Lorena Ochoa

PAM WARNER: Lorena, thanks for coming in and joining us today. You have had a great season so far this year, two wins and three runner ups. Talk about how you've played so far this year.
LORENA OCHOA: Thank you. Hello. Yes, this has been a really good year. We worked really hard in the off season and just to see the results showing, it means a lot. I think we're working on the right track and there's always room where we can improve and that's always good. Especially for me right now on my short game, around the greens and on my putting.

So I have two wins and a couple of times came really close, just like last week. I think those are the times where I need to for sure just really analyze and see what happened and to take the good things and learn from experience, and hopefully make me a better player, a stronger player.

This is a special week for me, the second major of the year. I think I feel more prepared to win a major. Hopefully this is the one.

PAM WARNER: You just had a chance to play on the course in the Pro Am. Talk about the course conditions.
LORENA OCHOA: The course is in great shape, a little bit wet right now. They had a little rain in the last few days. But I think the weather forecast looks okay in the next few days, so I think it will get dry and fast.

Everything looks like last year, the same wide off the fairways. The greens, they have a lot of different undulations and that makes the putting a challenge. I think you need to be prepared for more, especially faster greens, than what we played today and judge the distance.

Q. When you look back at last week or a tournament like Orlando, do you look at that as a negative or a positive?
LORENA OCHOA: A positive, for sure. I just see the big picture and give myself so many chances to win tournaments and to be close and to be at the top; just giving myself a chance most of the weeks. Those are really good things.

I think last week was one of my best ball striking weeks, really good with the distance, even with the tough conditions and the wind. That really made me happy because we're working a lot on the trajectory of the ball. I saw a lot of good things.

It hurts a lot that I didn't win, but those are the things that I need to work on. I think for sure that the big mistake was on the 16th, making that bogey on 16 and I'm sure it's not going to happen again.

Q. Who do you view as your biggest competitors for this particular tournament?
LORENA OCHOA: Well, I don't think it's only one; I think there are so many good players right now. As you can see with the winners, there's been different players every week. I think it's going to be, majors take a little bit more of experience. But it's hard to name two or three players. I think there are a bunch of players now that are playing really good. I always try to think just on my own game and play my own game; don't be distracted by other players and other results; especially play day by day. The important thing is to put yourself in a good position on the weekend and I'm going to try to do that.

Q. Last week Michelle came back, struggled obviously, there was a lot of controversy over what happened. I wonder how the players viewed what happened last week; are players talking about it, and what's your view of what happened?
LORENA OCHOA: I don't even know if she's playing this week she is? Well, I think she's probably the only one that can just judge and make really a decision.

I really don't have any opinion. I hope she's doing okay and I hope her wrist is fine and that if she plays this week she completes the round and really shows how she's playing.

Q. Do you sympathize with her struggles physically? Has that ever happened to you?
LORENA OCHOA: No. I'm healthy. Hopefully I will be healthy for more years.

And it's tough recovering from an injury, and especially not playing competitive golf. It's like showing up in Hawaii, all of a sudden you get there and you didn't play a tournament for two or three months. It feels a little bit—you are just a little bit rusty, and I'm pretty sure that's the way she's feeling. Hopefully she gets healthy first, 100 percent, and just find her way to keep playing good golf. I think she'll be fine.

Q. Are you tired of the question, ‘When,' when you will win a major tournament?
LORENA OCHOA: If I'm tired of the question? No. No. (Laughing) My dad is also asking me that. (Laughter).

No, it's just an amount of time. I've been good not to really stress too much and put a lot of pressure on me from what the press say or what people say outside, the fans or the players. I'm just trying to enjoy where I am right now. I think I have a good chance to get a tournament (win) this week. I'm going to try really hard and I'm ready and hopefully this is it.

Q. Do you feel any difference coming in as the world number one?
LORENA OCHOA: If I feel any different? No, no, the same. I really enjoy myself and I think you need to be careful with, you know, all the time that you need to spend in different things, you know, with the press or the sponsors, more attention. But I like that, I've prepared myself to be in this position, and this is, you know, my first major of being number one. So I don't need to prove anything. I'm just going to try to play my own game and give myself a good chance.

Q. How long have you been playing these clubs?
LORENA OCHOA: That's a good question. I don't even remember if I changed them in the off season—I did. I changed them. I went to the PING factory in November after the ADT and spent a little time over there and got the new irons. So right away in January when I start practicing, I used them.

Q. It seems odd for someone of your stature, world number one, not to have a club deal.
LORENA OCHOA: That I don't have a club deal? What can I say? (Laughing)

Well, I think one thing is I've started to see that they really spend the money or the dedication in women's golf. There are so many good players, you know, that deserve better.

In my case, I have really good support back home and here in the United States. It's hard to get a club deal that is worth it. My opinion is just play with what you feel comfortable and then if you start having so many drivers in your bag—I think my mentality is to play good with your clubs and try to make birdies and that's the way you should think, you know, winning, and the earnings, it's working good so far. I respect a lot, PING has been great to me. I've been loyal to them and they have been very loyal to me. They work really hard and they have great guys here on Tour that always help me in any problem I have. I do love the PING irons, and I play the driver and I play the 5 wood and they have been good to me. So you never know, maybe in the future we have something with them.

Q. Now that you are number one, we all have seen what happens to number one with Tiger, where he has his own plane, can't go out, can't go anywhere without people recognizing him. How has it been for you? Are people starting to know who you are and do you have to stay in or can't eat dinner out anymore?
LORENA OCHOA: Well, it's been like that in México for the last few years. In México I've been lucky and I get a lot of attention and just support from home.

