RICOH Women's British Open
Royal Birkdale Golf Club
Southport, England
July 27-28, 2010
Pre-tournament Notes and Interviews

Pre-tournament Interviews: Catriona Matthew | Laura Davies | Jiyai Shin | Paula Creamer | Michelle Wie | Ai Miyazato | Cristie Kerr | Melissa Reid | Florentyna Parker and Kelly Tidy

Pre-tournament Notes - July 28, 2010

The field is set for the first round of the year's final Major championship at the RICOH Women's British Open at historic Royal Birkdale Golf Club in Southport, England. Play begins with the lead group of Lee-Anne Pace, Angela Stanford and Song-Hee Kim at 6:30am local time. The weather forecast is for a mix of sun and clouds with temperatures around 66 degrees and wind gusts nearing 25 mph. Defending champion Catriona Matthew will tee-off at 7:14 with England's Florentyna Parker and reigning U.S. Women's Open champion Paula Creamer.

Scotland's Catriona Matthew is set to defend her title. Matthew won her first Major championship last year at Royal Lytham and St. Annes a mere 11 weeks after giving birth to her second child, Sophie. Matthew switched coaches earlier in the year and feels her game is starting to peak. "I started working with Kevin Craggs about March, April of this year, so that's been going really well. I feel I'm playing really well this week. I played well out there this morning. Had a good round the last round in Evian." Matthew's best finish this season is a tie for fifth at the Sybase Match Play Championship.

Look out for Rolex Rankings No. 1 Jiyai Shin. Shin is one of only two players to finish in the top-10 of all three previous Majors this season. She finished T3 at the LPGA Championship, T5 at Kraft Nabisco and T5 at the U.S. Women's Open. She has also won on British soil, taking home the victory at the 2008 RICOH Women's British Open at Sunningdale. Thinking back to 2008, Shin commented, "I won two years ago, and it was a big change in my life because I am here. Actually, before that I wasn't even thinking about the LPGA Tour, just a dream." The dream has become a reality as Shin is the No. 1 player in the world with seven career LPGA victories.

Rolex Rankings No. 3 Cristie Kerr is running an impressive streak in Major championships. Dating back to the start of the 2002 season, Kerr has made 35 straight Major championship cuts, with two wins and 15 top-10s. Throughout the stretch she has finished no worse than T41 (2002 LPGA Championship).

When asked how important is it to finish the season world as No. 1 Kerr responded, "It's very important. I worked my whole life for it. I'm in a position now to do it."

Kerr took time out of her practice today to make a wish come true for a 10-year old girl with leukemia. Stephanie Ballay from Guernsey wrote a letter to the Round Table Children's Wish with the request to meet her favorite professional golfer Cristie Kerr. The wish made its way into the hands of the LGU who contacted Kerr. Kerr surprised Stephanie on the driving range at Royal Birkdale Golf Club. After presenting Stephanie with a Callaway bag and clubs, Kerr and good friend and two-time winner Morgan Pressel spent time honing Stephanie's swing. The Round Table Chirldren's Wish is a national charity that grants wishes to children with life-threatening illnesses.

Rolex Rankings No. 1 Jiyai Shin and No. 3 Kerr both like the layout this week at Royal Birkdale and for the same reason. "You can see the green and pin from the teeing ground, so I can make more detailed course management," said Shin. Kerr also commented on how the course suits her eye, "I just like how it's out in front of you and you can see where you need to go. And the approach shots into the green, they fit my eye."

Rolex Rankings No. 7 Paula Creamer enters the RICOH Women's British Open with a ton of confidence. Happy that she no longer needs to answer the question "When are you going to win your first Major", Paula said, "I know what it takes to win a major and I've been wanting to do that for a very long time, and now I know what it takes."

The Pink Panther received a congratulatory letter from "The King" after winning the U.S. Women's Open. "Arnold Palmer wrote me a really nice letter, and I thought that was just very classy. That was nice." Paula Creamer

Creamer relishes the elements of playing in the British Open, "I enjoy this golf course. I enjoy links golf. I always have. It's a nice change to come and put your five layers on and play in your rain gear. It makes golf a little bit more interesting.

Creamer's thumb will be put the test this week. Windy conditions and firm fairways will necessitate a variety of shots. Since retuning to the Tour after surgery, Creamer has not hit any knock-down shots, "I've been kind of saving it as long as I could before I would get here."

Laura Davies is playing in her 29th consecutive British Open this week at Royal Birkdale. Davies, who has 20 LPGA career victories and 54 international victories, won the 1986 Women's British Open at Birkdale. Davies is two points shy of qualifying for the LPGA Hall of Fame. With two points awarded this week, Davies could enter the Hall with a victory. Feeling that she can win is the main reason why Laura still plays the game, "If I turn up and actually don't think I can win, then there's no real point being here. But at the moment, yeah, I've won a couple this year and I probably should have won two more. There's still lots to play for." Davies has won twice in 2010 on the LET Tour and her best finish in an LPGA event is a tie for sixth at the season-opening Honda PTT Thailand.

Why change what is not broken? Laura Davies has an atypical practice regime tournament week. Unlike most players that toil over their practice rounds, hitting multiple shots and chips from all angles around the greens, Davies' routine includes practice "an hour before tee time and no practise rounds because they're so boring and slow, and play the Pro‑Am every week, have fun with your amateurs. That's my buildup to any golf tournament." She has not played an official practice round in over 25 years on Tour.

Decisions, Decisions. Rolex Rankings No. 12 Michelle Wie turned professional at a young age and does not regret it. Her other good decision? Attending Stanford University. Wie said, "One of the best decisions that I've ever made was going to Stanford and Punahou. I think continuing my education, I think it helped balance my life out a little bit." Wie finished tied for third at the 2005 RICOH Women's British Open played at Royal Birkdale.

Diversity abounds in the RICOH field this week. The United States leads with 30 players in the field, followed closely by Korea with 29.. Sweden is next with 11, followed by England and France with eight, Japan and Australia with seven, Italy with six, Scotland with five and Taiwan with four. In all, 25 countries are represented this week.

Strength of field: The field for the RICOH Women's British is one of the strongest ever for the Major championship. 18 of the top-20 players on the Rolex Rankings will start the first round tomorrow, as well as 38 of the top 40 on the LPGA Money List and 48 of the top 50 on the LET Money List.          

WD. Rolex Rankings No. 20 Sun-Ju Ahn replaced by Rebecca Flood

Pre-tournament Notes - July 27, 2010

The world's best descend upon Royal Birkdale Golf Club for the playing of the year's final major championship, the 2010 RICOH Women's British Open. Defending champion Catriona Matthew headlines a field of 144 players who will compete for a purse of $2.5 million. With 19 of the top-20 in the Rolex Rankings playing this week, the field is one of the strongest of the year. Newly crowned Rolex Rankings No. 1 Jiyai Shin looks to capture her second RICOH Women's British Open title, as No. 3 Cristie Kerr, No. 5 Yani Tseng and No. 7 Paula Creamer aim to become the only player this season to claim two major championship titles.

Scotland's Catriona Matthew won her first Major championship last year at Royal Lytham and St. Annes. Matthew, who has three career LPGA victories and 77 top-10 career finishes, won the 2009 tournament by three over LPGA and World Golf Halls of Fame member Karrie Webb. Matthew won the event a mere 11 weeks after giving birth to her second child, Sophie. After a tie for 30th at the Evian Masters the week before, Matthew entered the 2009 RICOH with low expectations. After firing rounds of 74-67-71, Matthew found herself leading the championship with 18 holes to play. A final-round 73 gave Matthew her first Major championship trophy. Matthew had won the 2009 HSBC Brasil Cup earlier in the season while she was pregnant with Sophie. In 2010, Matthew has posted two top-10's - a tie for fifth at the Sybase Match Play Championship and a tie for sixth at the KIA Classic Presented by J Golf. She was also awarded the 2009 Heather Farr Player Award by her peers.

2005 RICOH Women's British Open champion Jeong Jang returns to the site of her first Major championship victory. Jang, who found herself in contention at last week's Evian Masters, has been looking forward to playing Royal Birkdale for the first time since her victory. Jang became a Rolex First-Time Winner with the victory in 2005, and won with a score of 16-under-par. A year later Jang captured her second career victory at the 2006 Wegmans LPGA. Jang's best finish in 2010 is an eighth-place showing at the Evian Masters last week. Jang played only eight events in 2008 due to wrist surgery.

Another player with a great history at Birkdale is Sweden's Sophie Gustafson. Gustafson won the Weetabix Women's British Open in 2000, the year before the tournament was designated a Major, and finished runner-up to Jeong Jang in the 2005 championship. The long-hitting Gustafson has five career LPGA victories. Her last win came at the 2009 CVS/Pharmacy LPGA Challenge.

