Honda LPGA Thailand 2006
Amata Springs Country Club
Chonburi, Thailand
October 18, 2006

Pre-tournament interviews: Cristie Kerr, Virada Nirapathpongporn – Meet the Players Press Conference

PAM WARNER: I'd like to welcome Cristie Kerr and Virada Nirapathpongporn to the Honda LPGA Thailand 2006. Cristie, we will start with you first. You have had a great season. Three wins, 13 other top-10 finishes and you are currently fourth on the money list. Can you talk about being here in Thailand this week?
CRISTIE KERR: First, I want to say it is great to be here in Thailand. It is my first time here and I'm very excited to be here at Amata Springs Country Club with great sponsors Honda and Channel 7. I'm looking forward to playing here this week.

PAM WARNER: Virada, you must be excited. It is your rookie season on Tour, you've had a good year and now you get to come home and play in Thailand in the first-ever LPGA tournament here. Can you talk about coming home this week?
VIRADA NIRAPATHPONGPORN: It is definitely nice to be able to stay at home and drive over to a course, which I'm quite familiar with. It is great to have the LPGA in Thailand. It is pretty cool.

Q. Cristie, it is your first time in Thailand. What do you find most difficult about Thailand? Is it the weather or the course?
CRISTIE KERR: I'm very familiar with the weather. I grew up in Miami, Florida and the weather is very similar here, very hot and very humid in the summer time. So I don't find that very difficult. I wish I knew the language, because everybody in Thailand has treated me very well and has been very nice and I would like to be able to express my thanks for being able to play in Thailand and for bringing the LPGA to Thailand. The language is definitely a barrio and the traffic is not too good. We are dealing with a lot of things, but we have a great sponsor and a great hotel and we are all very much looking forward to playing in Thailand.

Q. How big of a chance do you think you have to win here and what do you think about the course conditions?
CRISTIE KERR: Actually this is the first time I've been to the course. My caddie was out this morning walking the golf course and he said it was a very, very good golf course. The conditions are a little wet and he said it's a good course for us so I feel good about my game. I'm going to work on my putting for a bit this week and hopefully play well.

Q. What about the field, Cristie? Do you think the field is strong this week?
CRISTIE KERR: I think the field is strong. I've looked at the list very briefly, but a lot of the good Asian players are here and American players and some of the Europeans. I think it's going to be a very competitive week and I think that everybody really likes the golf course from what I hear. I think it's going to be a great tournament for Honda and for Channel 7.

Q. Have you had a chance to try the Thai food yet?
CRISTIE KERR: I actually love Thai food from what I've had in the United States. I had some soup yesterday and it was very spicy. I got a piece of one of the peppers and it took a while for my mouth to cool off. We had some spicy chicken with cashew nut and pepper and mushrooms and it was very good. Thai food is very good and very healthy.

How about some questions for Virada? (laughter)
VIRADA NIRAPATHPONGPORN: They want to talk to you. (laughter)
CRISTIE KERR: Well, you are from here and they should be very, very proud. (laughter)

Q. Virada, how do you feel coming back to Thailand and playing here?
VIRADA NIRAPATHPONGPORN: It is actually not my first time playing in a tournament in Thailand, but it is my first LPGA tournament here in Thailand. I am very excited.

Q. Virada, what are you expectations for this week?
VIRADA NIRAPATHPONGPORN: I will try to do my best, because there are a lot of great players here with a lot of potential.

Q. What do you think about the course?
VIRADA NIRAPATHPONGPORN: This is a very good golf course. The LPGA has done a good job in setting up the course this week.

Q. Don't put too much pressure on yourself, because we all want you to play well here in Thailand. Are all of your family and friends coming this week?
VIRADA NIRAPATHPONGPORN: They have been asking how I am doing leading up to the tournament. Everything is going ok and it's going to be a fun week.

CRISTIE KERR: So let me ask you a question, what are your impressions of the LPGA Tour and the players and the way we've reacted to Thailand?
REPORTER: To be frank, this is my first time covering an LPGA tournament, but I've heard great things and expect great things this week.