In the United States, it's starting to change a little bit. I guess, you know, just having a little bit more time on TV and more attention. But it's been good so far. Nothing too bother—I get recognized in restaurants and just hi and go playing. Those are the things that make you feel good and motivate to you keep going; but not yet to the point where I can't go out to dinner yet for sure.

Q. What's the strangest thing that's happened?
LORENA OCHOA: The strangest thing?

Q. In terms of being out somewhere.
LORENA OCHOA: Well, in México I had a lot of funny things. There is a motel named Lorena where the last name is Herrera (ph) and ‘Oh, Lorena Herrera, congratulations.' No, I'm the one that plays golf. And just a few other things, that they don't even know what I play and they say, ‘Oh, you play something like tennis.' (Indicating swinging motion) they don't even know what I play sometimes. They just come and say hi.

I think it's neat that they see my face and they know that I'm trying to play good and represent México.

Q. Whatever you play.
LORENA OCHOA: Yes, whatever I play.

Q. Any major tension between and you Natalie Gulbis?
LORENA OCHOA: I don't understand your question.

Q. Any rivalry, big competition between the two young superstars that you are in this particular tournament?
LORENA OCHOA: No, Natalie, we are good friends. I think we are all good friends outside the golf course.

When it comes to being on the golf course and playing in competition, you know, we like to beat each other. But no, I really enjoy being around her. I think like I said, it's not just about one player. The competition is tough and we all want to be the best. So just respect each other and try to play your best game.

Q. I represent Swedish media, golf media and I wonder do you have any plans to play in Sweden this summer?
LORENA OCHOA: I don't think I'm going to make it this year, I'm sorry. I have other plans. But I really enjoy my time in Sweden and I would love to go back, if not this year, hopefully next year. Thank you.

Q. I'm trying to remember what you did last year, it seemed like you had a pretty good round, in the third round, you kind of gave yourself a chance and just didn't do much.
LORENA OCHOA: I was trying to think that, too. I'm not sure. I think I finished, what, top 10? But I can't remember what happened. (Laughing).

Q. Is that good?
LORENA OCHOA: I feel comfortable on this golf course. It's a course that I feel very, just natural in the way I move my ball on the tee shots, it helps me a lot. I like the feel so, that's always good. I have good memories, and I think that helps, too, to have a good week.

Q. Given the tournament and the fact that you grew up in Guadalajara, do you remember the first time you ever went to McDonald's?
LORENA OCHOA: I don't, I'm sorry. But you know what, I'm very involved with the Ronald McDonald House in Mexico City. They have a tournament every year that helps raise funds for kids for sick treatment and they stay in the Ronald McDonald House and they bring their family with them. I've been there a couple of times to say hi to the kids and I've been involved with the program and I value very much what they do. I'm involved with that and I love to see that.

I got a fan head cover today with the French fries and I'm going to keep that for a good memory—a head cover, like a French fries head cover.

Q. Have you ever had fries?
LORENA OCHOA: Yes, of course, and a Happy Meal. (Laughter).

Annika Sorenstam

DANA GROSS RHODE: Annika, thank you for joining us. It's a new week this week. You just came off of a pretty good tournament last week, your first week back and if you were to win a major this week you would be second only to Mickey Wright in winning this event four times.
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, that sounds pretty good. No, I'm happy to be here. I'm coming off a good week I thought in Charleston, being the hostess and all, I thought it was a really successful week. I was pleased to be back on Tour and competing again. So, all is well.

Q. Is it tough going into a major after an injury?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: It is a little bit different. I really don't have a choice. I'm just happy to be here. My expectations, they are not very high at this point. I'm just happy to be back to compete right now. I just have to pace myself and I can't practice as much as I would like to; and I need to, I feel quite rusty.

It is what it is. I'm happy to be here competing. I have to think long term. Golf is part of my rehab right now. So there's nothing I can do about it. I just want to come here and enjoy it and hit some shots and hopefully it gets better every day.

Q. What hurt the most last week?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: What hurt the most? Well, my neck didn't hurt. I don't know, it was a good week. Like I said, there's nothing I can do about it. When you get an injury like that, you're just very limited. I was gone from competition for six weeks, and when you get a chance, the doctor gives you thumbs up to play and it is exciting, it is a different level. But again then, I didn't have to have surgery and I'm back playing a lot faster than they thought.

Q. I guess I'm just assuming that something hurt last week. But did you feel any muscles you had not used in a while?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I got tired the last three or four holes every day. The muscles, it was fatigue, I was a little sore in my right calf from walking. I haven't been walking in a while. Other than that, it was great.

Q. What are your thoughts on the course, and also the level of difficulty?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, I love this golf course. It's been good to me in the past and I've played really well here, so I enjoy coming back.

Q. A lot of people were talking about what happened with Michelle. A lot of people were very concerned about what happened; I wonder if you had any reaction to what she did, the way she did it, and I wonder how some of the players you've talked to felt about it as well.
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I haven't really talked to any other players. But you know, I just feel that there's a little bit of lack of respect and class just to kind of leave a tournament like that and then come out and practice here, especially being the hostess. You know, I don't know the situation, if it's injury or whatever it is. It's just it just seemed really weird.

Q. Will you talk to her about it?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I'm not really sure. I haven't heard anything from her, anyway. It's not really something that I was planning on doing, but if she would talk to me, I'd definitely talk to her.

