U.S. Women's Open
Saucon Valley Country Club
Bethlehem, PA
July 9, 2009
First-round interviews: Na Yeon Choi | Cristie Kerr | Lorena Ochoa | Jean Reynolds | Hee Young Park | Kristy McPherson | Alexis Thompson | Paula Creamer | Laura Davies | Jiyai Shin
First-round notes
Champion's Loot. What does it mean for a player to win the 2009 U.S. Women's Open at Saucon Valley Country Club this week? Besides being named a major champion at the $3.25 million event, the winner will earn $585,000 and an exemption from qualifying for the next 10 U.S. Women's Open championships. Additionally, for the rest of the LPGA Tour season, the champion is secured entry into the Samsung World Championship at Torrey Pines Golf Course Sept. 17-20 and, if they are an American, double points toward earning a spot on the 12-person U.S. Solheim Cup team. Additionally, point totals are also doubled for the Rolex Player of the Year race – 60 points for the winner; and Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race – 300 points to the champion, should she be a rookie.
Major Watch
Lorena Ochoa – Rolex Rankings' number one; 26 LPGA Tour victories, including two major championships. A victory this week would put her one major championship away from completing the LPGA Grand Slam. T2 after 18 holes;
Cristie Kerr – Twelve-time LPGA Tour winner; only major championship was 2007 U.S. Women's Open. T2 after 18 holes;
Kristy McPherson – In 2009, has finished T2 and T5 in major championships. T6 after 18 holes;
Paula Creamer – Eight wins on the LPGA Tour, but no major championships; battling a sore thumb. T12 after 18 holes;
Laura Davies – A win this week would put the 20-time LPGA Tour winner in the LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Fame. Won the 1987 U.S. Women's Open as a non-member, which was the turning point in the LPGA Tour extending membership to non-member winners. T12 after 18 holes.
Choi hangs on to first-round lead. Korean Na Yeon Choi built up a three-stroke lead during Thursday's first round of the U.S. Women's Open, before some untimely bogeys on her back nine gave her a one-stroke margin at 3-under-par 68 (32-36) over 2007 U.S. Women's Open champion Cristie Kerr, Rolex Rankings number one Lorena Ochoa, and Duramed FUTURES Tour leading money earner Jean Reynolds, who are all tied for second at 2-under-par 69 (35-34).
Choi opened her round on the back nine with three consecutive birdies on her opening holes. She only posted bogey on hole 17 before back-to-back birdies on holes two and three to move to 5-under-par for the day. Her luck stopped there as bogeys on holes five and six brought her to 3-under-par and she held steady for par on her remaining holes for the lead.
Reynolds on a roll. Jean Reynolds, of Georgia, is maintaining her confidence at the U.S. Women's Open after winning the Duramed FUTURES Tour's Horseshoe Casino Classic at Lost Marsh Golf Course, June 28. Reynolds – the Duramed FUTURES Tour's leading money earner in 2009 – will start Friday's second round in a three-way tie for second with 12-time LPGA Tour winner Cristie Kerr and 26-time winner Lorena Ochoa, who all carded rounds of 35-34=69 (-2).
Reynolds has won twice in just her second season on the Duramed FUTURES Tour and recorded five additional top-10 finishes in 10 starts. The 24-year-old first competed in the U.S. Women's Open last year, but carded rounds of 75-82=157 (+11) to miss the cut. She is on par to make the cut after her first-round 69 (-2) on Thursday – just two strokes over the career-low 67 she carded at The Duramed Championship on June 21.
Amateur Thompson playing like a veteran. Fourteen-year-old Alexis Thompson is making her third U.S. Women's Open appearance her best by far. Thompson – who, as a 12-year-old, became the youngest player to ever qualify for the U.S. Women's Open in 2007 – carded a U.S. Women's Open career-low 71 (36-35) to be in a six-way tie for sixth after 18 holes. Thompson, who has never made the cut at the U.S. Women's Open, is the reigning U.S. Girls' Junior Golf Championship winner and is the youngest winner in Junior PGA Championship history after winning the Westfield Junior PGA Championship.