The battle for Rolex Rankings No. 1 hits the UK this week. When the rankings were released Monday Jiyai Shin had regained the No. 1 position. Shin earned her seventh LPGA career victory and first of the 2010 season with the win last week at the Evian Masters. The No. 1 spot atop the Rankings has been quite volatile over the last two months. This is Shin's second stint atop the Rankings. She had held the No. 1 ranking for seven weeks after ascending to the spot after the Tres Marias Championship earlier in the year before Ai Miyazato took over the top spot for one week after winning the ShopRite LPGA Classic. A week later, Cristie Kerr ascended to the No. 1 position after claiming the trophy at the LPGA Championship Presented by Wegmans. Kerr held the top position for three weeks before relinquishing it back to Miyazato. Miyazato held the coveted place for one week before Shin grabbed it back this week. Look for Shin, Miyazato, Kerr, Rolex Rankings No. 4 Suzann Pettersen, No 5 Yani Tseng and a host of others to factor into the mix this week.

The RICOH Women's British Open is the fourth and final LPGA major championship of the year. Rolex Rankings No. 7 Paula Creamer won the U.S. Women's Open three weeks ago. Rolex Rankings No. 3 Cristie Kerr won the LPGA Championship Presented by Wegmans, and Rolex Rankings No. 5 Yani Tseng captured the 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship back in April.  

Rolex Rankings No. 1 Jiyai Shin and No. 14 Inbee Park are the only players to finish in the top-10 of all three Majors this season. Shin finished T3 at the LPGA Championship, T5 at Kraft Nabisco and T5 at the U.S. Women's Open.  Park carded a T7 at the LPGA Championship, T8 at the U.S. Women's Open and a T10 at Kraft Nabisco.

Rolex Rankings No. 3 Cristie Kerr is running an impressive streak in major championships. Dating back to the start of the 2002 season, Kerr has made 35 straight major championship cuts, with two wins and 15 top-10s.  Throughout the stretch she has finished no worse than T41 (2002 LPGA Championship).

Four LPGA players earned places in the field this week via the Monday qualifier at nearby Hillside Golf Club - Sarah Lee, Julieta Granada, Louise Friberg and rookie Marianne Skarpnord.

The Women's British Open was first held in 1976. The tournament joined the LPGA schedule in 1994 and became an LPGA Major championship in 2001. Se Ri Pak became the first player to win the event as a Major in 2001, when she defeated the field at Sunningdale Golf Club. Six former RICOH Women's British Open champions will compete for the trophy this week. Karrie Webb (2002, Turnberry), Karen Stupples (2004, Sunningdale), Jeong Jang (2005), Sherri Steinhauer (2006, Royal Lytham and St. Annes), Jiyai Shin (2008, Sunningdale) and defending champion Catriona Matthew (2009, Royal Lytham).

Pre-tournament Interviews: Catriona Matthew | Laura Davies | Jiyai Shin | Paula Creamer | Michelle Wie | Ai Miyazato | Cristie Kerr | Melissa Reid | Florentyna Parker and Kelly Tidy

CATRIONA MATTHEW, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 19

THE MODERATOR: Good morning, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Catriona Matthew, the defending champion. Catriona is actually making her third appearance in the tournament here, her 16th in total; however, it's your first as defending champion. How does that feel?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: It feels great actually. Really looking forward to this week. I've been really looking forward to it all year. Nice to get here and finally get out on the golf course.

THE MODERATOR: Have you done anything differently to prepare for being champion?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: No, just really the same as I'd normally do.

Q. How does the course look?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah, the course is in great shape. As with any links course, it's all down to the weather. It's pretty windy out there today. So first two holes were certainly playing pretty tough.

Q. About the last year, what's sort of been the highlight since you won ?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I think probably since winning obviously the end of last year, I got a few awards which was always very nice. I got the LET Player of the Year voted on by the players so it's very special. I got an MBE, which being British is a great honour, so I'm looking forward to going down the castle to get that.

Q. Was your reaction more or less than you expected it to be?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I think it was probably a bit more. I think the fact that I just had a baby kind of made it a bit more of a thing. That was what probably made it a bit more media stuff and things because of that.

Q. What have you done with the babies this week?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: This week they're actually at home in Scotland with my mom and dad. Katie is getting swimming lessons, so you know how that goes. More exciting than watching me play golf.

Q. You are quite a quiet person by nature. Has any of it been sort of hard to handle?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: No, it's not been too bad at all. The week after it was obviously pretty busy with lots of different things. But pretty fun. I've enjoyed it actually. Pretty good fun.

Q. It's probably too early to tell, but have you noticed any sort of juniors coming sort of inspired by your example or young girls coming up to you?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah, well, I just played with is it Kelly Tidy, just played nine holes with her this morning. Very good player. I couldn't quite believe she was still playing the girls' golf. But no, yeah, I've played with a few. She's certainly got a lot of potential I would say. There's a few in Scotland coming through, so hopefully there will be a few more.

Q. A couple of slightly unrelated questions. One, were you surprised at the end of last year not to receive any type of recognition in the BBC Sports Personality of the Year awards, which a lot of us thought was a slightly odd omission?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah, I mean, I thought I might manage to squeak into the nomination or the Top 10, but it was a little disappointing not to be in the Top 10 there. But it was a nice event to go to.

Q. And are you surprised that ‑‑ I'll just ask you to comment on the fact that there doesn't seem to be any root for someone like an Alexis Thompson into this event?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I think she didn't try get in. As an amateur, I think I read a thing from the LPGA she could have come and tried to qualify. She could have played in Toledo, I think. She chose not to take a sponsor's invite there, and that was kind of the qualifier on the LPGA Tour. She could have played her way in that way. I think she had the opportunity to play her way in a couple of times. She's only 15. She's going to have a lot of other chances to come and play in it.

Q. I gather that she's asking to get her Tour card. I mean, what do you think of that at 15? Do you think she'd be better off anywhere else?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah, I mean, I think probably she'd be better off at school. I mean, she's certainly proved she's a good enough player, there's no doubting that. But 15 is maybe just a little too young to come out on Tour. I mean, it's still really only a child. She should be kind of enjoying herself more. It's not like other sports where you're maybe done by 25 to 30; golf you can keep playing until you're 40. I don't really see the great rush with some of the younger ones.

Q. Do you feel there's a lot of criticism of the LPGA for not encouraging her, or do you think they're wise to be a bit careful?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I think they're wise to be a bit careful, really. I mean, obviously I don't know what they're going to do whether she's going to petition to try and go to Tour school or what. I don't know what the LPGA really are thinking about that. But personally I think she should probably just wait a couple years at least, maybe go ‑‑ well, she's turned pro now. She can't go and win all the U.S. Amateurs and things. I think she should just be enjoying herself a bit more, trying to be a child. There's no great rush to grow up.

Q. Do you think in a way that they've learned a lesson from what happened to Michelle a bit?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I don't know. I mean, Michelle obviously went down the track of playing in men's events a little bit more. Obviously Alexis hasn't done that yet. But yeah, I don't know. Obviously everyone is different and everyone does it their own way. But hopefully this is the best way for her. But we'll just need to wait and see.

Q. After you won, can I just ask about sponsorship, what came forward in endorsements?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah, well, nothing really kind of straightaway. I've got a deal now with Aberdeen kind of short‑term. Hopefully that will progress into a little bit more. It's just a tough climate at the moment.

Q. If you were male, you'd probably have had £10 million worth of endorsements by now. Doesn't that make you feel a bit ‑‑ not bitter, but ‑‑
CATRIONA MATTHEW: It's just one of those things, that male golfers get more media coverage maybe, slightly higher profile in sports. So they get bigger endorsement deals.

Q. Did you expect to get a bit more than you did?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I probably hoped to get a little bit more, but hopefully things are progressing, so you never know.

Q. What's the deal with Aberdeen? Somebody said it's two weeks?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah, it's a short‑term deal but it's nice of them to come and do something, and hopefully it can progress into something more.

Q. As someone from Gleneagles up in Scotland, could I ask you what your reaction is to the return of the Scottish Ladies Open at the Archerfield, which I know is just adjoining your home up there?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah, obviously it's great to have a Scottish event back on the schedule. Again, obviously it's starting small and hopefully it can grow into something a bit bigger. Unfortunately it didn't quite fit into my schedule this year. I find traveling with the children a bit more challenging, so we need to kind of give ourselves a bit more time to get over the jet lag, but hopefully next year it works out and I can play in it next year.