Q. Would you have felt that way if she had not come out here and practiced?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Absolutely. I know what it's like to be injured. I mean, when I was injured, I wasn't able to touch golf clubs for weeks. It's a little funny that you pull out with an injury and then you start grinding. My doctor told me to rest.

Q. So it sounds like you have similar suspicions to a bunch of people who think that the 88 was a factor into that decision?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I have no idea what it is, but I know that being a hostess of an event and when you get a sponsor invite, I think you have some responsibilities to the sponsor, to the organizer, and I can tell you that from being part of it now, it's a different side from that aspect.

Q. How do you feel about this particular competition; are you feeling very strong in your game this week?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, I'm not up to 100%. I would say I'm probably about 85%. The strength is coming back. I feel like I'm getting better every day. The more, you know, the more I get into it. Like I said, I'm just happy to be here competing again and I love the feeling of being a part of competition. I'm not going to hit the same shots that I did last year; I just don't have the strength. But I'm hoping to hit some fairways, hit some greens, I've got my 4 iron and I've got a 9 wood in the bag and it's working pretty nicely.

Q. When is the last time you had one in the bag?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: It was a long time ago—oh, five, six years maybe.

Q. Does it have a name?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, it does not have a name yet. Hopefully it's just temporary. I hope to have my strength in my 4 iron.

Q. Can you remember the last time you were an underdog in a big tournament like this?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No.

Q. It's that far?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Never count me out, that's what I'm telling you. (Laughter).

Q. Today compared to the last round of the Ginn Tribute, do you notice any improvement?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think so. I felt stronger today than I did just a few days ago. You know, this past weekend, I thought the conditions were very, very tough. It's tough when you're 100%, and even tougher when you're not.

So, you know, I was glad that, you know, I had the performance I did last week. It was great to get some rounds under my belt and hopefully just get better every day.

Q. You said you were physically tired because you haven't been out there, but were you more mentally tired because of your responsibilities as the host and all of the things you had to worry about?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: You know it was a great week. I said it earlier in the week; I was honored to be the host. It's fun when you kind of work with people you enjoy working with, with the Ginn Company, Bobby especially, and with IMG. The tournament was such a great success that we were just on a high, all of us.

You know when we got together on Sunday night just to kind of talk about the week, it was very, very positive. So I think maybe I was more tired on Monday knowing we can put that behind us and move forward.

Q. Bear with me as I muddle my way through another question, going back to the Wie thing, it looked like there was a lot of involvement from various parties in making this decision to withdraw, and we've seen cases before where rules were amended for Michelle; this tournament is a good example. I'm asking you this question, just because I think there was a case for you back in '99, 2000, 2001, about trying to enter the L.A. Open, a little mix up there, and you were not allowed to enter. Based on all that stuff I just mentioned, can you talk about the ramifications of what happens when you try to continually change rules for one person, the can of worms that can get opened.
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: It's definitely a can of worms. You know, I really don't know what happened last week. I mean, I wasn't there. I was out playing and everything is speculation. But I've been on the other side of the rules and I've been on the same side of the rules. You have them and you've got to follow them otherwise it becomes a sticky situation.

Q. Do you think it's a good rule to have? I guess it was created back in '90 for the teaching pros; do you think it's still apt today, should it still be on the books?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: You know, I don't think it hurts anybody really. This is the first time it's ever come up I think.

So, yeah, I really don't know why they have that rule but I know Mackenzie (Kline) shot 89 the last day and she was just a trooper and she finished her round. She was proud to be there and, you know, that was a dream come true for her and that's the way you should handle a situation like that.

Se Ri Pak, defending champion

PAM WARNER: Se Ri, thank you for coming in and joining us today. You're the defending champion here at the McDonald's LPGA Championship. Just talk about being back here at Bulle Rock.
SE RI PAK: It seems like yesterday though. It looks like a year hasn't passed already; time flies.

Actually it feels great to be back. I don't know, it just feels like getting to this golf course all day, just smiles, I don't know why. I just feel comfortable. I'm having fun already. I don't know, just makes me feel something special, this event. So I'm really glad to be back.

Q. Is it strange at all to be thinking on one hand, it's a major championship and on the other hand, two more rounds until you are eligible for the Golf Hall of Fame?
SE RI PAK: It makes me nervous, since '07, I keep counting, when is the date for my 10th event. They keep asking me the schedule, keep moving it around. But realize it's going to be 10 years at McDonald's and that's my defending tournament and this is my 10th event. It's pretty special, it means a lot. On the other hand already you feel like this is the first time I feel nervous about something I'm going through though.

It's very exciting but I don't know, just kind of feel weird, it's like my dreams coming true, it's special.

Q. What are you nervous about?
SE RI PAK: I don't know. Maybe all of it.

Q. The speech? Are you nervous about the speech?
SE RI PAK: Oh, wow, I don't know about speech either. Now that's all I'll be thinking about it, the next couple of days.

This is my biggest goal if I came to U.S. I set my goals to start playing golf, basically as I said, this is part of my dream come true. Basically I'm pretty much a lucky person to be here, so maybe that makes me nervous about it. I feel really, really full of it and very happy about it.

Q. You said you're feeling very nervous. Can you compare it to anything, were you nervous before, like maybe the first time you won which was at this tournament in '99?
SE RI PAK: I don't think it's as nervous as ever. The time I won my first tournament, this event just really exciting about it, and it feels different, and different than winning a tournament or winning a major. It's really different.