Fellow amateurs Jessica Korda (37-35), 2009 British Ladies Open Amateur Azahara Munoz (37-35) and 2009 U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links champion Jennifer Song (38-34) are one-stroke back at 1-over-par 72.
WD: Martina Eberl and Naree Song withdrew prior to completing the first round of the U.S. Women's Open. Seon Hwa Lee and Brandie Burton withdrew after completing the first round, therefore resulting in 154 players who will start the second round Friday morning.
First-round interviews: Na Yeon Choi | Cristie Kerr | Lorena Ochoa | Jean Reynolds |
Hee Young Park | Kristy McPherson | Alexis Thompson | Paula Creamer | Laura Davies | Jiyai Shin
NA YEON CHOI
RAND JERRIS: Did you have an opportunity to look up at the leaderboard and to see your name at the top of the leaderboard and how did that feel in the middle of your round.
NA YEON CHOI: (Through translation.) First of all, thank you all for coming here, and, you know, I did definitely look at the leaderboard from the very beginning, and I started very smooth and easy from the first hole with a birdie.
You know, this is the best -- this is the biggest tournament of our schedule on LPGA, this U.S. Women's Open is. And I started well today, but I'm not going to, you know, let it slide and I'm just going to make sure that I play the best to the end.
RAND JERRIS: When you played your practice rounds, is this a golf course that fits your eye and that fits your game very well? Do you feel very comfortable out here?
NA YEON CHOI: (Through translation.) You know, during my practice rounds I thought this was probably the most difficult course I've ever played in my career.
You know, but starting, I think, last evening to starting today, I just wasn't very intimidated by this course. I know it's a difficult course, but, you know, I was really excited to start my round today, and I thought this was going to be a very, very interesting week for me.
Q. You played very well at Bulle Rock last month. Is there something about the major championships that, you know, lifts you up?
NA YEON CHOI: (Through translation.) You know, for -- I guess I can speak on behalf of all the players. I think, you know, we prepare the same way for every tournament on the Tour, but, you know, it being a major tournament, definitely there's a little bit more dedication. In preparation, there's just a little more with everything that has to do with major tournaments.
Especially this particular golf course is just so difficult, and I think I just did my best to play smart golf today.
Q. I was just wondering what you think of the greens. Are these some of the toughest greens you've ever played on? Do you feel comfortable on them?
NA YEON CHOI: (Through translation.) You know, generally speaking, of all the greens on this golf course, I think they're a little bigger than most other greens that I've played on. Speed-wise, it's very fast, and I think USGA set the pin location where most players will have difficulties making birdies.
So it's very fast, and a lot of slopes and it's difficult greens.
Q. This is your second year on the LPGA Tour. I wondered what your level of comfort is playing over here, and what of the other players, the Korean players told you about just coping on the Tour, on the course and off.
NA YEON CHOI: (Through translation.) You know, I guess I'll speak particularly about this tournament and being here for the second time.
You know, I think being here for the second time, being on the Tour for two years now, I think I find it much more comfortable. You know, I now understand better about the magnitude of this U.S. Women's Open, and to be honest, I think I'm much more comfortable playing on this Tour and these golf courses than I do in Korea, so, you know, everything is good for me. Love the Tour, and, you know, things are going well for me here.
CRISTIE KERR
Q. Cristie, I'm sure nobody can win the U. S. Open on the first day, but to have a round like this must be pretty gratifying to go out and put something solid on the board and get yourself in position.
CRISTIE KERR: Yeah. Definitely, as I said at the flash area, you know, every day is kind of its own separate competition, and today I did about as good as anybody is going to do.
This is a pretty solid round for this golf course, and the pins are tough. So you gotta see what each day brings you and try and take it day by day.