Q. On the sponsorship, how would you sell yourself to a potential sponsor, and would you sell it to a Scottish market or a global one?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I suppose it could be either, really. Obviously I'm Scottish so it could be the Scottish market, but I play globally in the States, Asia. Could really go for either kind of market. Probably looking at both types of things. Obviously I'd be great for kind of a corporate day, golfing day, that kind of thing.

Q. On your form coming into this week, could you talk about that, of the effect of your new coach?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah, I started working with Kevin Craggs about March, April of this year, so that's been going really well. I feel I'm playing really well this week. I played well out there this morning. Had a good round the last round in Evian. It's not usually my favourite course for playing well, so that's always encouraging. So hopefully I can bring that into this week.

Q. Who do you see as your main challengers this week?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I think it's probably pretty wide open. I mean, obviously Suzann [Petterse], Cristie [Kerr], Paula [Creamer], Sophie [Gustafson] always plays well in the British. You can list probably 10 or 12 people that have really good chance.

Q. What would be your abiding memory of your victory last year?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I think walking down 18. I was lucky once I had hit my tee shot I knew I had won it, so coming down the last with everyone cheering and things. That was the best part of it.

Q. And unrelated, what's your take on the coverage your sport gets? We find it frustrating talking to our officers trying to get them more interested, but what's your take?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: Yeah, like you, probably just a little bit frustrated. Obviously this week gets good coverage on the BBC, which is great for women's golf, but I think we need just to keep chipping away, and it's just getting more of it on television, isn't it, kind of mainstream television, SKY and things.

Q. Just the whole super‑mum thing, afterwards did you get many messages from mums and stuff like that?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I didn't get many, no. A few, but not too many.

Q. And of the messages you got, what was the most memorable message you got?
CATRIONA MATTHEW: I think it was mainly just people ‑‑ at the time it was just something I went out and did, but maybe looking back it was quite special, just 11 weeks after having a baby. Yeah, I think people were just generally amazed that I could be back playing golf quite so quickly and winning a tournament.

LAURA DAVIES, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 56

THE MODERATOR: Morning, again, ladies and gentlemen, we have Laura Davies, who's making her 29th consecutive start in the Women's Open this week. She's actually played all four times it's been here at Royal Birkdale, including obviously her victory in 1986. Do you have any abiding memories of that victory?
LAURA DAVIES: Well, I've got plenty of pictures. It was the candlesticks in those days that the champion got, and there is a picture of me in front of the clubhouse on my bedroom wall at home, so I see it pretty regularly. Good memories that.

Q. This is a course you obviously know very well. What makes this such a great test of golf?
LAURA DAVIES: There's not a bad hole out there for a kickoff, and there's not an easy shot. You can get into trouble pretty much anywhere. If you're playing good golf you can get a really good score. But if you're slightly off, the bunkers are there, pretty severe rough, the gorse, so there's plenty to keep you occupied for every single swing, so I think that's why it's obviously such a great championship.

Q. You've won twice this year already. How do you feel you're playing coming into this event?
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, I was disappointed last week at Evian because I have been playing pretty well. That was a bit of a shock, that first round, but came back well with a second round of 68, so I still feel like I'm playing really well.

Q. You're not a big fan of practise, so what would your preparations have entailed today and yesterday?
LAURA DAVIES: Well, we played the Pro‑Am but practiced a couple of hours before, because we've got to hit slightly different shots because it's going to be windy. We'll be dropping a lot of shots in short. So I had to practise on that. And then this afternoon practise, I'm not going on the course again but just a couple of hours of practise, obviously putting is very important, so do some of that, and got to get up early tomorrow morning. We're off at 7:00, so it'll be a nice early start.

Q. What time will you be here tomorrow morning?
LAURA DAVIES: I'll be here about 6:00 getting ready. It's always an hour before tee time and just warm up and chip and putt.

Q. This is 29 in a row, so what's your view as you've seen Michelle come into the game at a young age and obviously Alexis not playing this week? Do you think women are coming in too young, or what's your view on an Alexis not having a place? Is that a good thing, bad thing?
LAURA DAVIES: She's one of the better golfers in the world now, so it would be nice if she had have been here. I really don't know why she's not. She's young, but sometimes when you're playing really well as young as she is, why not give it a go? I don't really have a personal opinion. I'm sure her parents have got it all in hand. If she wants to play, she should be allowed to play.

Q. Are you in favour of the age limit on the LPGA Tour as it stands at the moment?
LAURA DAVIES: To be honest, I have no opinion on it because if you're good enough, for me you're good enough. That's just the way it is. In tennis and other sports, just the fact that you're so young is probably a little bit of a bonus because it creates so much excitement for the Tour. So personally let her come and play. But I'm sure there's a lot of people that disagree with that. You have to assume that the people around her are doing the right thing.

Q. You said it's good for the Tour, but how good is it for her personally if she's not at school and mixing with people a lot older than her and missing out on company of her own age?
LAURA DAVIES: Well, Tour life is weird anyway, so whether she turns pro now or ‑‑ well, she is pro, but whether she plays regularly now or in four years' time you're still sort of in a little circus traveling around the world, so it's not normal. So the fact that it's not normal at 15 or 14 or whatever she is, it's hers and her parents' decision.

If you're good enough, that's all I can say, what a waste not to have her ‑‑ maybe she can win the British Open at 15 if she was here this week. How good would that be? She nearly won last week, and if you're playing well, you're playing well. I don't think links golf would faze her at all.

Q. What were you, 22, 23 or something?
LAURA DAVIES: I turned pro when I was 21.

Q. I was going to ask you how your preparation has changed in all these years out here? What do you do differently when you're preparing for a round? What have you learnt?
LAURA DAVIES: Nothing, just the same, an hour before tee time and no practise rounds because they're so boring and slow, and play the Pro‑Am every week, have fun with your amateurs. That's my buildup to any golf tournament. Whether it's the Thailand Open or the U.S. Open, it's always the same.

Q. How long ago did you dispense with the practise round?
LAURA DAVIES: Well, this is my 26th year, so 25 and a half years ago. Watching people chip and putt from every angle on a green for four or five or six hours in a day is not my idea of fun. Never has been, never will be.

Q. You obviously have done it at some point. There must have been a practise round that suddenly flipped you over the edge and you thought, I'll never do this again.
LAURA DAVIES: It's so long ago, I really don't remember. I just know that people chip from 30 spots around one green. I don't understand it. Never have done.

Q. Would you ban them or what would you do about it?
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, if you want to go and have a practise round, play a round of golf with your mates, have a little bet, and walk off of every green when you've holed out on the green. There's no need to keep on the practise.

Q. Catriona says she's hardly had any sponsorships, in fact no sponsorship except for a two‑week deal, last week and this week, since she's won. How much did you get when you won in 1986 and are you surprised she's not had more?
LAURA DAVIES: Well, I am, especially the way the sport is at the moment. There are obviously economic problems, but there's a lot of good things happening in the game, so I'm very surprised. She's such a nice girl, as well. She'd be a good representative for any sponsor. When I won the U.S. Open is when it really started for me. I got a sponsor straightaway. I was very lucky, Weetabix almost immediately became my sponsor. At the time that was a very good deal.

Q. Do you think Catriona might have to win a major in the U.S. to really cash in?
LAURA DAVIES: I don't know. I mean, winning the British Open as a British golfer and in front of the world stage, all the cameras from around the world, I didn't even know that. But I'm very surprised.

I think winning another major would be obviously great, but whether it would make a difference, if this one didn't work, I really don't know.

Q. Were you surprised Catriona didn't get in the Top 10 of the British sports personalities when they did the short list of 10? Did you find that surprising?
LAURA DAVIES: Not really. We've never done well in ‑‑ are you talking about the BBC Sports Review?

Q. Yeah.
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, the year I won two majors, ten other tournaments, I didn't even finish in the top three. I think Damon Hill won it that year, 1996, and everyone said I had a good chance of winning it. I didn't even get mentioned in the programme I don't think. I think women's golf to the BBC Review of the Year just doesn't really figure.

Q. Is that a bit insulting? She was on the BBC and it was such a big stir, the whole super‑mum thing?
LAURA DAVIES: I think it's a disgrace myself. I voted for her. I think she should have won it. I've forgotten who actually won it.

Q. Ryan Giggs.
LAURA DAVIES: Well, he's obviously magnificent, but I think Catriona for just that one off in that given year, he should have probably won on the whole career, so it should have been maybe a different prize. But it's the BBC Sports Review of the Year, so maybe they should review it.

Q. Does it annoy you that she doesn't get the recognition she deserves as sort of a Brit winning the home Open?
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, I mean, if one of the boys wins it, they'd be knighted overnight. It's always been the same. It doesn't worry me, I have to say, and I'm sure it really doesn't worry Catriona. But it's just the sort of thing, it would be a nice little bonus at the end of the year.