Just being part of my success, to basically think about the last ten years, I've had great success, I've won so many tournaments and won a lot of majors. And you know, there's so many things have happened in the past ten years, and I still have many years to play, but it seems like ten years is so short time for me to be out here to play. Finally I get to get in the Hall of Fame, and already my friends are saying, "You're that old?" They talk about, "You're that old?"

It's hard to get into the Hall of Fame, but basically the age I am I'm never expecting that, too, but it's happening and that makes me feel very proud of myself. My parents are already proud of me and all of my country, so I feel really grateful.

Q. Do you feel old?
SE RI PAK: You know, I say it's not that old, but different from a couple years ago. I'm still pretty good, in good shape.

Q. When you look back at the past ten years, what's been the best win you've had?
SE RI PAK: Probably last year.

Q. Why?
SE RI PAK: Well, because first time I ever have two years rough season. I never had it in my success, ever. But totally my mind was outside the golf course, I don't know how to fix it, and I just didn't enjoy it. It's the first time ever for me that happens.

Just a year came and I know how important for me to have my own time to figure out what to do and just really having a great time and then finally I come back and I'm always probably last ten years, everybody would ask me about, how is your season, what are your goals and all the time they ask me about it.

And I said, probably most important, I would really like to enjoy it. I just want to have some fun out there and do as much as I could. But starting last year first time ever, I feel when I play golf, it's really fun and I'm very grateful to be out here traveling and playing with all the players and play all different golf course. Always same routine over the years but it's just really different. That makes it really exciting and I'm really having fun.

It's great coming back from all the way behind and had a chance to win and won it, a great shot on the last shot and won in a playoff. That was the most even though I won so many times, I guess that's the last great, great tournament, if I ever think about it.

Q. Just wonder, how often do you find yourself thinking to the shot last year
SE RI PAK: Oh, I'm still thinking about it. Today I was practicing, remember 18 I was making a 3 putt and I practice the distance to that hole. But today's not that fast, but same thing, my mind, every time something just keep repeating it. I know that it's something I probably never will forget about it. Even the people out here, fans, media, just keep talking about that shot, even to now. So I don't think I can ever not think about it. If you think about it, that was a great shot.

Q. Will you try the same shot this week?
SE RI PAK: No. (Laughter) I don't think I'm going to do that again. But I'm trying to make an easier way; not a hard way, an easier way.

Q. What do you remember about the shot? Where were you aiming? What were you going for, that kind of thing.
SE RI PAK: The first, my plan was just fairways and greens. I know missed the tee shot on 18 in the playoff and basically left me a really difficult situation there.

The next thing I think about the shot before I hit it, I thought, well, I'll just do my best. I'm already happy with getting that situation with Karrie. So I just said, I'm already really to be here, so just do my best and try to make as great a shot as I could, and it really worked. So I won a major.

But just everything, really, really grateful. All of the majors, all of the tournaments, I think just fairways and greens is the most important. So it's the same thing.

Q. What's changed for you in the last ten years as a professional?
SE RI PAK: What has changed?

Q. As a professional, what have you learned?
SE RI PAK: I've learned the most biggest problem are human beings and I'm trying so hard last eight, nine years, I've been trying to play really, really well. I'm trying to get the No. 1 spot. I really totally 100%, 110% push myself to play out here as good as I could.

But you know what, I've already done it really great and I never realized it and I kept pushing it and pushing it and pushing it, ask suddenly I was totally lost for two years. I realize that now, I'm saying just as anyone here, I'm a human being and I'm always trying to be as perfect as I could, but it's kind of impossible. I'm trying to get there. It's hard to make myself understand that, but now I understand the most important thing is I think I'm pretty much a lucky person that I'm here and I'm doing what I want to do, and I really have to be here and play; and I love my job still, playing it. So the most thing is health. As long as I'm happy, everything will be great.

So that's what I've learned most, biggest in the last ten years, which is I never realize it, how lucky I am.

Michelle Wie

DANA GROSS RHODE: Thank you all for joining us. Michelle, thank you for coming in. If you just want to start off the day with a statement at all, kind of looking forward to this week?
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, before answering any questions, I'd just like to clarify a couple of things.

The reason why I withdrew from last week was because of my left wrist injury, and I should have quit earlier. I should have stopped playing when I tweaked it on the 10th hole. But as stubborn as I am, I just kept on playing because I wanted to play. It was my first event; I was like, ‘Hell no, I'm not quitting, I can do better than that.' And I just kept on going, but I regret not quitting before.

When Greg (Nared) came up to me, he asked me how I was and I was like, ‘I'm not doing so good. It hurts to play and I really want to play next week and I don't think I can play tomorrow.' And after I said that, I was just like, then why am I playing? At least save it, save my wrist for next week, and I really want to play in the U.S. (Women's) Open, too. And I felt like if I hit one more shot—I had two holes remaining. If I played those two holes, I don't think I would be here today playing this week.

So I think it was a good judgment call. It was time to shut down my wrist. I feel like I haven't been sharing a lot of information about my injury or the conditions of my wrist. But at first when I hurt my wrist, I didn't really know what was going on. So I didn't want to tell the media; I didn't want to tell you guys what was happening and go back and say, no, it wasn't that, it was this and confuse everyone.

I didn't know what was going on. The injury was very confusing, so I didn't want to let the media know or anyone know until I was completely sure. Now I'm completely sure and I'm fine with telling my injury and telling what went wrong. But I didn't want to say anything last week because it wasn't good for my mental stage and I was really excited to get out there and that's all I was thinking of.