Q. How is the course playing as far as speed of the fairway, speed of the greens? Overall was it as hard or challenging as maybe Mike Davis was hoping it would be?
CRISTIE KERR: Yeah. I think it is. I played really well to shoot 2-under today. You know, the greens are really firm, which for the morning rounds, you know, I think maybe people thought they would be a little bit softer, but they're really not, not unless you have a sand wedge. And still the birdie I made on 6 I had sand wedge and it released 6, 7 yards with a sand wedge.
So the course is playing kind of firm and fast. Not so much in the fairways yet, but definitely around the greens, and of the pins are tough and the greens are a lot of speed on them. So you have to pay attention to what's going on.
Q. Did anything surprise you? You mentioned the firmness of the greens, even though you were in the morning wave. Was that a surprise or anything a surprise how it was set up?
CRISTIE KERR: Not really. The pins were tough. Definitely either over a little slope or a little slope in back of the pin. You know, the pin on 18 is kind of a peach. I hit a great shot to get it pin high right about 12 feet and it broke about seven feet. So I kind of knew after the first couple holes that it was going to kind of be that firm and fast for the rest of the round. So no surprises. I'm an Open champion. I kind of know what to expect.
Q. Would you say you played aggressive today? And being the United States championship, if you get to a 4 or 5 or that kind of a number, is there a certain time where you can kind of put it in I don't want to make any -- I'm not going to play as aggressive? Is there a certain number you're looking for?
CRISTIE KERR: No. Not really. You have to take what the course gives you at a U. S. Open. You try and be aggressive when you can and most of the time you can't be. It demands hitting greens, hitting them to the areas on the greens you can and try to roll in the putts, whether that be from 5 feet or 40 feet, that's kind of what you take in the U. S. Open.
So I was as aggressive as I could be today, and I think the scores are dictating that this course is playing about the way the USGA wants it.
LORENA OCHOA
LORENA OCHOA: It was good. You know, anything in the red numbers to start a U.S. Open, I will always take it. I think I hit the ball good, but more important I had the right speed of the greens. That helped me a lot. So, I mean, you know, one round down and three to go.
That's good. I'm going to rest a little bit and have a good practice to get ready for tomorrow.
Q. Do you feel just like keep it nice and neat for today?
LORENA OCHOA: Yes, I think, you know, I've been a little bit too stressed on the technique and getting the right line. I made sure today that it was more about seeing the line and just trying to make them. It worked for sure, so I'm going to try to repeat that tomorrow.
You know, this course is just a lot of feel. Some of them you're going to need to tie them in and just play high and soft. I like that it have good imagination. I'm going to keep things simple, and I'm going to continue that.
Q. How about the pin placement today?
LORENA OCHOA: They were not easy, but I don't see any easy position, no. Maybe couple holes that was right in the front.
We'll see where we get tomorrow. I think it's going to be tough for the next three days.
Q. Do you feel like you left a couple ones out there?
LORENA OCHOA: No. I'm happy with what I have. No, I made good putts. I saved good pars.
You know, a couple, maybe one shot from the bunker that I was a little bit unlucky and another shot that I made from the middle of the fairway.
I got really upset on 14, because I was 140 yards to the hole, and I was in the middle of the fairway and I made a bogey there. So you can't do that, you know. If you're going to make a bogey, you need to be in the rough, you need to be in the bunker, you need to be, you know, hitting a long shot.
That was my upset today, but at the same time, I make a long putt on No. 2.
JEAN REYNOLDS
RHONDA GLENN: Now that we have that out of the way, overall how do you feel about your performance today?
JEAN REYNOLDS: Good. Today was a very solid round. Hit the ball very good, and lag putting was very good. So I'm pleased. It was just an overall good round.