Q. But the money must worry her because you think you've hit the jackpot when you win your home Open.
LAURA DAVIES: I don't think anyone really thinks like that to be honest with you. I've never won a tournament and thought, oh, brilliant, now I'm going to get loads of sponsors. You're so excited you've won the tournament and then a couple weeks later the phone starts ringing and you've got a thing to do here and a thing to do there. But I don't think she would have actually thought, oh, floodgates are open kind of thing, because that doesn't really happen, especially for British sportswomen.

Q. What are your thoughts on pace of play, and do you have any suggestions for speeding things up?
LAURA DAVIES: No, I've made my suggestions over the years. Paint ball when they play slow, have a spot of paint ball on your jersey. You're never going to stop it because the slow ones don't think they're slow, and when the referees get out there, they speed up. So you'll never stop it.

Q. We have lots of world‑class British players in the men's game at the moment but we don't seem to be able to produce them in the ladies game. Any ideas why that might be?
LAURA DAVIES: Because they don't get sponsorship probably. I mean, who knows. You've got Melissa Reid who's playing fantastic, and obviously Catriona last year. There are a lot of good young British players just on the fringe of it. I think Melissa is going to be a really top world‑class player in the next four or five years because she's got the game, she's got the attitude, very confident, so that might be the one. And hopefully when she starts breaking through, her friends who she's grown up through the amateur ranks with, that's what happens. They realise that, oh, I used to beat you and now you're doing so well. So maybe we'll see something coming off the back of Melissa's good strong play.

Q. Seems like the amateur authorities in the men's game are doing a very good job of bringing the players through. Do you think the amateur bodies in the ladies' game are doing similarly good job?
LAURA DAVIES: I'm sure they are doing a good job, but we went quite a long time without having that many top young British male players, so perhaps the next generation of young good girls is coming through. Sometimes you just get a decade where you don't get huge amounts of those great players. It's just it goes in waves, I think.

Q. And is the wave of talent coming through as continental Europe as strong as has been in recent times?
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, I think recently. In America there's quite a few Spanish girls on the Tour that are playing very well, good ball strikers. And not quite so many young Swedes. The Swedes seem to have dropped off a bit. Like I said, I think sometimes you just get lucky and you get a dose of talent in one age group.

Q. Do you think it all bodes well for the Solheim Cup?
LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, I mean, the Solheim Cup is obviously very difficult because we seem to do so well in the foursomes and fourballs, but we struggle in the singles. That's what we have to ‑‑ we have to believe as players, and the younger players are going to have to learn that very quickly, that the singles is what it's all about, and we have to turn the corner with that. Hopefully we'll have enough players in the next one in Ireland and after that that believe they can beat the Americans, but they have to learn it early.

Q. Do you ever get fed up with the game? You say no practise rounds in 26 years and slow play. Do you ever get fed up?
LAURA DAVIES: No, not really. You don't like walking off last Thursday with an 81 like I did in Evian. That's pretty miserable, and missing the cut and flying home Saturday morning, that's miserable. But here we are at Birkdale ready and can't wait for tomorrow morning. There's always something to look forward to. You're only as good as your next week. You've always got to forget about the rest of it. As long as you still want to win, there's nothing in the game to get fed up about, really. There are annoyances, like you said, practise rounds and stuff like that.

Q. How long do you think you're going to go on?
LAURA DAVIES: I'm here trying to win this week. If I turn up and actually don't think I can win, then there's no real point being here. But at the moment, yeah, I've won a couple this year and I probably should have won two more. There's still lots to play for.

Q. So we're all be here 26 years from now talking to you?
LAURA DAVIES: What was Tom Watson, 59 last year or whatever, so I'm not comparing myself to Tom Watson, but if he can still be playing that well against the class of players he was playing against last year, you never know.

Q. What do the Koreans make of you? They must think it's very strange that you don't stand out there for hours at a time.
LAURA DAVIES: Well, I think they're very strange that they do stand out there for hours at the time, so we've got a mutual contempt, I suppose. If it's what they want to do, it's what they want to do, and they're brilliant because of it. But I would have packed up ten years ago if I would have had that. And maybe that's why you don't see some older Koreans on the Tour, because they practise so hard for so long when they're very, very young, I think by the time you've been out here 10, 12 years you've maybe had enough of it, and maybe that's why I haven't had enough of it.

Q. How would you assess the current strength of the Ladies European Tour?
LAURA DAVIES: Very good, yeah. The last sort of two, three years it's grown and grown. I think if the economics hadn't been the way they were like for all industries, we'd have had even more tournaments. But there's loads of tournaments to play in and strong sponsors that seem to want to sign long‑term deals, so I think things are looking very good over here. And the standard of play has risen to match that so the sponsors are getting good value for money, which is very important to them.

Q. How close is the standard over here to the LPGA Tour week in and week out?
LAURA DAVIES: Well, it's not the same obviously, because the top sort of 20 over here, top 30, you could probably pick the winner I think most weeks. Whereas in America, pretty much ‑‑ there are a lot of different winners in America, and it's just strength and depth. The actual standard of golf probably not that much different, but it's the strength and depth that's the biggest difference.

Q. What could they learn from the LPGA Tour?
LAURA DAVIES: I don't know really. I think they're both very different products really. I mean, in America we go from state to state, whereas in Europe we go from country to country, so different cultures all the time. I think they're completely different tours. They feel different when you're playing them anyway. The American Tour is I don't want to say much more business‑like, but it's a lot friendlier atmosphere in Europe. That's just the nice difference between the two tours.

Q. Is there any reason why players that are successful over here can't now go over to America and do well very quickly?
LAURA DAVIES: I think it's just belief. You've got to believe you belong and you've go to believe that you can beat these players because you do see them week in and week out churning out rounds in the 60s constantly in America, and sometimes that's a bit daunting, and I think good players over here have to realise that it's just a golf course. And you've got 144 different competitors over here, but it's just a golf course, and if you're playing well over here, you should be able to play well over there.

Q. Does it remain a natural progression to do well on this Tour first and then weave across to America?
LAURA DAVIES: I think most people if they want to be regarded as truly world‑class players, then I think ultimately you have to do well in America or on the LPGA Tour. The LPGA travels all over the world now; we spend a lot of time in Asia. But I think if you want true world recognition for the way you play, you have to do it there, as well.

Q. Presumably it would help our Solheim Cup players?
LAURA DAVIES: Oh, definitely. You see it every time. There are exceptions like when Gwladys [Nocera] beat Cristie Kerr a few years back where a European Tour player took out one of the really tough Americans, but it's hard when you stand on the tee with these people in a Solheim Cup singles match. That's why I said early, you've got to be ready early to take these people on. But over a period of time, we will get stronger. We will get more belief in it.

Q. Presumably we'll know that when we start doing better in the singles.
LAURA DAVIES: Absolutely. That's the true test. You can win the foursomes and the fourballs, and we've won ‑‑ probably statistically we're miles ahead, but until we truly believe we can beat them head‑to‑head on Sunday, we're always going to struggle. But we're getting closer.

JIYAI SHIN, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 1

THE MODERATOR: Good morning again. We have Jiyai Shin, the 2008 Ricoh Women's British Open champion, here. She arrives the new No. 1 in the world, having won the Evian event last week. You must be in good spirits after that. Great victory.
JIYAI SHIN: Yes, thank you very much.

Q. This is the first time you've been at Birkdale, I believe.
JIYAI SHIN: Yes.

Q. You've had a chance to play the course now. How did you like the golf course?
JIYAI SHIN: Thank you for coming in. Well, I played yesterday in the Pro‑Am. I'm really excited because the course is great. I like the links course. Sometimes it's hard to play on links course, but I have a good strategy for links golf, so I can't wait for the tournament. I can't wait for tournament.

Q. Is the Ricoh Women's British Open a special tournament for you?
JIYAI SHIN: Yes, of course. I won two years ago, and it was a big change in my life because I am here. Actually before that I wasn't even thinking about the LPGA Tour, just a dream. All the time I'm dreaming for the LPGA Tour. But I won two years ago, and I get really, really huge confidence. I have a really good memory of this event.

Q. How much has your life changed since you won at Sunningdale two years ago?
JIYAI SHIN: Well, it's huge. I can't say how much, but it's a true ‑‑ it's really huge.

Q. In your home country in particular or everywhere you go?
JIYAI SHIN: Everybody.

Q. Having won last week, how difficult is it to stay up there for this week and sort of keep the momentum going?
JIYAI SHIN: Well, I don't think so, because I have a really good confidence about my golf skill, and I have confidence in myself, too. Well, I'm really happy about last week, but I also need to forget the last week. I just focus on this week already. It doesn't matter, I think.

