have any players or has anyone tried to talk you out of your decision?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Not a player, but I've had family members, sponsor, caddie, everybody else, a lot of fans have just said, you know, ‘Do you want to do one more year? We're going to miss you.' It's been very nice that way.
But I'm set on my decision, and I've said it before, this is not something I came up with during a little coffee break. This is something that's been coming on for a little while, and I think for me coming back through injury just reinstated that I can do it. I'm playing good golf again, I'm back, and to me that just means a lot.

Q. Were you surprised that Brett Farve has come back just when you are retiring?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I think we were all a little surprised about his mixed move. What's funny, though, is when I went to – I was going to say Leadbetter, but it was Letterman – I said I was going to spend some time with his family; I'm not really sure what I'm going to do now because he won't be there.
You know, this is a decision I've made and normally when I make a decision, I stick with it, and again, like I said, I have no plans of coming back in the near future; if I ever will, then time will tell.

Q. Tell us a bit more about the sponsors that are sticking with you?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: You know what I have to be honest, it's a mix actually. There are four sponsors that are renewing knowing I'm quitting, which I'm very, very proud of that. We have found different ways for me to be involved with them and to continue the partnership, and it's not just about being seen on TV.
There's so much more, and I'm very, very proud of that, because we have built this partnership that's more than just a logo on the chest or the sleeve. We really have built a bond, and it's going to be customer entertaining and them sending their customers to my academy or them being involved in my foundation or them being involved with the AJGA, which is a tournament I'm going to host in January. There's so many connections and so much synergy between my sponsors that we are all really looking forward to the next chapter, and actually I have two sponsors that are delighted because now they can use me more.
I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing, but there is a lot more than golf, and it's a lot more about the lifestyle and what I do and me as a person, and we're finding that connection. So I think it's pretty cool.

Q. How long were the contracts?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Oh, they all varied, but they go from two to four. And Rolex is five years, so there you go.

Q. How is the cooking coming?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I'm still cooking, cooking away, but it's fun. I'm going to keep it that way for a while.

Q. How is the course playing?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think the course is in absolute fantastic condition. You will agree it's probably as green as we've ever seen it, with all of the rain, and especially last night, there was actually some puddles out there and normally you don't see that here. Normally it's as rock hard as this table.
The approach will be a little different. You will carry the ball into the green and you can even carry it to the pin on a lot of holes, but I think the setup is good and some of the holes have been lengthened and it's playing really well. I think it's fun.

Q. What are your views on Michelle Wie playing in the men's event this week?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, we all have different agendas in life. I had a wonderful experience and when I look back on my career; I will always think about that. I think that was really a turning point in my career, and as a person.
You know, I really don't know why Michelle continues to do this. I mean, we have a major this week, and if you can't qualify for a major, I don't see any reason why you should play with the men.

Q. What's your proudest moment in golf?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: The proudest moment? You know, I'm so lucky, I felt like I've achieved a lot more than I ever thought I could and it's tough to single a moment out, but the first one would be the U.S. Open in '95. That kick started my career, but then I also won what I think is one of the biggest tournaments in women's golf.
Shooting 59, to be the first woman to break 60. You know, I'm so proud of a lot of things, and again, that's why I'm stepping away. I'm very proud of my career, and you know, one or two more things is not going to change is. I have memories and that will carry me for a lifetime. I have a lot to be happy about.

Paula Creamer

COLIN CALLANDER: Paula, thank you for joining us. I believe you've been out on course this morning. How was it?
PAULA CREAMER: Yes, this is the first time I've been here. The golf course is a lot different than it was yesterday, that's for sure, with the rain overnight. It's amazing how a golf course can change so much. But I do, I like it a lot.
There's a lot of birdie holes but there's a lot of par holes and you have to kind of take advantage of the par 5s for sure here. I think those are the big part of the golf course and those are where you really need to make your opportunities and capitalise on those, and the par holes, like seven, five, a couple of those that you just need to take your pars and kind of move on.