Q. What's life like on the Futures tour? Describe that.
JEAN REYNOLDS: I have been on the Duramed FUTURES Tour for this is my second year. For me, it's been just an experience. It teaches you how to travel. You've got competition, there's a lot of talent out there, and so when you come into a week like this, I mean, I feel pretty prepared. But I mean, I've enjoyed it. It's been definitely a good experience for me.
Q. Did you know that on the 18th green that you were putting to take sole possession of the lead for the U.S. Women's Open?
JEAN REYNOLDS: I snuck a peek at the board. I had a good putt there, and I was just outside my line a little bit, and lipped out and made par, but still a good opportunity. I had a lot of good birdie chances on the back, so it was a good 9.
RHONDA GLENN: Were you aware, though, that you would be leading if you had made that putt?
JEAN REYNOLDS: Yes.
RHONDA GLENN: How did you feel about it?
JEAN REYNOLDS: I was pretty nervous. It was a good feeling, but then again, coming in under the radar and leading the U.S. Open after the first round is pretty awesome, so...
Q. Do I understand correctly that you did not play golf at the University of Georgia?
JEAN REYNOLDS: No, sir, I did not. I was recruited there, and redshirted my freshman year and did not -- never traveled and played college golf.
Q. That's rather an unusual way to get to where you are. I wondered what your thought process was on doing that.
JEAN REYNOLDS: Well, at the time, I didn't have a -- I was just -- I enjoyed college, and I joined a sorority, and I studied abroad and I had a lot of other things going on besides golf at that time in my life, and I just enjoyed the five years I had at Georgia, and here I am now. So, I mean, there are different ways to get here. You've just got to have the patience and the attitude to get here, I guess.
Q. Do you think it hurt you? I doubt that it hurt you where you're sitting today, but was it just a different route to get to where you are than what's standard?
JEAN REYNOLDS: Yes, sir. I looked at it as kind of five years of that much golf intensity for me, I think I would have burned out very easily, especially at that time, because I wasn't 100% in it.
And so towards junior year, senior year, I started competing and playing in a couple of tournaments, and did really well there, and when I went to FUTURES Q-school and did well there, and so here I am now.
HEE YOUNG PARK
Q. (Indiscernible) What happened there?
HEE YOUNG PARK: It was just normal par-3 hole but little played too aggressive, hit it on the green. It was little hooking.
And then after little hit to the mound, and then bad area to the bunker, some area, but I got to keep playing to hit -- try to on the green. That's why little, going down to the score.
Q. Did you leave it in the bunker on your first shot?
HEE YOUNG PARK: Yeah. Over the green, yeah.
Q. But you got to the point where you were 3-under. What was going well for you at that point?
HEE YOUNG PARK: My caddie with me tried to just par-5 or like -- I got to hit it to the last to the 100 yards, little aggressive, hit it to the pin.
And then after the, like, little hilling or little far away to the par-4 hole just keeping the middle or like keep playing to the uphill putt. That's why easy to play 2‑under par.
Q. (Indiscernible.)
HEE YOUNG PARK: Yeah, it was very difficult. In the morning, more faster than now, so like if I go to the highest, high to the pin, never stop it nearby to the hole. So we were try to do uphill putt every hole.
So I'm going to play little bit easier after the first birdie putt.
Q. How easy did you have to hit a downhill putt?
HEE YOUNG PARK: Not too -- looking at the hole, more like a high point of some area, more -- actually, like one cup, two-cup little breaker, but more, like two yards over -- go a little slower. Yeah, very -- a lot of angles, yeah. That's finish to the good round today.
KRISTY McPHERSON
KRISTY McPHERSON: I had a couple really good 2-putts, made a really good putt on 15. Big break in putts, I felt like I hit well today. I got out of trouble when it easily could have gone another way.
Q. Even par, that's a great score today. Do you feel really good about your chances now for the rest of the weekend?
KRISTY McPHERSON: Sure. I mean, there's 54 holes of golf left on this golf course. You take a lot of pars out here.