Q. How did you celebrate winning the Evian?
JIYAI SHIN: Really not, because after my winning ceremony, I just came here. But last week after Evian winning ceremony was great. There was a Korean flag with the Korean song [anthem]. So it was big honour for me.

Q. Do you marvel at somebody like Laura, who wins majors and yet doesn't practise in the Korean way exactly?
JIYAI SHIN: Well, I heard, Heather told me five, ten minutes ago, and I'm really, really surprised because the players, Korean, all the time they're focused on practise. We have to look for the course, because it's our first time here. Well, it was a really big change in my life, my thinking, because she is still a great player, but she doesn't need to play the course, just practise is just enough for her. It's really interesting.

Q. If she'd been born in Korea, do you think she would have got away with not practising?
JIYAI SHIN: I think so. Well, when she's born in Korea, maybe she's starting practise on Monday.

Q. Do you think it's something that you could have done through your career? You practiced very hard. Do you think you could have been as good as you are had you not practiced?
JIYAI SHIN: Well, I was hard practise but not anymore, because I just knew it's very important about the mind. When I practise a lot, I get more tired thinking because we're too much thinking about the course, we're too much thinking about my shots. So I just try and make simple then and just also practise is important.

Q. Do you practise more in your mind now?
JIYAI SHIN: Yes.

Q. When did you change from the physical side to the mental side?
JIYAI SHIN: Well, just a few years ago.

Q. Before you won at Sunningdale or after?
JIYAI SHIN: Yes, before.

Q. Jiyai, Laura turned professional about your age and she's still playing at 46. Do you think you'll still be playing at 46?
JIYAI SHIN: Well, I think I'm not, because, well, I want to play a long time. When I played in the LPGA Championship a couple months ago, I played with Juli Inkster. It was her birthday, her 50th birthday, and I'm really surprised because I'm just 22 years old, but I played with Juli, she's 50 years now, and I'm thinking, well, I want to play that well like Juli. But I already have my life plan, so my life plan is I'll play maybe 35, 40 years maximum, and I just want to do some business.

Q. You must normally play in sunshine and warm weather, so what do you make of the wind and the rain that you've found so far this week?
JIYAI SHIN: This is very important, the weather, because we know it's very windy and cold, so I bring lots of warm wear. I think it's very important to keep my hands warm, because if my hands get cold, it's a little bit harder to play. On greens, too, it's a little bit harder to control the speed.  Well, sometimes when we play in the wind, it's really harder to get the focus. So I just try to focus on every hole, every shot.

Q. Will there be lots of players this week who won't relish the cold and windy, wet conditions?
JIYAI SHIN: Yes, I think so.

Q. I know you've only played the course once, but how similar are you finding Birkdale to Lytham last year?
JIYAI SHIN: Well, last year was very windy, and last year was also very firm fairways. I have still memory of last year's course. So I think that memory is a very big help for this week.

Q. Did they feel like similar golf courses to you?
JIYAI SHIN: A little bit different because last year was a little bit blind, lots of blind shots to the hole and very flat course. But this golf course is still flat, but you can see the green and pin from the teeing ground, so I can make more detailed course management.

Q. So you prefer this course?
JIYAI SHIN: Yes (laughing).

Q. What do you like about Britain apart from the golf?
JIYAI SHIN: Well, I really like the fish and chips. I ate last night, too. And I really like the English people, because they speak English in an accent that I really like. A little bit hard to understand, but I really like it.

Q. Did you get much chance to look around away from the golf course? Do you get much chance to go ‑‑
JIYAI SHIN: Well, I try because I stay in downtown. They have lots of shops, so I just look around every night early and enjoy it.

PAULA CREAMER, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 7

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, we have Paula Creamer here, Ricoh ambassador, recently won the U.S. Open at Oakmont. Congratulations on that. It's also possibly worth remembering that Paula made her debut in this championship here back in 2005 when she finished tied 15th. Do you have any memories of that?
PAULA CREAMER: Of course. I liked this golf course so much from the first moment I stepped foot on Royal Birkdale, and to come back five years later ‑‑ or six years later ‑‑ this is my sixth year, gosh, time is flying by. But I enjoy this golf course, I enjoy links golf. I always have. It's a nice change to come and put your five layers on and play in your rain gear. It makes golf a little bit more interesting. But I am excited for the tournament to start tomorrow. I feel really good. I know the golf course pretty well. It's playing much different this year than what it was back in '05, but that's the neat thing about the game of golf; it's always changing.

Q. What is it that's different this time? Is it wetter?
PAULA CREAMER: It's definitely much longer. It's firm and fast, but nothing like what it was when we were here. We hit a lot more shorter clubs. The wind is just constantly there, whereas in the past it wasn't as strong. It's a little bit colder. I remember I had my knee‑high socks on here in '05, and I'm not sure if they're going to be coming out. It's a little bit chilly.

Q. Does it make any difference to you coming in here as a major champion?
PAULA CREAMER: Well, I think for my expectation and my confidence and things like that, yeah, there's a huge difference. I know what it takes to win a major and I've been wanting to do that for a very long time, and now I know what it takes. To come into this event, I feel very confident. I know what I need to do. I have the ideas of the golf course that I want to go about and play, and we'll just see if it happens for those four days.

Q. Any reaction with the thumb this week?
PAULA CREAMER: Well, last week was very difficult. It was very wet and a lot of wedges and a lot of really, really big divots, and my hands and my thumb at the end of the week was just exhausted. And on Monday I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to practise or not. But I haven't hit a knock‑down shot since my surgery. I've been kind of saving it as long as I could before I would get here. It's not too bad. I actually prefer the firmer grounds. It helps a little bit more. It kind of bounces into it. It's not hitting straight down into the ground and taking these big divots.

But it feels okay. It has its moments. I still don't practise after a round, just putting. But I can ‑‑ the turf on the range is great, and that's a good thing for me. That's the first thing I look at is what kind of range do we have this week, and the turf is great, so it's nice. It helps me.

Q. When you were injured, was there ever a stage when you worried that you might not be able to get back to the state that you'd been in before, the quality of golf and so on?
PAULA CREAMER: Without a doubt. I thought about it 24 hours of the day. Still, there's a lot of things that I can't do that I used to do. But I'm a lot better at things that I wasn't before that I am now. It was ‑‑ I said it so many times, it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do was sit at home and watch other people play golf and not know am I going to be the same player that I was before, am I going to be able to get out there and compete.

Whenever you have surgery, you don't necessarily know, and I think that was just the unknowing, the uncertainty of everything was just kind of a black cloud lingering around, and then I got a club in my hand, and it's not quite like riding a bike, but you still know your fundamentals and things, the beginning of golf, your posture, and I worked on that, and I worked on that throughout my therapy just constantly reminding myself of golf and being around it.

Q. You said that you were better at some things now than you were before the injury. What would they include?
PAULA CREAMER: I would say just my mental game, how I look at tournaments, how I behave on the golf course, my demeanor out there. There's things that you can ‑‑ you don't necessarily have to be hitting golf balls to get better. The way I visualise things, I've worked really hard on mentally preparing, and I think that definitely has changed.

Q. Was there an aspect of your game which you improved in order to win your first major?
PAULA CREAMER: I would say I learned how to play a golf course, a major golf course better. I think everything happens for a reason, and all of these past majors where I've come so close, the British last year and I doubled the last hole, I still remember these things. I look at why, what happened, how did I do this and how can I make it better, and I feel that I've learnt my lessons from the past and I've tried not to get in my own way, and I think in the past I have. Not necessarily golf shots that I'm better at or five‑, six‑footers that I'm better at making; it's just how I look at a hole and either moving on with a par or making a bogey and trying to get a birdie on the next one. So more of a mental change than my actual physical hitting the golf ball.

Q. Because you were well‑known at a young age coming over here for the Curtis Cup, did that put extra expectation on you to become a major champion?
PAULA CREAMER: The Curtis Cup?

Q. Just because you were so well‑known at a young age.
PAULA CREAMER: Well, the path that I went about, I wanted to play in all the team events. Curtis Cup, I played at Formby, and I actually went there yesterday and I did a First Tee clinic and I got to see the golf course. It just brings back so many memories. When you have an amateur career or junior career and you learn how to win under certain circumstances, LPGA, professional, the highest majors, those are the ones that you want to win. And when you get that taste of holding the trophy at a young age, you want to keep it going as long as you can, and to win a major was something that I always was looking at, and hopefully we can have many more.

Q. It must give you tremendous confidence having just won a major to go into this one.
PAULA CREAMER: It is nice that they are somewhat close to each other. We don't normally get that opportunity. And actually Wegmans was just before the Open, so it's been grouped together, some really big tournaments. That kind of helps you mentally prepare for each week.

