Mission Hills Country Club
Rancho Mirage, Calif.
Third round notes and interviews
April 2, 2011
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Stacy Lewis -10, Rolex Rankings No. 28
Morgan Pressel -8, Rolex Rankings No. 14
Michelle Wie -6, Rolex Rankings No. 9
Angela Stanford -5, Rolex Rankings No. 25
Defending champion Yani Tseng is looking to make it back-to-back titles at the Kraft Nabisco Championship, as she enters the final round with a two-shot lead over Stacy Lewis. Tseng fired a 6-under 66 in the third round to move to 12-under par for the tournament. Tseng, who tallied six birdies in her bogey-free round on Saturday, has already won four times world-wide in 2011 including the season-opening Honda LPGA Thailand. Last year, Tseng, a three-time major winner, fired rounds of 69-71-67-68 at the 2010 Kraft Nabisco Championship for a one-stroke victory over Suzann Pettersen.
Tseng has a chance to become the first back-to-back winner since Annika Sorenstam in 2001-02. She would also be just the eighth multi-winner in the history of the Kraft Nabisco. Other multiple winners include Amy Alcott (1983, 1988, 1991), Betsy King (1987, 1990, 1997), Juli Inkster (1984, 1989), Dottie Pepper (1992, 1999), Karrie Webb (2000, 2006), Sandra Post (1978, 1979) and Sorenstam.
The 22-year-old has either led or co-led heading into the final round six times in her LPGA career, winning twice – 2010 RICOH Women’s British Open and the 2011 Honda LPGA Thailand.
Second-round leader Stacy Lewis will attempt to join the list of the Kraft Nabisco’s come-from-behind winners when she tees off for Sunday’s final round. Lewis shot 1-under 71 on Saturday, tallying two birdies and one bogey. The 26-year-old has shot three consecutive under-par rounds this week and finds herself two strokes behind the leader, Yani Tseng, entering the final round. If Lewis can overtake Tseng on Sunday, she will try to join an elite group of players who made the Kraft Nabisco their first ever victory on the LPGA Tour. Three players have recorded their first career win at the Kraft Nabisco Championship: Helen Alfredsson (1993), Nancy Bowen (1995) and Morgan Pressel (2007). Lewis’ best career finish at the Kraft Nabisco came in 2007 when she tied for fifth as an amateur.
Watch your back! Rolex Rankings No. 19 Morgan Pressel is in contention to secure her second Kraft Nabisco Championship. In 2007, Pressel came from four strokes behind to become the youngest player at 18 years 10 months and nine days to win the championship. Pressel shot a front nine even-par 36 then caught fire on the back recording three straight birdies to finish the day at 3-under par.
Saturday is moving day: Angela Stanford made a big push to join the top of the leader board on Saturday by shooting 66 in the third round, moving her into sole possession of fifth place at 5-under-par. Stanford began the day at even par and recorded seven birdies and two bogeys, including one at the 18th hole. A four-time winner on the LPGA Tour, Stanford’s best finish in a major came when she tied for second at the 2003 U.S. Women’s Open.
Support for Tseng: Yani Tseng had a strong following during Saturday’s third round at the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Although Tseng now calls Orlando, Fla. home, she used to practice at Oak Valley Golf Club in Beaumont, Calif., which is less than an hour from Rancho Mirage where the tournament is taking place. Many members of the Oak Valley Golf Club and residents of the surrounding Chinese community came the tournament and wore white shirts that said 'Friend of Yani.’
“Finish Strong for Japan”: Through two rounds of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, the Members of Mission Hills have pledged a total of $6,900 for “Finish Strong for Japan.” In an effort to help all of the children affected by the recent tragedies in Japan, the Members of Mission Hills said they would donate $100 for every birdie and $500 for every eagle on holes #17 and #18 during all four rounds of the Kraft Nabisco and $1000 for any holes-in-one on the par-3 17th. All of the proceeds from this week’s fundraising effort are going to UNICEF. The “Finish Strong for Japan” program was initially launched by title sponsor RR Donnelley during the RR Donnelley LPGA Founders Cup on March 18-20.
Of Note…Vicky Hurst recorded a hole-in-one on the par-3, 5th hole on Saturday morning. Hurst used a six-iron to hole out from 163 yards… Ariya Jutanugarn, who was the only amateur to make the cut, shot a 1-under 71 on Saturday. A native of Thailand, Jutanugarn is two-over through three rounds of the Kraft and tied for 28th…The heat was a common topic of conversation during the first two rounds of the Kraft Nabisco Championship, but Saturday finally brought some relief. Temperatures only reached the low 90s during the third round following two straight days of 100 degree temperatures.