I made I think two birdies, two bogeys today. Just keep it consistent out here. That's the thing. You have to try to stay out of your own way as best as possible. Most of the holes out here, you'll just take par and go. If you get a good birdie opportunity, then try to take advantage of it. Pars are great scores.
Q. Would you take par right now for the entire tournament?
KRISTY McPHERSON: I think there's going to be very few people under par. I mean, after being out there today and seeing how tough it can be and seeing some of these pin placements -- Aaly, you were out there. That putt I had on 18, that's the hardest putt I had all day.
Typical USGA pin placement that you can have six-, eight-footer break in it, and with these pin placements, there's no telling what's going to happen rest of the week, but par would be a great score.
Q. Can you talk about your season a little bit? Looking at your chart, it's a little bit up and down so far this year. Obviously this would be -- this could be a great turning point for you.
KRISTY McPHERSON: Yeah, it's been a pretty good season so far. I've had two good Majors so far. I tied for second and tied for fifth. Finished tied for second a couple weeks ago.
There have been a couple good golf courses that haven't really fit my eye. I like the courses that are more challenging. I'm not really good at a golf course people are going to shoot 20 under.
I tend to make a lot of pars. That's why I think I played better in the tougher tournaments this year, but yeah, it's been a good year so far. I'm not exactly where I want to be with my game right now, but hopefully by Sunday I will be.
Q. How exciting would it be for you to hang in here and come into Sunday with a great shot at it?
KRISTY McPHERSON: Oh, I mean that's something every girl dreams of. So, I mean, even par on the first day, no one is going to complain about that. You're right there in it, and that's all you can do is play one day at a time, and hopefully I'm right there in it at the end of every day.
Q. How are people treating you out there? You have some fans out there?
KRISTY McPHERSON: It's awesome. I don't really know why, I had a bunch of people out there following me and screaming my name. A lot of Myrtle Beach people following me, and a lot of my peers. It's fun. It's fun when you're out there. I made a great putt on 15. People let out a good roar there. It's a great crowd out there. It's fun to play.
ALEXIS THOMPSON
Q. You seem pretty poised out there. Is that because there's golf in your family? Is that just your personality?
ALEXIS THOMPSON: That's pretty much my personality. I'm really focused when I get out there. I mean, I don't really like to get all too excited and get off- track, so I'm pretty focused.
Q. Is this the toughest one you've played?
ALEXIS THOMPSON: You know, it's tough. I mean, the rough is really deep. It gets deeper the more crooked you hit it. I try not to do that. I mean, it's tough and it's really long. It's pretty hard.
Q. You've already had a couple of Opens under your belt. How did you feel coming out here?
ALEXIS THOMPSON: I was a little nervous. On that first tee shot, I was definitely -- once I get that shot over with, I'm good to go, but that tee shot is pretty nerve-wracking.
Q. Ninth grade, 14-year-old, U.S. Open, all the greatest players, you hanging like that?
ALEXIS THOMPSON: Yeah, that's pretty good to know. I knew I could play well. I knew even would be really good out here. You just have to hit it in the fairways and you're pretty much good to go. I'm just going to try to shoot even or under tomorrow.
Q. What part of your game has made you so strong, able to hang out here and be so good?
ALEXIS THOMPSON: Today my hitting wasn't that great. I wasn't hitting solid at all. I was losing a lot of distance but my putting was pretty good. I had a few putts that I drained that were pretty long for birdies, so I'm thankful for that.
Q. Do you expect to be nervous tomorrow, or that's done with now that you got a round in?
ALEXIS THOMPSON: Yeah, I shouldn't be nervous, I don't think. I'm just going to go out there and try to shoot even. I mean, pars are good out here. If I get some birdies, that would be just bonus.
PAULA CREAMER
Q. Can you summarize your play today?
PAULA CREAMER: I have to look at it as I shot 1‑over. 18 holes, I had some good shots. I had some not-so-smart decisions, but overall I'll take where I'm at.