Q. Having won your national Open, which would be your next choice of major to win?
PAULA CREAMER: They're all important, but since we're here right now, the Ricoh Women's British Open, definitely.

Q. After the bogey on 12 at Oakmont, you then hit four really great iron shots. Was that a conscious thing in your mind, saying, I'm not going to let this get away from me?
PAULA CREAMER: Yes, of course. 12, the whole week, 12 and I, we did not like each other. I bogeyed it three of the days and I birdied it one day. I didn't have one par. I just knew after I got through that hole, we were clear sailing. I had some ‑‑ I had a 6‑iron on that par‑3 and then a wedge and an 8‑iron, so I knew I had some ‑‑ and then the 5‑wood on 16. I knew I had some short irons that I could get my confidence back up and hit some good shots. But I wasn't going to let that one get away from me. I prepared so hard for that for those last couple of months. It's all I thought about. And it wasn't going to ‑‑ I was going to win that tournament. I told myself, I'm not going to let it slide.

Q. How much did Interlachen help you at Oakmont?
PAULA CREAMER: Like I said, I feel that I learnt so much from that tournament, from Interlachen, Saucon Valley, both of those, last year, Lytham, I've always had something happen, and I would get in the way of myself and I would take myself out of the tournament. I've learnt, I don't know if it's just maturity or if it's just ‑‑ I finally saw the light of the fact that it's a lot of golf, they're hard golf courses, but I really feel that the fact that at Interlachen I got to play in the last group on Sunday that year, that helped a lot. Those are things that you have to take experience from and learn from it.

Q. What's been the nicest thing that's happened to you since your victory, and of all the letters and messages of congratulations that you've had, are there one or two you can share with us?
PAULA CREAMER: I think the nicest thing is I don't have to sit here and get asked, when are you going to win a major. That's kind of nice. Arnold Palmer wrote me a really nice letter, and I thought that was just very classy. My house smells fantastic right now with all of these beautiful flowers that I got from all of my sponsors and my friends. That was really exciting. But I think the day that the trophy came was very special. I just looked at it and saw it there and stared at it for a while. I didn't even want to touch it. I was like, I can't believe this happened.

The letter from Mr. Palmer was really neat. That was nice.

Q. Going back to the Curtis Cup, you played on a very, very strong American team in 2004, which America won, and indeed you've won every match since. I was wondering if you have any thoughts on whether it's time for the GB & I team to extend it to the rest of Europe to make it a more competitive match.
PAULA CREAMER: Well, I'm always a very traditional person. I think we've had so much ‑‑ the history involved in the Curtis Cup and all of that, and to keep it going. Why not? I guess we're going to have to find some more players out there, and I think that's the neat thing about women's golf right now is it is becoming younger and younger and more girls are getting an opportunity to play, and who knows who will happen in the next couple of years.

Obviously I'm a little bit biased toward the American team, but I don't like changing things. I think that they're there for a reason. It's history. You look at women's golf, Curtis Cup is a big part of women's golf, and to me, to change something like that, I don't know, I wouldn't really like that myself. But if they have to do it and it's necessary, then I guess.

Q. Did it feel like a fair contest in 2004 if you can remember back, or was it a match that your team should have won every time?
PAULA CREAMER: I think every time you have team events you both start on the first tee, and there you go. You play your best golf. I feel I play my best golf when I represent my country. I can only speak for myself and how I feel, but you're playing ‑‑ I'm playing you, you're playing me, you're not playing the golf course. Somebody could go out and shoot 60 and you could lose. Somebody could shoot 80 and ‑‑ there's so many things that happen in match play, and that's the greatest part about it, it's just me versus you, and you've got to go take care of your point and see what happens.

Q. How do you perceive the state of European golf in your second week here versus the time over your career?
PAULA CREAMER: European golf, you can see on the men's tour, it's a big influence. They're having a huge impact on it. I'm sure what's going to be coming around for us, as well. There's been some great European players. Melissa Reid had a great week last week. I know she probably didn't finish the way she wanted to after that start, but still, I think they're making a prominent appearance in there.

MICHELLE WIE, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 12

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, we have Michelle Wie here in the interview area. Many of you will probably remember in 2005 Michelle finished tied third here in her first appearance in the championship and won the Smyth Trophy for the leading amateur. Do you have many memories of that occasion?
MICHELLE WIE: I do. I was trying to remember the golf course when I played, and I remember every hole. I think they added a couple of bunkers, but a lot of good memories so it's nice to be back.

THE MODERATOR: How do you reckon the course is playing differently, a lot different.
MICHELLE WIE: Well, during the practice rounds the weather was a lot different than what it was before. I prepared a lot better this year, brought a lot more warm clothes and brought hand warmers, so I'm excited to play.

THE MODERATOR: How would you assess your form coming into the championship this week.
MICHELLE WIE: I think I was struggling for a little bit, and just trying to get out there, trying to get my confidence back up and trying to move forward and trying to play better.

Q. Is this a course where your length off the tee is going to prove a big advantage?
MICHELLE WIE: I think there are a couple holes where I can take advantage of my driver. I'm trying to map out my strategy, so hopefully I can use my driver on a couple holes.

Q. You, I think, got an invitation here five years ago to play as an amateur, as a 15 year old. What's your view that that's not happened for Alexis Thompson, that she hasn't been able to play this week despite the form she's in?
MICHELLE WIE: I think we were in different situations. I think they granted me the exemption because I was an amateur. They didn't grant me an invitation one year when I was a pro. So I think that she's a really good player. I think she's a really fantastic player, and I wish her the best. I think it was the LGU's decision. I think that she would have definitely played great here, but I think it was maybe just a decision that they made. But I think she's an awesome golfer.

Q. Just on that point, is there a fear that perhaps she is still too young because it seemed that perhaps that it all happened too soon for you and you had to take a step back?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I think that her and her family and her team are doing things that they think is right. You know, it's hard to judge in those kind of situations, even in mine, too, because it's not like they've done anything like it before, I've never done anything like it before. We just do things, make choices that we feel are right at the time, and you've just got to move forward and live with it, whether it's the right decision or not. You have to believe it's the right decision and move forward. You know, I think that it's one of those things where it just ‑‑ you just do as you feel.

Q. Can you be too young to turn pro?
MICHELLE WIE: It is definitely a hard life out here, I think. One of the best decisions that I've ever made was going to Stanford and going to Punahou. I think continuing my education, I think it helped balance my life out a little bit. It is a hard life being a professional, but I think that you just can't put a standard on those kind of things.

I have no idea what Alexis is, like what she feels and what she wants. Obviously she wanted to turn pro, so she has to do whatever she wants to do, because I definitely did.

Q. How much does the victory of Paula Creamer's in the U.S. Open inspire you to try to win your first major, someone you played amateur golf against?
MICHELLE WIE: It really does inspire me. She played great at the U.S. Open, and I think it's great that the Americans are winning the majors again. Hopefully ‑‑ I've been practicing really hard. Obviously my short game wasn't great that week. I'm just trying my best out there and trying to play as well as I can and hopefully do better than what I did last time I was here.

Q. How close do you feel your game is to winning a major?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I think that it's definitely possible. I just have to go out there and do my thing.

Q. We know about your golf results. How are you doing at Stanford? Do you have two years to go or one year to go?
MICHELLE WIE: Two years to go. I'll be a senior this year, but I'm going to be a super‑senior the next, so I have two years to go.

Q. How are the results going? Are you keeping up on both fronts?
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah, my grades are actually pretty good. I'm surviving. I think it's a combination of As and Bs, so it's pretty good.

Q. What was your first impression of links golf at Formby and how has it changed over the years?
MICHELLE WIE: It's definitely a memory, landing in Liverpool and driving by there. It's a great memory. I still remember Formby a lot, a lot of that course. But I think the most ‑‑ the thing that I remember the most is using hybrids, chipping with hybrids and not hitting flop shots on every shot. I definitely like to hit the flop shot. So it's just using your imagination. The numbers mean nothing out here with the wind. Just a lot of good memories.

Q. Last year at Solheim Cup people sort of got to know you outside, got to know you a bit more. How much of a breakthrough was that for you?
MICHELLE WIE: It was a lot of fun. The Solheim Cup was a lot of fun. I got to know a lot of the players a lot better, and they really helped me through it, just the pressure and everything about that just really helped me ‑‑ I don't know, I guess call it break through, but just really believe in myself and really realise that I can do stuff like that. So it was a great week.

Q. Has that been the biggest influence in your career confidence wise?
MICHELLE WIE: It has to be one of the most important things that's happened to me. I just remember it being so much fun and just so rewarding the entire week, just having so much emotions into it.