My wrist injury was just very unfortunate. I was in California at my aunt's house, and just thought it would be good to work out. I was like, ‘I haven't worked out in a couple of days. Oh, I think I should go out to the park and work out.' I was running, which is quite stupid; people that know me, I can't run at all.

So I just had this sudden wind of let's just try running and I felt over something, it was about 6:30 in the morning and my brain doesn't function. So, you know, I unfortunately fell. Obviously I was facing a right hand injury at that time, so being the great athlete that I am, I just tried I kind of like fell on my left hand side to protect my right hand, my right wrist.

At first, I didn't think I broke it; I didn't think I fractured it; I didn't think I did anything to it. I was like, ‘Okay, just a little sore, it's a little swollen; oh, I can't move it anymore, what's going on?' So I went to the doctor, took an MRI, took an X ray. At first it was just inflamed. They thought it was a bone bruise but a couple of weeks later I found out, you know, taking more MRIs, more X rays, finally convinced to take a CAT scan in my left wrist and it was very confusing. There was a lot of conflicting information between those couple of months. So I didn't really want to release anything.

But I'm feeling fine. So I'm letting people know right now; I just want to ask people to have patience, because I'm not 100 percent right now. I'm going through a hard time. It's my first time facing an injury. Obviously my right hand injury has been nothing but with the bones. It's just been tendonitis; it's just been recurring, chronic from over-practicing. But I never experienced anything like my left injury. I never experienced any kind of injury from working out or falling down. It was purely accidental and it was very unfortunate. But you know, I'm not 100 percent right now, and I'm just trying to work through it.

The bone has fortunately healed completely so I'm not going to have any reoccurrence with problems with my bones but right now I'm still in the rehab process. I'm not 100 percent strong. I just haven't played for a long time. So I'm still trying to get back into it. I lost a lot of distance. I lost a lot of clubhead speed, but I'm working on it. I gained a lot of love for the game over the last couple of months and I'm super excited to be back out here.

I'm just working at it. It's a work in progress. It's going to take time, and I'm going to take all of the time in the world to get better and to play at my full potential again.

Q. After your injury, how are you feeling about this competition? Do you still feel, even though you said you're not 100 percent, that you're going to come out very strong?
MICHELLE WIE: I'm just so excited to be here. I mean, I'm just so excited to play again. After four months or a couple of months of just sitting around doing nothing, I just love being out here. I just love being in the competition. I just love going out in tournaments and playing rounds and there's so many good memories of this tournament, that I feel comfortable here and I feel confident that I can play well.

But my mind is saying that; I'm not sure what my body will say. I have a very strong determination to play well. My heart is telling me that. You know, I'm just going to follow it and have fun.

Q. Can you go over your practice schedule since you left Charleston, where you've been and when you started practicing?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, unfortunately it kind of inflamed after Thursday's round. Playing in practice rounds, it wasn't as hard on my wrist as I thought, so it didn't really hurt. And I thought, ‘Oh, let's go play,' and my doctor said I was fine to play last week. Unfortunately after Thursday, it kind of swelled up a little bit. I have a trainer/therapist who travels with me and she has been working on it extensively, massaging it, stimming it, icing it, everything.

I took Friday off and Saturday came here and started to hit balls a little bit and putt a lot, and just get back into the feel of the game, just trying to run over run over memories in my head of how I played last year and just preparing myself for this year and most importantly preparing my body for this week.

Q. If you said you've had all of the time in the world, have you ever thought about taking some time now? Withdraw last week, take this week off and take however much time you need until it's 100 percent?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, the reason why I withdrew last week was to be able to play this week. I really want to play this week and I feel like my wrist is like I said, the bones are completely healed, so it won't do any good taking more time off. I have to gain more competitive experience. We're going back to when I was 13 years old to back to when I didn't have much experience and where I was really good at hitting balls. I was really good at hitting shots and really good at making putts. But once I got out there it's a completely different game.

I just feel like I have to play in tournaments to get myself back into the competitive mode. I feel like that's why I withdrew last week. That's why I saved my wrist because I wanted to play this week and I wanted to play in the U.S. (Women's) Open, and my heart has really taught me that I really want to play and I want to do as I want to do, and my doctor said that it's totally fine, I can totally play and I won't hurt it anymore; my bone is completely healed. But like I said, I'm still in the rehab process. My therapist and I are working really hard at getting 100 percent.

Like I said before, my strength is not 100 percent, but I just have to work at it. You gain strength by hitting balls and you gain strength by hitting balls. That's what I think I need to do. I just need to play more golf now. It just going to come very slowly.

Q. Were you aware of the LPGA rule, the 88 rule, before you withdrew and was that any kind of factor in your decision?
MICHELLE WIE: No. I mean, I don't think about playing 88. I mean, that's just ridiculous. I'm not going out there, ‘Oh, I can't play 88 today.' I'm not out there for that. I'm out there to play as best I can, to shoot a low score and obviously that was not on my mind. No one, I'm 100 percent sure that no one is out here on Tour thinking about playing 88. And I took no factor—my withdrawal was only because I tweaked my wrist during the middle of the round. I know I should have quit right there when I hurt it on number 10, but you know, I think I made a smart decision to save my wrist and work on my wrist and play well this week.

Q. Can I follow up; Annika was in here about an hour ago, and was somewhat critical of your decision to withdraw, said a couple of things that I'm sure you'll hear about. I'm wondering what your reaction to that kind of criticism from a player like the former number one player in the world, how you feel about that?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, I didn't hear any criticism. She didn't come up to me and criticize me. So I have really no comment to say about that. I'm just doing what I feel like is best for me.