COLIN CALLANDER: Do you think it's a very different experience than St. Andrews last year?
PAULA CREAMER: Yes, definitely. This golf course, it's like playing in the States, but at the same time, there's so many different shots you can play from everywhere. Your creativity and your imagination has to really come out this week, and that's something that I felt pretty lucky having a coach playing that kind of golf, and so he's been teaching me different shots to play and practise before the tournament starts.

COLIN CALLANDER: You came in here with two wins on the LPGA Tour last weeks and a Top 10 last week, you must be relatively confident.
PAULA CREAMER: I have had a good start, and winning in the last three months and staying in contention, I think that's the biggest part I've been trying to do is just give myself opportunities. Obviously majors are a big part of what I focus my goals on, but the U.S. (Women's) Open was a big week for me, and I think that playing in the last group on Sunday definitely helps just knowing what it feels like to be in that situation and nerves and whatnot.
And coming into this event, I feel very prepared and I feel very excited to be here and hopefully it will be a good Sunday.

Q. What would it mean to win a major?
PAULA CREAMER: Like I said, it's a huge goal for myself. There's no reason why I can't win a major. It's just a matter of timing. The only thing I can control is my own golf. If somebody gets really hot, there's nothing I can do about that, just try to stay there with them. It really would mean a lot to me. There's so much that I want to do in golf and majors are definitely a big part of that.

Q. The final round of the U.S. Open this year, how did you learn from that and how has that helped you moving forward?
PAULA CREAMER: The first three days of the U.S. Open were totally different than how I went on Sunday. I was very patient and was out there making pars and making some birdies here and there and I got off to the wrong start on Sunday and kind of reverted back to my old habits of getting anxious, trying to go for pins and on the back pin I was long and things like that.
I looked at it and had a week off where I went home and just focused on what went wrong on Sunday and how to make it better, and definitely just decisions, poor decisions in the heat of the moment.

Q. You seem to bew our answer to Ian Poulter. Do you sometimes scream when you have to wear pink day after day?
PAULA CREAMER: No, I mean, I love pink, I always have. I guess the harder questions are when I'm not wearing pink, people ask me, why are you not wearing pitch, but I always have something, it's always there, even my ribbon or my spikes, or my anklet is pink. I like it and I like the colour and I don't think there's anything wrong with me wearing pink. Ian Poulter wore pants on Sunday at British, and I thought it was pretty nice.

Q. Was there too much of a “wow” factor at St Andrews last year? How did you handle it?
PAULA CREAMER: You know, I went over to St. Andrews, and I think it was March, before the Open, to kind of get that wow factor out of the way so that when I went to the event I was ready and prepared to play, and that was a huge tournament for us to be able to go there and play that golf course. It was, it was a big feat for women's golf.
Like I said, I tried to go over a couple months early to get that out of the way so I could go and focus on winning a golf tournament.

Q. Have you thought about how important a win would be this week with Annika in the field, her last major?
PAULA CREAMER: Forgot about that. Definitely that would mean a lot. You know that she's going to go out here giving it her all, that's for sure. She's going to try to post as low scores as she can, but at the same time there's so many great players in this field and they are going to want to do that same thing and win with Annika in the field.
There's so many people out here that want to win, and I know Annika, she works so hard at the game and it works very hard to win my first major with Annika in the event.

Q. What do you think about the course, Sunningdale?
PAULA CREAMER: Yesterday was so different and so firm and so fast, and today it was much softer. The greens were receptive. They are just a little bit slower. You know, to me like I said, it's mind boggling to me how fast it can change overnight. I hit driver, 6 iron into number two yesterday and today I hit driver, 3 wood, and it's just things like that. To me knowing that you never know what you're going to get and any day you come out here the wind could switch.
It's a great golf course and you have to focus on your tee shots. Those are the main priorities, because if you keep it in the fairway, you can have short irons in the hole.