Q. There's a feeling that perhaps when you turned professional in the game a little later when the Americans weren't doing so well that you had to be the saviour. With Paula winning, Cristie winning majors, do you feel there's less pressure and that you can come through in your time?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I think it definitely makes me want to do better, and it motivates me to be one of those names and be one of those American players that pushes through. It definitely motivates me to work harder and play harder and just give it my all and be one of those players.

Q. On Facebook you said that you'd really enjoyed being in Southampton. I just wondered how many people had corrected you.
MICHELLE WIE: A lot of people. (Laughter.) I don't know, it's Southport now, right? We're in England, correct? Yes, okay. It's funny how one mistake and everyone can correct you, but at least I know now.

AI MIYAZATO, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 2

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the 2010 Ricoh Women's British Open Championship. If I could start by introducing Ai. She's won four times this year on the LPGA Tour. She actually finished tied 3rd at last year's championship. A very good links golfer, as well. How do you enjoy links golf?
AI MIYAZATO: Oh, I love it. I like to play in the strong wind. And not a real big fan of rain.  But everything is really nice. I can see really well without trees. And it's just fantastic.
          
THE MODERATOR: You've won four times on the LPGA Tour this year. Are you playing the best golf you've ever done?
AI MIYAZATO: Yeah, I'm really totally happy about my season right now, but there are still many tournaments left and lets see what's going to happen. So I try my best, everything, in the tournament.

THE MODERATOR: I remember you said last year it took you a while to acclimatize to the American way of life outside of Japan. Do you know if you're totally at home playing away from Japan?
AI MIYAZATO: Yeah, everything's kind of used to it right now. But it still took a long time to ‑‑ it did take time for me to get up to this condition at the moment. But even though it took a long time, I'm actually happy that I got here.

THE MODERATOR: This week is obviously a major championship. The fact that it's Japanese‑sponsored, does that make it even more special?
AI MIYAZATO: Yeah, that's right. I played with three people from Ricoh today. And had a fun time. I don't know too many Japanese sponsors we've had for the Women's British Open. But to have an actual Japanese company sponsor it, I feel honored.
            
Q. Your English is excellent. How do you decide when you can't go any further and you hand it over to your interpreter? What's the key?
AI MIYAZATO: Well, I always try my best. But suddenly when I start thinking Japanese in my head, then I just get stuck in my head. Like right now. So when I get stuck in my head, that's when I let my translator do the talking.

Q. Your nail varnish, how do you decide on your colors each day?
AI MIYAZATO: I bought the Japanese Nails magazine before the Evian Masters, and I found this design on the magazine and I really liked it, because painting the Union Jack on my nails, it's very nice ‑‑ I thought it's really nice for the next couple of weeks. So it's actually a perfect fit for this week. So I really love it.

CRISTIE KERR, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 3

THE MODERATOR: We have Cristie Kerr in the interview area. Cristie recently won the LPGA championship presented by Wegmans by no less than 12 shots. Pretty good effort. She also has a very good record in this championship, having had four top 10 finishes, including a tie for 5th the last time it was here at Birkdale. You obviously enjoy links golf.
CRISTIE KERR: I like it a lot. It's a different type of golf. You have to play the bounces. I really love this golf course.

THE MODERATOR: Is there anything in particular you like about Birkdale?
CRISTIE KERR: I just like how it's out in front of you and you can see where you need to go. And, you know, the approach shots into the green, they fit my eye. And these greens are very good. So I like the course a lot.

THE MODERATOR: How was it playing in the Pro‑Am today; it was probably a little wet, wasn't it?
CRISTIE KERR: The first four, five holes we played in the rain, and it was quite cold. And then we expected it to rain the rest of the day. But it actually cleared up. So I don't think even the weather people know what's going to happen here. But I think I shot even or 1‑under par today in the tough conditions. So I played well.

THE MODERATOR: Can I harken back to your great win a few weeks back, winning by 12 shots. Is that the best golf you played in your life?
CRISTIE KERR: Absolutely.  Like I said, that week was a dream performance. Struggled a little bit the last couple of weeks, and hopefully I can play well this week.

THE MODERATOR: It's obviously a major championship. But you go in here this week with a fantastic race, at the top of the players' rankings. Does that add a little of spice to the whole thing as well?
CRISTIE KERR: It does. Every week counts, and you have a chance to be No. 1 every week. So it's going to be exciting until the end of the year.
            
Q. How important is it to finish the season world as No. 1?
CRISTIE KERR: It's very important. I worked my whole life for it. I'm in a position now to do it. There's so much golf left this year that, you have to be in it kind of every week. And your bad finishes need to be in the top 10. It's an exciting time for the LPGA because we have a number of different players that can be No. 1. It's very important to me, though.

Q. On that note, do you think that if you win the tournament by 12 shots, you should get extra points in the rankings?
CRISTIE KERR: No, it doesn't work like that, obviously. But it certainly felt well to play that well in Rochester and to win another major championship. I've been close the last couple of years from my U.S. Open win in 2007, and it was good to get another major championship.  For a world No. 1, for the rest of the year, it's going to probably take another couple tournament wins. I've had a good start to the season as far as trying to accomplish that and I've got to keep playing well.

Q. It was a while back, but do you have any strong memories of 2005 here?
CRISTIE KERR: I remember how bad the weather was. But I played a lot of good golf that week. And I birdied, I think I birdied the last hole to finish 5th. And this golf course is one of the best in the world. So it should be a good week.

Q. How much is becoming world No. 1 on your mind throughout the week, or can you keep that off your mind while you concentrate on the job at hand?
CRISTIE KERR: I have to keep my eyes on the job at hand, because I've been No. 1. I've lost that. Gone to 2nd or 3rd now. So it's time to chase that and get that back. It's a fun challenge. You've got to post good rounds, consecutive good rounds, and then it will happen again.

MELISSA REID, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 71

THE MODERATOR: We have Melissa Reid, fresh off her first victory in the LET in the Turkish Airlines Ladies Open. She also has a good record in this championship, having won the Smyth trophy for the leading amateur back in 2005. Do you have any memories of that?
MELISSA REID: I do. Pretty good week of qualifying. And then had my eyes out on the back, so it was a really good week.

THE MODERATOR: What does it mean to you ‑‑ you played in this event a couple times as a professional. What does it mean to you to come here for the first time having won an event?
MELISSA REID: I think I'm a very different player to what I was even last year. I feel a lot more comfortable in this kind of arena and feeling really good about this year. I feel like I'm improving all the time. And I feel that my game's in pretty good shape.

THE MODERATOR: You play early at just after 7am at Birkdale; do you see that as a benefit?
MELISSA REID: Yeah, I do. I think I've been very lucky. I think I've got really good couple tee times, playing with two very nice people, Ai Miyazato and Karrie Webb. And hopefully ‑‑ I think we've got to take advantage of the morning tee times, that's when the wind is not going to blow as much, she says. But it's a good opportunity to put a low one in there.

THE MODERATOR: How much golf have you played at Birkdale over the years?
MELISSA REID: Not very much, actually. I've been out here a few times. I think the last time I played here I was 14 or 15 in a schools event. But it changed a bit since then. But this morning it's in super condition.

THE MODERATOR: Anything special that strikes you about the course?
MELISSA REID: Obviously I remember the 17th from when Padraig won. And then 18. It's just a fantastic course. I think it suits my game quite well. I think in the past couple of British Opens I've really paid a little bit too much respect for the course, not been aggressive enough. But this week I feel it suits me and suits the way I drive the ball. Hopefully it puts us in good stead.

THE MODERATOR: In the past, do you think you respected it so much because it was a confidence thing, or was it just the occasional ‑‑ what was it that made you do that?
MELISSA REID: I don't know. I think my game wasn't in the best of shape coming into the British Open before. Obviously as an amateur I had nothing to lose. I was winning tournaments. And my confidence is high. Where this year it's very different.  I've won on Tour, and I've competed in big tournaments. And even though they're not great, I still finished top 20 in the tournaments against the best players in the world.  So I certainly feel like my game is moving in the right direction. I feel in myself, physically and mentally, I'm getting stronger. And, like I said, I feel that everything's kind of getting put into place this week.

THE MODERATOR: Have you set yourself a goal for this week? You obviously sound very confident; to win.
MELISSA REID: To win. It's not me being ‑‑ I don't think it's ‑‑ I don't think it's a huge question to ask. I think if I stay patient, and if my mind stays very, very calm, I think I can certainly compete with these girls and I feel like I can also beat them as well.

Q. Have you got much support here this week?
MELISSA REID: Yeah. I've got my mom and dad here. A few of my friends from home have come up. And my uncle and my cousin and a lot of my family. And I'm sure people from Derbyshire are going to come up. They come in about three bus loads, which is awesome. Can hear it on the first tee. It's fantastic. It's brilliant being a Brit, especially English playing in the British Open in England. And it's just a fantastic aura at the British Open. So it's going to be a cool week.

