MasterCard Classic Honoring Alejo Peralta Presented by Televisa Deportes
Bosque Real Country Club
Huixquilucan, Mexico
March 8, 2007
Pre-tournament interviews: Annika Sorenstam | Lorena Ochoa | Julieta Granada | Paula Creamer
Annika Sorenstam, defending champion
DANA GROSS-RHODE: Annika, thank you for joining us. You are all familiar with Annika Sorenstam who has won every year of the MasterCard Classic Honoring Alejo Peralta. Annika, you enter this week for your first tournament of the year and defending your title. Your thoughts?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I'm happy to be back here in Mexico. I have a lot of wonderful memories from this place; I was here in 2002 and the last two years, so I'm excited to start the season here. It's my third time on the golf course and it's in superb shape. I think it's better than I've seen it. I'm looking forward to a great start to the season. Should be fun.
Q. Last year, you said the Rolex Women's World Rankings needed to be changed. What do you think about them now?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think they're better this year than they were last year at this time. I think they are getting very, very close. There are a few things we have to tweak, that's with anything new. It takes a little while to get them going and figure out what's right and not right. I'm in favor of them; I think it's a great way for us to measure the players that play from so many tours.
Q. You've played here three years now. How does it compare to past years? How do you prepare?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think it's a golf course that grows on you the more you play. It's about getting used to the elevation changes; some greens are higher, some greens are lower. It's the first day this year and the greens are very, very smooth and the fairways are in superb condition. It's nice to see the course maturing and growing and I think the more we come here, the better it gets.
Q. What do you think are your chances of winning here for the third time?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I hope my chances are good. That's one of the reasons I'm here; I try to come when I'm ready to play. I've had a great opportunity to have lots of time to work on my game and I'm looking forward to the season. There are a lot of good players here this week, so I know I have to play my best. This is what it's all about, to come here and perform.
Q. Did you make any changes in the off-season regarding Lorena winning (Rolex) Player of the Year?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I was working on my (back) swing, but I wouldn't say it was because of the (LPGA Official) Money List. Every year, after the season's over, I analyze the way I played and think about my goals for my upcoming season and I put a plan together. That's kind of how I do things every year. I did spend a lot of time the last month and a half working on my swing. I wasn't happy the way I was swinging last year. I feel better about that and hope to get back on track, again.
Q. How would you rate the level of competition here this week? (note: field includes seven of top-10 and 14 of top-20 on the LPGA Official Money List)
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I'm not sure about the field. When I come here, I don't look at the list to be honest. I'm just happy to be here. I know Lorena is here and people will be pulling for her; as Player of the Year that's somebody, when she's in the field, people pay attention to.
Q. How many more years do you think you will be out here playing? After accomplishing so many records and achievements, what are your goals? What are you hungry for?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I'm hungry for majors. As long I enjoy the competition and as long as I feel motivated and wake up in the morning excited to go practice, I will continue to play. I not really sure how long that will be. I do have other interests off the golf course that I've been pursuing more and more, so right now, I feel like I have a great balance where I can compete as much as I much and do these ventures on the side. Now, I'm not planning on changing anything.
Q. Why do you think it is important for players to have their own Foundations?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think, in anything, if you come to the point when you can give back, I think that's very important. I want to say both Lorena and I are very lucky to be able to do something we really enjoy and to have a career in it. We enjoy what we do and we can give back and that is very important and very rewarding. I just started my Foundation and I'm excited about it and I know Lorena has done a lot for hers as well. It's wonderful.
Q. Do you have any advice for Lorena, having won the Rolex Player of the Year last year, but not winning any majors?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I don't know what my advice would be; I should ask her. She was Player of the Year last year. She's on the right track. She's been improving every year: her driving's better, her putting's better. It's just a matter of time before she wins a major. I found out the hard way not to put pressure on myself and not focus too much on certain events. I talk about winning majors. It's stuck in my mind, but once you're on the tee and start thinking, 'It's a major, I've got to win this,' you have to let that go and trust your game.
Q. Do you know how many tournaments you will play this year?
ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think I will down a little bit. I'm not sure how many I will play. That's one thing about not winning many, I don't have to defend. Right now 15 or 16 on the LPGA, Sweden (Scandinavian TPC hosted by Annika; Ladies European Tour), The Solheim Cup and I have to defend in Dubai.
Lorena Ochoa
Q. Lorena, thank you for coming in today. Bosque Real is one of longest courses on Tour, how do you prepare for the length and the altitude?
LORENA OCHOA: I don't think it is really that long because of altitude. I think it will be key to get used to because of the high elevation. I am from here. I think I can take advantage of that and be more comfortable playing the course.
Q. What is the club difference?
LORENA OCHOA: I think it's almost 15 percent. Especially on the long irons, you can hit 12, 15, 16 yards longer. You just have to feel comfortable over the ball and trust your distance.
Q. What did you learn in 2006 as your best season?
LORENA OCHOA: It's really hard to say now, but it was a very special year that I will remember for the rest of my life. I think it's very important to play consistent all year. I learned a lot from that and it's my goal this year to be more consistent in every tournament I play to give myself a chance to win the tournament and give myself a chance to be on top. To win, I think it's very important to trust yourself. I believe in myself and it helps to have all the players know you are a winner. When they see your name, it means something. A lot of positive things; a good year.