Q. Annika said she didn't know why Michelle Wie was playing with the men this week instead of qualifying. What do you think?
PAULA CREAMER: Yeah, I'm not sure, I don't know why you would want to pass up playing in a major especially the British Open here at Sunningdale but she goes a different path and that's not the pathway that I've taken. We'll see what happens.

Q. What do you think about Alfredsson winning last week and another 40-something Juli Inkster doing so well this season?
PAULA CREAMER: Well, Helen has had such a great year, and I'm so happy for her to have won that event last week. She's been really playing well, putting well, just it's great to see that.
And you know what, it's just drive and they fight to the end. Juli Inkster has always been my role model, because she grinds. I love people who will give it their all and fight for it, and definitely Helen did that and in a three hole playoff – with three holes, or two. It's awesome and that's what you want, it's what you want to win tournaments just by showing who wants it more.

Q. What do they do better at that age?
PAULA CREAMER: What do they do better? I mean, well, experience, I think that's one of the biggest things. You see a lot of golf and you've been in a lot of situations. There's so many different ways to get the job done at the end of the day, and I think the more that you can control your emotions and you know your tendencies that are going to come up emotionally and physically, I think that has a big advantage over things.

Q. Tell us a bit more about the special shot you've been practicing for this week?
PAULA CREAMER: A lot from 50, 65 yards, bumping it up with an 8 iron or a 9 iron and still trying to fly it. I forget, I think it's number 11, that short par 4, you know, with that big mound in the middle of the green, if the pin is up front, you have no chance.
Just shots like that where you would never play in the States, different ones around the green and I remember chipping with 6 irons yesterday and trying to get to the ball as soon as you can, and obviously it changes when it rains but bumping and running it 65 yards, those are new ones for me but they work.

Q. Is that fun or infuriating?
PAULA CREAMER: I think it's great that you can stand there and hit a 58 degree wedge or you can stand there with a 7 iron or ultimately have a decision of what gets closer, and I like that. I think that's what brings the best players to the top of the leaderboard is the creativity and imagination, and the biggest thing is trust. Everybody can say you can bump a 7 iron up to the green, but to do it is another thing.

Q. How important is it to have an experienced caddie on your bad this week?
PAULA CREAMER: Great, he won with Se Ri here, and he knows what it takes to win. He's been around here many, many times and grew up here, ten minutes from here, and it's huge. He tells me a lot, where to be aggressive, where not to be aggressive, and I've really taken a lot of advice from him.

Q. What's his name?
PAULA CREAMER: Colin Cann.

Q. Do you know what town he's from?
PAULA CREAMER: Is there like, a Surrey? I'll ask him, I'm sorry. I met his parents for the first time, though, so that was nice.

Rebecca Hudson

COLIN CALLANDER: Ladies and gentlemen, we have Rebecca Hudson, two time winner this year on the Ladies European Tour. You must be feeling fairly confident coming in here.
REBECCA HUDSON: Yeah, I played quite nicely since the beginning of the year. I enjoy this golf course. Not playing fabulous again at the minute, but hopefully I can turn it around the next few days.

COLIN CALLANDER: How much have you actually played here in the past?
REBECCA HUDSON: I've played a few Pro Ams and The Open.

COLIN CALLANDER: Who did you play with on the Sunningdale courses, if you can remember?
REBECCA HUDSON: A boyfriend, and I actually split up with him, and I didn't actually play.

COLIN CALLANDER: So you shouldn't have those problems this week then.
REBECCA HUDSON: No.

Q. Are you still friends?
REBECCA HUDSON: No. He wishes. (Laughter).

Q. Did you go back to working in a hotel last winter?
REBECCA HUDSON: I did. I kind of just do it just over the winter, so I was there this winter, end of December, January.

Q. Will you go back again now you've won on Tour?
REBECCA HUDSON: If I'm at home in the winter and it is that cold and there's nothing else to do, yes, I would go back and help him out. Not to the extent that I used to for kind of other reasons, as well. It's just very hard work. It's extremely hard work.
I will go back if they want me.