I don't feel like I'm far out of it by any means. There's a couple things I need to fine-tune from this round. I need to come out tomorrow and not play the same way.
Q. You tried to make a nice rally, two birdies at the end.
PAULA CREAMER: Definitely. I gave myself a bunch of chances those last couple holes, and that's all you can ask for out here.
It's a tough course, great golf course. And pars are not going to kill you. You just have to hang on, and that's all I told myself. I didn't quite have that.
Q. How was the thumb?
PAULA CREAMER: No. The thumb was fine today, no pain. I'm going to go and ice it right now. That's the biggest thing, just ice, Advil and rest.
LAURA DAVIES
LAURA DAVIES: I haven't really played that well all year. This is probably the best round I've played since Australia.
This is a golf course I love. I knew I was going to like it here, and like I say, I think this is a pretty good effort.
Q. It's been 20 years you've been playing out here. What's your motivation to still be here?
LAURA DAVIES: Well, it's probably along with the British Open, the best tournament we play in women's golf, so it's just lovely to be here, have a chance to play the great golf courses in America, which this is obviously one of them. And I need a major win to get in the Hall of Fame. So I'm trying to do a lot of stuff in one week. So the more times you play in these events, the better chance you have. I think this is my third U. S. Open, or the second U. S. Open, and it seemed so easy before, and it's not been so easy since.
Q. Is the tension thing something you have a problem with?
LAURA DAVIES: I'm not quite sure. I was anxious to be qualifying. I was going through the qualifying four Mondays ago, and about two weeks before that I had a phone call from the USGA saying you don't have to go through qualifying anymore, and I said, "thanks very much." That qualifying is not very easy, 36 holes in one day. There's people going through qualifying the likes of Michelle Wie and Natalie Gulbis that missed it, and that's the same one I would have been at, and it's not easy. It's nice to take advantage of that.
Q. Is that why they chose you?
LAURA DAVIES: My understanding of it is if you've been a player that's won it, and this is my 23rd straight U. S. Open, and I think you get one invitation and if I get one next year, I need to take advantage, get in the Top 10 or 20 and guarantee my chance in next year's field and there's a long way to go yet.
JIYAI SHIN
Q. Round of 72, your overall reaction to your game today.
JIYAI SHIN: First three holes, I played very well, because first three holes I made all birdies, so I feel a little bit up.
But after hole No. 13, I made bogeys, but I think still my play is not bad. Then today -- actually I had mistake with my driver a couple times, so those were big points today.
Then yeah, the course is really, really tough. But after pin 9 I feel my shot is better. Maybe next round maybe I'll try good game.
Q. Particularly because it's the Women's Open, do you have to feel maybe more conservative with your play and not try and be too aggressive with going for the flag and that kind of thing?
JIYAI SHIN: Well, I think couple holes the pin location is so hard, but yeah, U. S. Open, always pin location always I'm thinking every hole, so just I try to make par, because very important. Some holes, just miss and make triple or double bogey, so I try to save the fairway and save the green, and save par.
Q. So despite the 1-over par finish after a 3-under start, you're still satisfied because of the way you kept things pretty solid? Is that a good assessment?
JIYAI SHIN: Yeah. Actually, I have three more rounds, and then just five strokes, very hard course. So I think I still have a chance for the win.
Q. Does the course condition seem different to you from the practice rounds?
JIYAI SHIN: Oh, yes.
Q. Tell me how.
JIYAI SHIN: Actually, I went a couple times ago, couple weeks ago I went to play in here, but couple weeks ago, it was so wet and chilly weather, so just very soft fairway and then greens, so just I think my problem is distance because two weeks ago, nothing learned.
I think, oh, two weeks ago this golf course is very long, so I need the distance. But I came to Sunday night, and then I played Tuesday, it's much firm, the fairway, and then I played yesterday, but just one day, it's a big difference, because today and yesterday, wow, it's so different.
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