Q. I was wondering, at such a young age, how are you handling all of the pressure from the media and your fellow players right now?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, you know, it's a tough crowd. They are not like my friends, you know. They are out to write good stories. They are out to, you know, make a living just like I am. Fortunately I have a really good team around me. I have a really good group of friends and my manager and my family, you know, everyone around me is really supportive of me over the last couple of days. My friends have been helping me through this and hyping me up for this week. I think that's why I have so much trust in them, they just help me through so much stuff.

Q. Two things. You can't injure your wrist anymore; the bone's healed?
MICHELLE WIE: Well, I'm sure I could injury it more if I smacked this table right now, but I'm not going to do that.

Q. If there's no risk of injury by playing this week, what would have kept you from finishing last week, the last two holes?
MICHELLE WIE: I think that, you know, playing the last two holes, there was a time that I had to shut it down. Because like I said in the middle of the round, I hurt it on number10. I should have stopped there. But I needed to get ice on it. I needed to stop playing for that day. I expired after a certain amount of shots. I felt like I had to shut it down. They said that I won't break my bone again by playing this week, but obviously I can hypothetically hurt it again.

So, I'm just taking my time and I'm just taking time and it was my decision. It was just my woman's intuition, shall you say, to shut it down, because I felt like something was not right with my body and I just needed to work on it a little bit. I took some time off, and hopefully I'll be ready for this week.

Q. All that being said, what are your expectations this week?
MICHELLE WIE: My expectations, I'm just out here to have fun. Just like I said, I'm so excited to be out here. I'm so excited to play again. I'm so excited to be in competition again that I'm just going to have fun and I'm just going to be patient out there.

My expectations is to be patient with myself and you know, just my expectations of the crowd and the fans and the media is to be patient with me, also. I'm only human. I have to take time with my body to heal, and like I said, I'm going to be stronger and playing more and I need the experience again, and it's only going to take time.

So I need to be patient with myself. I need to be determined to play well this week and I just need to have fun. I think having fun part will be the easiest part out of the three.

Q. When is the last time you had fun?
MICHELLE WIE: I had a lot of fun, you know, playing last week, too. Although I didn't play well; it was just so much fun to be in the tournament setting again and so much fun to be out there in the tournament. Even though I wasn't playing good at all, it was like, ‘Hey, I'm out here again, how good does this feel.' I have fun at every tournament. I make that one of my goals, and I feel like I accomplish it almost every week.

Q. In retrospect, do you feel like you owed Annika an explanation for what happened, since she was the hostess and you did have a sponsor's exemption?
MICHELLE WIE: I mean, well, just I don't think I need to apologize for anything. It's just I played bad but that's what golf is. Sometimes you play good and sometimes you play bad. Unfortunately I played bad on that week, and it's just—I wasn't playing like myself. Like I said, my wrist was not the way I wanted it to be. I tweaked it on 10. It just wasn't feeling good the whole day.

So, I don't really feel like I have to apologize for anything. I just have to take care of my body and move forward and only think of positive things.

Q. Have you or anyone in your camp had conversations with the Commissioner, either today or yesterday, regarding your interaction with your Pro Am playing partners yesterday?
MICHELLE WIE: Yes, they did have a conversation with her, and I think it was very insulting because I tried my best. Like I said, I mean, it's weird. It was my sixth year out here already and I played in numerous Pro Ams and I think it's ridiculous to make any false accusations about me. You know, they talked to Kevin at the Ginn Tribute and they said none of the Pro Am partners complained about my actions. I didn't play too great so maybe they complained about not winning.

But, I mean, what can I do? There's nothing else. I know I took a lot of effort into—you know, I didn't really have to take a lot of effort. It was a lot of fun to interact with them and just to talk with them and I helped them read a couple of putts. They might have complained about me misreading a couple of putts, but there's nothing I can do about that.

I thought it was very insulting that somebody made a false accusation about me like that. I just hope she gets better information.

Q. What was the complaint?
MICHELLE WIE: I don't really want to go into it. Maybe you'll hear about it later. It was just about the Pro Am and how someone complained—I don't really know the full story myself. I don't want to think about it too much right now. I have way too many other things to think about. I have housing applications to do this week. I have way too many other things to stress about. That's the least I think I have to worry about right now.

Q. What was the accusation?
MICHELLE WIE: You can ask my manager or you can ask the Commissioner herself. I don't think it's fair to ask me right now.

Q. Obviously last week was uncharacteristic as far as being able to play; but has this made you think at all about playing more against women in the future, maybe rethinking the idea of playing against the men?
MICHELLE WIE: No, not really. Because like I said, my body is not 100 percent. And unless I feel I'm 100 percent and I feel like I'm playing my best and I played 88, then I should rethink. But when I play uncharacteristically and I play with my body not 100 percent, I don't think about things like that.

Like I said, I was just having fun out there and I was taking care of my body and I just want to play well this week and at the U.S. Women's Open.

Q. Is it difficult to focus on golf when all of this other stuff is swirling around?
MICHELLE WIE: Not really. I mean, when I'm on the golf course, like I'm repeating over and over again, I'm just having so much fun out there. I don't think anyone has any idea about how I feel when I'm out there on the golf course; that it's I'm just so happy to be out there again. I was sick of sitting at home doing nothing and watching TV. It's just so much fun to be able to use my wrist again, to be able to swing a golf club. Like before I never realized how much I golf so much and I think it just changed my point of view completely and I'm just really glad to be here.

McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola
Bulle Rock Golf Course
Havre de Grace, Md.
June 6, 2007
Pre-tournament interviews

Nicole Castrale

DANA GROSS RHODE: Nicole, congratulations, you are the sixth Rolex First Time Winner of the season last week at the Ginn Tribute Hosted by ANNIKA. It was a new tournament, new venue, interesting weather. Do you just want to talk about all of those conditions wrapped up and what it meant to be the champion at the end of that.
NICOLE CASTRALE: Thanks. Last week was awesome. Like I had said on Sunday, winning is unbelievable and to win Annika's event, her first event that she hosts, is really special. She's done so much for the game of golf and for women's golf in general. So to win that event was really a neat experience.

The last week was great. The golf course played hard and fast. The first two days, and then come the weekend, we had the wind and the rain so, it definitely played different. We are just glad to basically be sitting here today.

Q. What did last week teach you about yourself? Was there anything that surprised you?
NICOLE CASTRALE: Last week I was very calm and stayed very patient throughout the whole week because the conditions were tough.

Week's prior when I was in position to win, I think I got a little eager. And so that obviously wasn't working since I had not won. So, I figured this new approach, obviously worked a little better for me. I just stayed calm all week and it ended up working.

Q. Can you talk about working with Bill Harmon, I believe as your coach, how long have you worked with him and can you talk about working with Billy?
NICOLE CASTRALE: Billy and I started working, we think around 2000. I was working with Vern Frazier, who was a good friend of all of the Harmon brothers and Vern passed away in 2000. Before he passed away, he called up Bill and asked Bill if he would take care of me for him, which I later found that story out after Vern passed away.

So Bill and I, we have done a tremendous amount of work the past seven, eight years. This has been such a payoff. I've become close with all of the Harmon brothers through Bill, and they have taught me so much on and off the golf course. They share so many stories about their dad, Claude. They are priceless, really. Just the experience of knowing all the Harmons and everyone I've met through the Harmons; become good friends with Jay Haas and Jay's uncle Bob Goalby, who won the Masters. It's just great to hear stories from back in the day about Snead and Palmer and Hogan, and like I said, they are just priceless and I thank the Harmons for that.

Q. Coming off a win like last week, is it easier or harder to focus on a major this week?
NICOLE CASTRALE: I think the first few days, they were a bit of a whirlwind trying to get back to voicemails and text messages and e mails. But I've done a good job of getting back into this week because this is an important week and I have to keep doing what I've been doing to continue to have success. So I'm just looking forward to it.

Q. Along those lines, what did last week do for your confidence? Do you come here with a lot more confidence than you did when you came here last year?
NICOLE CASTRALE: My game plan going into this week is pretty much the same as it has been every week, always trying to hit fairways and greens and always going from there.

Last week definitely proves to myself that I can definitely win out here on Tour. I'm just looking forward to gaining on the experience and just try to keep on getting better. Because I don't think you can ever say that you've got it when it comes to golf, because I don't know that anyone ever gets it completely.

So, I'm just looking forward to the challenge and to keep playing well.

Q. Weren't you on the leaderboard last year? Didn't you lead after 36 holes last year?
NICOLE CASTRALE: I believe I was leading after the first day and was maybe a shot back after the second day.

Q. What does that do as far as, is this a golf course that you like; what are the conditions of the golf course that play to your game?
NICOLE CASTRALE: Right. The golf course is in great shape this year. Fairways are good. The rough is extremely healthy; therefore, it's long. The greens are rolling well. I'm just looking forward to the challenge of playing this week.

Q. Michelle Wie said she didn't think she needed to apologize to anybody for what happened last week. Just wondering what most of the players are feeling about what happened last week.
NICOLE CASTRALE: I guess I would basically say the whole Michelle Wie situation is unfortunate that it's happening. I don't really want to get involved with the Michelle Wie situation. You know, I look at it as I won an event last week.

The only thing I would say is if it's true that she came here and practiced on Saturday, it's pretty sad that Annika it shows a little bit of disrespect to her. Annika has done so much for the game of golf and for women's golf, we should really hold Annika at a very high level and have respect for her. Really that's all I have to comment about that.

Q. At the first round last year, what did you do so well, and can you pinpoint some of the things that you're going to have to do if you want to contend for this year?
NICOLE CASTRALE: Like I said, really my game plan every week, whether it's a regular event or a major, and especially in majors, you have to hit fairways because they will penalize you if you miss fairways with the rough being so long.

So really, the game plan is just to hit fairways and greens, and you know, low score after 72 holes wins.

Morgan Pressel

PAM WARNER: Morgan, thanks for coming in and joining us today. You won the first major of the year earlier this year at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and now you are here this week at the McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola looking to win your second major. Just talk about being here this week.
MORGAN PRESSEL: I'm very excited to play here. I had a great experience last year and really enjoyed it. It was a great area, very nice golf course and they were some great people. It is a great atmosphere for the second major of the year, and hopefully it will be good for me.

Q. Last time some of us saw you, you jumped in the lake with your grandmother and told us you were going shopping. Tell us what you did right after the tournament?
MORGAN PRESSEL: I didn't go shopping for a while afterwards, actually, I didn't have time, I was so busy when I went home, especially after I lost my golf clubs and things like that. It was crazy. It was a crazy week.

Q. What did you buy yourself?
MORGAN PRESSEL: (Laughing) I don't know, I went shopping a little bit. I spent some time at Ralph Lauren, we can say that.