Q. How has your preparation for this tournament differed from previous years at this tournament?
MELISSA REID: I think I'm a lot calmer in my preparation. I was pretty tired after Tunisia. Took a few days off, which I would have never done last year. And it's kind of recharged the batteries. Obviously this is a big week. Evian was a big week. And I've got a few big weeks coming up. So I think just all in all my preparation is a bit more mature than the past couple of years. And I just generally feel like I'm maturing as a player, and I am starting to now understand what does work and what does not work for me.

Q. Have you played a practice round prior to this week?
MELISSA REID: I did have one scheduled in. Unfortunately, I didn't go because of the weather. I thought it was going to be ‑‑ it was supposed to be awful weather but it turned out it didn't. But no, no, today is the first time I've seen the course.

Q. Would you say your preparation is similar to the other tournaments you've played this year?
MELISSA REID: Exactly. I think the British Open is a completely separate event from anything else in the calendar. But at the end of the day, I feel my preparation for the tournaments is good, so why not keep the same routine. And I've seen the course this morning. I'm going to have another practice round early tomorrow morning. And I feel then I'll be ready. I know where the lines are off the tee. And my caddie, Lee, he's been here a lot of times. He knows all the lines off the tee as well.

Q. Did you [indiscernible] knowing you were going out early, or did you do it beforehand?
MELISSA REID: No, I did it beforehand. It could take up to six hours. So I just wanted to get my work done and have a little bit of peace, really.

FLORENTYNA PARKER, ROLEX RANKINGS NO. 128 and KELLY TIDY

THE MODERATOR: We have two members of the local golf club here today. Nearest to me is Kelly Tidy, who recently won the Ladies British Open Amateur championship at Ganton. Qualifies for the tournament that way. The far side is Florentyna Parker, who won in Holland on the LET Tour, the ABN Amro Ladies Open in Holland.  Can I start by asking how it feels to have such a large tournament on your own golf course?
FLORENTYNA PARKER: Well, when I heard that it was being played at Berkdale, I said, okay, that's my, that's my aim to be playing on my home club. Such a big event. And I'm really happy that I am able to play here. And it's amazing. I mean, the people you meet again, because obviously I live in Germany. I'm not here very often. And it's a great feeling to be back and to play the biggest event that I played in the year.

KELLY TIDY: It's great for me, obviously, as well. Home support. My family are able to come, with living only an hour away, and just being able to be around the atmosphere, first professional event playing in as well, and at my home course, it just feels a lot more comfortable being able to know the course, know where I'm going.

THE MODERATOR: That was actually my next question. How much support do you recon you'll have this week?
KELLY TIDY: I think that there will be a lot. I know I had phone calls and my family saying we're coming to watch; what are your tee times? And I think it's going to be ‑‑ it's going to be a big gallery maybe on the first tee on Thursday morning.

THE MODERATOR: Florentyna, probably there will be slightly less in your case, or do you expect lots of family and friends here as well?
FLORENTYNA PARKER: I've got a few family members here already. And I suppose there will be quite a few people watching. I have a good flight. Good draw.

THE MODERATOR: If you two were going to advise the rest of the field ‑‑ you probably don't want to ‑‑ but if you were to advise the rest of the field how to play this course, what would you suggest?
FLORENTYNA PARKER: I would say to stay out of the bunkers.

KELLY TIDY: I'd say the same thing, keep the ball into the wind, if it's going to be windy.

Q. Florentyna, you've got an excellent draw tomorrow with the defending champion Catriona Matthew and Paula Creamer, who just won the U.S. Women's Open. What do you think about playing with those two players?
FLORENTYNA PARKER: I just found out now. I think it's great. I love playing with obviously better players. And I think you can learn a lot. And I'm really, really happy with the draw. I'm looking forward to it.

Q. Same question for Kelly, you're playing with Karen Stupples and Sherri Steinhauer, both former champions.
KELLY TIDY: That's right. That will be a great experience to almost compare my game to the professional game and see how far away I am from almost being able to play on the professional tour.

Q. How long have you been a member here, Kelly?
KELLY TIDY: Five years.

Q. Whereabouts exactly do you live?
KELLY TIDY: I live in Bolton, about 38 miles from here. Takes an hour. I get over like three times a week to practice here because I'm no longer studying anymore.

Q. What are your future plans from here?
KELLY TIDY: I turn professional maybe next year to just see how things go in this tournament, really.

Q. Do you have any brothers or sisters that play?
KELLY TIDY: Not play, but I have a younger brother. He's an artist. Nothing like me at all.

Q. Are your parents good golfers?
KELLY TIDY: My dad used to play golf. He doesn't anymore. And my dad's parents also play golf. That's how I started the game, through my dad.

Q. Florentyna, you're staying with your grandparents this week. And your grandfather, was he a pro?
FLORENTYNA PARKER: No.

Q. Could you explain about the family?
FLORENTYNA PARKER: The family on my mother's side of the family where I'm staying this week, they're not golfers at all. My father's side of the family, they were all the golf professionals.

Q. Can you tell me about how you joined up with your caddie, Pete Coleman, this week?
FLORENTYNA PARKER: Yes. I'm with ISM, and Chubby Chandler obviously has great connections with the best caddies, and he got me Pete Coleman this week. He knows the course very well. Obviously he was Bernard Langer's caddie for 22 years and got a lot of experience. I hope it will help me this week, and we play well.

Q. Florentyna, obviously an early start on Thursday. So how is that going to affect your preparations?
FLORENTYNA PARKER: Well, I had a few early starts last week at the Evian. Got used to that now. Tomorrow I'm going to play nine holes. I'm going to play the front nine. I played the back nine yesterday. The Pro‑Am today.

I'm going to take it easy tomorrow and practice short game, a bit on the range, and just get ready. I mean, all the players are ready. We just need to do some ‑‑ practice a bit, get settled in and have an early night.

Q. Can you give us an idea what your morning will be like that first morning, presuming the alarm clock is going to go a bit earlier than you'd like?
FLORENTYNA PARKER: I suppose it will. And I don't know. I'm not exactly sure what time I'm playing. What is it, quarter past 7:00? I'll probably like to be on the range by 6:00, have breakfast before and hit some shots, do some chipping and finish off with putting and work on hitting.

Q. Does it become difficult just eating right at that kind of time of day and that kind of thing?
FLORENTYNA PARKER: No. We get used to it. We always have one early time. I think everyone's used to it. And I don't mind.

Q. Obviously as you mentioned, you don't get back to Berkdale too often. What major changes have there been over the last few years here?
FLORENTYNA PARKER: Yeah, great changes. Makes it more difficult for us. But the same for everyone. And the course is in great condition. It's probably great that it's rained the last few weeks here. So it's not as burned as it was. And the course is very well prepared. So hopefully we are as well.

Q. Kelly, practice rounds, you've got some big names alongside you for your practice rounds. Are you looking to learn off them or are they going to learn off you from the course?
KELLY TIDY: I don't know. I was playing nine holes yesterday afternoon and I found myself surrounded by a couple of caddies asking a few tips. They found out that I've been playing here for five years, decided to ask for a few lines off the tee and things. So I'm not sure. Maybe they'll be wondering tomorrow.  But it will be great to play with them girls, number one in the world, Cristie Kerr, that will be good. And just staying alongside. And hopefully the atmosphere, there will be a bit of a crowd tomorrow.

Q. Does it feel different coming into a major, Florentyna, rather than the week‑to‑week tournaments?
FLORENTYNA PARKER: Obviously it's different. I played the Open last year, and that was a great experience for me. And last week we obviously had the Evian Masters, which is a very big tournament. We got used to it. Two very big tournaments behind each of us. So I think we're ready.

Q. Kelly, you played in the Curtis Cup, did you not?
KELLY TIDY: I didn't play the Curtis Cup. I played the Junior Ryder Cup and the Junior Solheim Cup.

Q. So what's sort of holding you back from turning professional right away? I thought if you weren't pro by the time you were 15 these days, it was a bit late.
KELLY TIDY: I just turned 18 this year. And I think ‑‑ I just left college, wanted to get a year of full amateur golf without being tied back by college and not being able to enter every tournament. And just sort of get a good run and then hopefully turn professional at the end of that.

Q. So what were you studying at college?
KELLY TIDY: I have an international diploma in sports.

Q. Does that cover things like sort of ‑‑
KELLY TIDY: Psychology, sports, massage, sports therapy, everything, coaching, every aspect of the sports environment.

Q. Did you qualify? Did you finish ‑‑
KELLY TIDY: I finished with great distinctions. It was the highest achievement they've actually ever had in the college.