Q. What are your projects or goals for the Lorena Ochoa Foundation this year?
LORENA OCHOA: I'm going to have five tournaments as a fundraiser to get 10 million pesos to start building a school in 2008. I am going to play my second event Monday in Mexico City. And then we go to the north to play a tournament, and then in the south of the country. We give scholarships to 325 kids from first through sixth grade. It is a challenge, but it is worth it to do it.
Julieta Granada
DANA GROSS-RHODE: Julieta, you seem to be excited to play in Mexico. Are you looking forward to this week and how have you been preparing?
JULIETA GRANADA: Yes, Mexico is a great country. I love being here. I've had a great experience both times I've been here before, so I'm looking forward to this week. The course is in great shape and suits my game very well, so I'm happy to be back.
Q. How have you prepared for the tournament this week? Has the elevation affected your game?
JULIETA GRANADA: I don't feel it that much. I notice when I hit, we have to calculate 10 percent on it, so it's a little bit longer process to get the yardage right, but other than that, I don't feel any weaker or any different.
Q. What have you learned from such a strong finish last year and winning the ADT Championship?
JULIETA GRANADA: Obviously, last year, the end was really, really nice for me. I learned how to win out here and I know I can do it now. This year, I played really well the first week; the second week, I wasn't feeling very well. I'm looking forward to this week. I've been working on a couple things this week and hope
Q. What sets up well on the course for you?
JULIETA GRANADA: I really like the course. It's pretty tight, the greens are really nice, kind of tricky, make it tough for everybody. I really enjoy that.
Q. Have you noticed a difference in fans in Mexico since last year's event, after finishing second to Lorena at the Corona Championship last October?
JULIETA GRANADA: Yeah, before they didn't really know who I was and now, they appreciate that I'm coming back and support me and it's nice to get the crowd involved. They're great fans. They love the sport, they love Lorena and they're very proud to have the LPGA in Mexico and come out to support the tournament.
Paula Creamer
Q. Paula, you won the first tournament of the season. Last year, you ended the second round of the MasterCard Classic tied with Annika for the lead and finished tied for fourth. How does preparing for the tournament this year compare to last year?
PAULA CREAMER: My confidence is high; I like the golf course a lot. I've won this year, so far. I feel very comfortable on the golf course and it's a very good course.
Q. How would you compare the course at Bosque Real to Hawaii?
PAULA CREAMER: Very different. Hawaii was pretty flat. Very, very windy. Here, it's very hilly, altitude. There's not much wind; sometimes in the afternoon. But, they're very different golf courses.
Q. Did you imagine you would start the season with a victory? Does it relieve some pressure?
PAULA CREAMER: A little bit. Yes, anytime when you win, it always helps. This makes me more confidence going into the tournament knowing I can win again. Last year, I didn't win, but I played well; good enough to win a tournament. Now to have that, it allows me to go out and be more relaxed.
Q. Is the momentum still there from your win in Hawaii?
PAULA CREAMER: Definitely. I was 10th at the second tournament. I've felt very comfortable with my golf swing. My putting's been pretty good so far and I really like this golf course. So, I've been putting those together.
Q. What do you like the most about coming to Mexico?
PAULA CREAMER: The people. When you're out there, you can see they are learning more and more about golf. Coming here is fun, it's exciting. Coming to the tournaments in this country, they are highly watched and I like that.
Q. Knowing Lorena Ochoa and Julieta Granada are Latina players in the field this week, do you think that will affect your game?
PAULA CREAMER: I can only vouch for me. I want to play the best I can. I feel it's a very good field this week. There are a lot of people who will be trying to win this week. I can only play the golf course.
Q. What made you decide to come back to this tournament?
PAULA CREAMER: I really like the golf course. The people are becoming more and more involved in golf and golf tournaments and I really like that. It's fun. It's fun to go to another country and it's a good tournament.
Q. What is the most complicated hole or pin position and how do you face it?
PAULA CREAMER: I don't necessarily think there is a specific hole that is difficult out there. The whole golf course is. You have to play good tee shots, you have to hit good iron shots. Over the past couple of years, the scores have been very low here. I think, it's just the overall altitude, uphill, downhill, you have to think so much for one shot.
Q. It's Annika's first tournament of the season and she's the number one player in the world on the Rolex Women's World Rankings. How will it affect you with Annika playing here?
PAULA CREAMER: I can't control what Annika does. You can't concentrate on one player, you have to concentrate on your own game.
Q. Do you feel any pressure to be a role model for people?
PAULA CREAMER: You mean, like Lorena is a role model?
Q. Yes.
PAULA CREAMER: I would love to be like that. I'm only 20, so it's kind of hard to do that. You have to give back to golf and support women's golf and get everyone involved and, if I can do that, I would love that. That would be fantastic. You have to be able to control yourself out on the golf course and people have to accept you. You have to fill some pretty big shoes to be able to do that, but I would really like to be that next American.
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