Q. Don't you get that stuff free?
MORGAN PRESSEL: I went shopping at Ralph Lauren.

Q. There doesn't seem to be a ton of talk about you this week, have you sensed that at all?
MORGAN PRESSEL: I don't know what you mean. There was a big article in the (New York) Times today and a big article in the Boston paper yesterday, so there's been a little bit.

Q. It seems like there's distractions of non members.
MORGAN PRESSEL: I know exactly what you're asking me. Coming from you, that's not …

Q. Do you have thoughts on that?
MORGAN PRESSEL: It's been a bit of a circus, I guess you could say, that's for sure.

Q. Good or bad?
MORGAN PRESSEL: I don't know. I don't know, tease a tough question.

Q. Kind of as a different level down from that question, you're obviously the only person on this Tour who can win the Grand Slam this year. Do you look at it that way?
MORGAN PRESSEL: People keep saying it. Is that the main focus in my mind? No.

I want to win this tournament either way. Whether I won the Kraft Nabisco or not, it doesn't make me want to win this event or any other event any more.

But, you know, it's there. It's something that's possible for me I guess this year.

Q. I wonder if you could say in what way your life has changed since you won Nabisco.
MORGAN PRESSEL: Well, I'd say the biggest change is that it's gotten a lot busier. I've had a lot more obligations away from the golf course.

But you know, I've still—I just go home every night and just feel like I need a little bit more sleep than I used to need. But I'm not complaining. I'd rather have that than nobody wanting to talk to me or not have to do anything like that.

Q. Do you think your victory has had any effect on the young golfers in the States?
MORGAN PRESSEL: I think not just my victory; but all the other, especially young Americans playing very well out here. I mean, Nicole Castrale winning last week, Paula has won and Brittany, and all of the other Americans are playing well out here. I think, hopefully, as a group, we can all inspire maybe another younger generation of great players.

Q. Now that you've won a major, as you approach this week differently, do you see yourself as a different player because you have that now?
MORGAN PRESSEL: A different player, I don't necessarily think. So maybe a little bit more confident just knowing that I have been there and that I have won; now that I know that I can—not that I didn't think that I could, now I absolutely know that, look, I can definitely come out here this week and win it. It's definitely possible.

But I'm still—and hopefully I'm a little better—I always try to keep improving. But has my game totally changed? No.

Q. From an emotional standpoint, you get pretty fired up if things don't go well, for the most part, would you agree with that; is that a good way to assess that?
MORGAN PRESSEL: Yeah.

Q. You're pretty emotional the way you play. Having won a tournament now, even though you still have high demands of yourself and high expectations, do you find yourself emotionally any different because you know you have that victory?
MORGAN PRESSEL: No. Not at all. Tough question—no. Easy question, but tough for that. No, I'm still just as hard on myself as I would have been before, during, and especially, it might even have the opposite effect in that sense. I've always had high expectations, and I don't like falling short of them.

Q. What expectations do you have for the rest of the year?
MORGAN PRESSEL: Well, I just hope to continue to play well, to play the best that I can. My expectations are on myself, not necessarily against, I guess—not that I want to win two times or I want to win another major. I don't have expectations like that.

My expectations are that I want to play so that when I walk off the golf course, I know I played really well.

Q. Do you ever walk off the course feeling you played the best you could and didn't win?
MORGAN PRESSEL: No. (Laughing) I was going to say yes, but no. I was going to say that, but then I thought about the putt I left short—dead in the heart on 16.

Q. Wonder if you could give your general impressions of Lorena Ochoa and how much pressure is on her having not won a major, even though she is the number one player in the world?
MORGAN PRESSEL: Well, I've actually played with Lorena the first two rounds of the last two tournaments, and she's finished first and second in both of them and obviously lost in a playoff last week. That's not too shabby. She's a great player and I'm sure she'll play very well this week.

It's just so impressive to watch her play and watch her hit the ball so well. She's a tremendous putter and a great competitor. She grinds it out, and I'm sure she wants to win, win this week, win a major; she wants to win every week. I mean, who doesn't want to win.

Q. But is there added pressure on her because she hasn't won a major? Have you sensed that at all?
MORGAN PRESSEL: I think that you guys put extra pressure on her, but whether she pays attention to that or not is a different story.

Q. When you came out here and Annika was this grand name and was number one, and was perceived a certain way, do you look at Lorena the same way, or not yet?
MORGAN PRESSEL: I look at Lorena as a great player, as a great competitor, and obviously she's right now the number one in the world. Even when Annika was number one in the world, you still want to beat her. I don't think that it's different in that sense. Is that kind of what you're asking?

Q. Is she anymore or less intimidating than Annika was?
MORGAN PRESSEL: Well, I mean, look at Annika's career. Not to cut short anything from Lorena at all, because Lorena is a great player. But intimidating, they are both very intimidating, but you can't pay attention to that. You're still out there. You just know that when you say Annika's name on top of the leaderboard or you see Lorena's name, you know that they are great competitors, whether the same way; whether you see Juli's name or Paula's name. There's a whole list of players that, you know, you look at; that you know they are capable of hitting the shots.

But then you've got to go out and play your own game and see where it stacks you at the end of the day. So I don't know about the intimidation question. You don't pay attention to that.

Q. You talked about last week, tracing your missing clubs, some of them to Miami. What's the latest in that caper?
MORGAN PRESSEL: You know, I truthfully don't know anymore than that, just because I haven't been home. Supposedly they were going to ship some home. But I don't know anymore in that situation.