YANI TSENG, Rolex Rankings No. 1
We're here with defending champion, Yani Tseng. Great round today. Can you tell me a little bit about your round and how you feel going into tomorrow?
YANI TSENG: Feel very excited, especially it's always good to have six birdies, no bogeys out there on this tough golf course. I was hitting more fairways today, so give me more chances to have birdies chances. So I make a lot of putts, still missed some. But I really had fun out there, and you know, I just want to keep smiling all day tomorrow and have a lot of fun. You know, I did it before, so I just want to do it again.
Q. As well as you were playing, were you even a little surprised at how quickly you made up that three shots? I think by the seventh hole you were tied and seemed to have grabbed the momentum at that point.
YANI TSENG: Yeah. I just try to focus on one shot at a time. I played pretty aggressive today. I want to get over to catch Stacy, so I really hang in there and played really good today.
Q. Yeah, you really looked like you were having fun. How can you balance out being aggressive and having fun and smiling and yet playing serious golf at the same time? That's really gotta be a challenge. How do you pull that out?
YANI TSENG: You know, I see the people following me they were having fun, too, so I don't feel like they are watching they enjoy watching me play. That's why I want it. Every time I smile it makes me feel more relaxed. Sometimes when I'm nervous I smile, too. Even when I have a bad shot, I try to smile because I will get rid of it. Always looking forward to the next shot.
Q. It looks like sometimes you must be playing so well you're almost mad at yourself when you miss a putt or don't get within a few feet of the hole. Are you feeling that good that it's almost like target practice?
YANI TSENG: Yeah, like today's back nine I missed like I think four or five in a row, I missed like 12 footers. I didn't make any one. I was disappointed. I was thinking, where does it end here? I was like, where is it? It just feels different. It's really tough to read like those three holes, and you sometimes just need to make one to get rid of that. So it was tough out there, but I still finished really good today.
Q. Yani, you had a lot of friends out there today. Did you know all about the organization of all the people coming over today? I think it was over 300 tickets.
YANI TSENG: Yeah. I know they bought lots of tickets to come here and support me. They are from Beaumont because that's where I practiced before. I lived there about three years and only 40 minutes from here. My mom is still has a house there. So it was really nice that they come out here and cheer for me, and I feel very appreciative, because I need a crowd. I need a big crowd here to make me more excited.
Q. When was the last time you played this well for this long of a stretch?
YANI TSENG: When is the last time?
Q. Yeah. Have you played this well before, do you think, for this you've had five pretty good tournaments in a row.
YANI TSENG: Yeah. Probably not really, but like this year, I've been working hard on it all season. And I started very good this year, and like every tournament I keep building the confidence. So I mean I'm trying to not lose the confidence. So even if I had a bad shot, I still try to build the confidence for myself. So this is good for me when I hit one good shot and I know next one I can do it better.
So like this four, five tournaments, I really learned a lot. And I know now I'm not afraid that I'm leading right now. I'm not afraid that I'm two shot lead. I don't think too much for tomorrow that I have to win. You know, I just want to enjoy it and I know how to play one shot at a time.
Q. Yani, you've talked about how you learned a lot at the British Open, Women's British Open last year because you won while you were leading rather than coming from behind. Obviously you get a chance to put that into practice tomorrow. What did you learn at the British?
YANI TSENG: Yeah. That's the first time I really like I'm leading and leading the tournament. So that was really tough. I didn't have a good sleep on Saturday night. I was dreaming about beat me on the final day, and I wake up at 6:00 in the morning. So that's a curse really for me.
And like on Sunday and me and Katherine she's playing so good. So she pushed me a lot. And then I just retried to focus on my game and keep telling myself, I can do this, I can do this. I probably repeat a thousand times, I can do this. So tomorrow I need to do the same way. Like I said, I did it before and now I'm leading, so I just want to do it again.
Q. Yani, you are on the brink of becoming a back to back champion. What is it about this course that you particularly like?