Q. Do you enjoy working there?
REBECCA HUDSON: Yeah, it is. I think in the winter, I do like my time off, and I do like relaxing and seeing friends and things, and it made me realise actually that I work at that, and how much I love to play golf and enjoy what I do.
I have some very good friends, and it's such a different environment to being in the golfing scene, which is nice. But I think doing it for four or five months a year, I don't think I could do it day after day after day after day, but it makes me enjoy being out here more.

Q. Have any doors opened for you since you won?
REBECCA HUDSON: No, not yet. I'll be good. I was going to say, when you win back to back events and drop back two places in the World Rankings, I don't think that's going to open many doors. I think they are in a meeting and I think they will look at it and realise that number one Gwladys is 120 something in the world and really she's better than that.
As far as moving to America, we are getting stronger and putting a lot of hard work into new events and bigger events, and so I'm happy where I am and try to show that the European girls are good.

Q. Were you wise to the vagaries of the World Ranking System?
REBECCA HUDSON: Yeah, you always the following week after the tournament you go to the Web page and just think, ‘Oh, I'll have a little look.' I think they changed the system – I don't know how the system works. It's a very complicated points system. I don't know, when it first started, you looked at our number ones, and it looked quite fair. But in the last year we just seem to have just dropped and dropped and dropped.

Q. Whereabouts do you think the top Europeans should be?
REBECCA HUDSON: That's just personal preference. Gwladys, who plays full time in Europe – I have no idea. I wouldn't like to say a number, but I would hope that she would be definitely in the top 50 in the world. I mean, she played Solheim and won seven times in how many years; I would hope that she would be.

Q. Is this something your management company can address?
REBECCA HUDSON: My management company is me. I'm part of the Players Council and a few of us have kind of said something to the tour and I think Alex and Marta are having a meeting today and just trying to push forward and just trying to make everyone aware exactly that it's not a fair system at the minute. Overall, it's not a very fair system.
We are not saying we all should be somewhere, but I think the LPGA probably has got the best players in the world. But then if you look at Japan and the LET, you would hope that they are on a par. I don't know, I don't study it that much, this is just my own reference and they are all in the top 50 in the world. Our top 15 are lucky if they are in the world top 500. We just need something that's on some level.

Q. Did your situation highlight the problem?
REBECCA HUDSON: Yeah, that sounds good to me. I think they realise it's a problem. I don't think they realised that it has been a problem. If any of the European girls did well, it would make them look, and actually there are some girls out there with the game that could do it, there is. There's lots of people who the spectators will walk up and not know who they are and that's just a shame. There's some great golfers out there at the minute.

Q. Would it make the system look ridiculous if you won this week?
REBECCA HUDSON: Yeah, definitely, the TV coverage we get and just the whole everything about the British Open just boost it is forward and I hope some of the European girls, that we do show what we can do. I hope there are some names on the leaderboard that they go, who is that but we know who they are because they are European girls, and I think we are very understated sometimes.

Q. Have you thought about playing in the States?
REBECCA HUDSON: I have, and it's like anything. I think that if you're going to go to the States, you have to have your life out there. It's like anything, you've got to be happy doing it, and I think if I have something, if I wanted to move out to America with my husband and the whole thing, we would just want to go out there and be out there, then wonderful. But my personal thing is I don't think I could go backwards and forwards and be happy.
So I am happy in Europe, and as I said, the golf is getting better and there's more tournaments. It's becoming a very good tour.

Q. Is there enough income here in Europe?
REBECCA HUDSON: Yes, when it's good, it's good. I think we haven't got the whole in depth strength down as the Americans. To make a good living in the European Tour in the top 20, you would have to be. Further down than that, I know I had three horrible years when I first started, and it is hard work. Whereas if you're 50th on the LPGA, you're actually doing okay. In Europe, you're struggling a bit. But the standard is better.

Q. So you're not going to America, for the foreseeable future?
REBECCA HUDSON: No, I'm happy. I'm staying in Europe. We're getting stronger and look forward to tournaments like this and Solheim Cup and try to qualify for that, would be good.