YANI TSENG: I love it. I love this course because you're not hitting driver every hole. You need to play smart. You need to have a good strategy. Like you need to hit it the spot you want to hit it. If you don't hit the spot you want to hit it, it's really hard to get up and down. It's really hard to make a good putt. So today I really hit the ball where I wanted. So it was really good. But I don't think too much for like back to back, and tomorrow I think the course is going to be pretty rough. So I just want to make more putts today and make more putts tomorrow. And then I think it will be fine.
Q. Yani, can you just sort of replay for me what happened on 18 there?
YANI TSENG: What happened on 18?
Q. Yeah. What did you do on 18?
YANI TSENG: I hit a rescue, hit it too far and all the way down to the rough. And second shot I tried to lay up, and I pushed the bunkers. And then I hit the third shot real like 125 to the pin. And I hit it pretty good out of the bunker. I was a little nervous because the water, and I'm lucky to get a good lie out there and finish par there.
Q. Why do you think in the long history of this tournament there's only been two repeat winners?
YANI TSENG: You mean why? I don't know. I don't know. I just that's a tough question. I just want to keep doing my job and I don't know.
Q. How well do you think you're going to sleep tonight, and what would winning a fourth major this early in your career mean to you?
YANI TSENG: I think I'm going to go (out) first tonight. Last celebration on Saturday night and then I ended up winning on Sunday. So it's really good to keep celebrating on Saturday night and I just want to go out with my mom, my family a little bit, and wish tomorrow could be the same way winning the tournament again.
Q. How long did you spend in Beaumont, and can you spell your mom's first name?
YANI TSENG: My mom's first name is Y A-N G. And I stayed there like two years because first time we had Q School in Mission Hills. That's why I lived there. It was very easy for me to practice there and get ready for Q School.
Q. (Indiscernible).
YANI TSENG: Yeah. I don't think it's for young kids. I just want to it's good for practice, but you hear that you want to party there. There's no players going to party with you there.
Q. The way you're playing this year and last year, it might be best not to know where Indio is.
YANI TSENG: Yeah. I told my caddie, I think it's that way. So it's good. I just want to make sure everything is right.
STACY LEWIS, Rolex Rankings No. 28
We're here with Stacy Lewis. Great playing again today. Can you just talk a little bit about your round?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah. It was a really hard round. I'm exhausted, as I hit it in the rough all day and just struggling to make pars, and just really glad for the day to be over.
Q. Yeah. Particularly I think on the front nine it looked like you every hole you hit a four or five, six footer, but you were making them. So I mean were you getting a certain amount of energy from the fact that you weren't making them or was it just a grind?
STACY LEWIS: I mean you get some confidence from that, but it's really frustrating to have to make those putts hole after hole, and to be hacking out of the rough, whether it's off the tee on par 5, just trying to lay up. I mean I just made the day really hard on myself, but I was lucky to get away with still shooting under par.
Q. Is there pressure in playing with somebody like Yani who seemed to be on the pin every shot she hit?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah. It seems like every time I play with her she plays like that. But she's playing great right now, and it's hard because you know that, I mean, she's got a pretty good chance of making birdie almost every hole. So it definitely puts pressure on me, but I felt comfortable there, and she's playing great golf, so I just have to go play some good golf tomorrow, too.
Q. And did your lead seem to disappear really quickly on that front nine?
STACY LEWIS: No, not really because I was glad that I just didn't give her the lead. She had to make three birdies and she had to earn the lead, and I actually still had the lead at the turn. So I was glad that she didn't shoot even par and pass me.
Q. Would you wish you weren't playing with her for a second day in a row and maybe not have to watch everything she does?
STACY LEWIS: No. I'd much rather play with the leaders and play with somebody who's No. 1 in the world any day.
Q. After grinding today will you do any more work on the range? Will you go home? Will you try it tomorrow?
STACY LEWIS: I think I need to go to the range for a little bit just for myself, and I kind of figured some things out a little bit on the back nine, especially off the tee, so I want to kind of see if I've got that figured out. But not too much.
Q. When you're out there grinding like you were today, what do you tell yourself to kind of keep yourself going or how do you deal with that mentally?
STACY LEWIS: I mean I told my caddie, I was like, let's just keep trying to hit good shots and hopefully we get a good bounce or something like that. I mean on 9 I didn't hit a great shot, but got a really good bounce and made birdie. So you just gotta keep hoping for the good bounce.
Q. It wasn't as hot today, but it was more humid. You said you like hot and humid. We gave it to you today. Were the course conditions markedly different or still pretty rock hard?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah, they were still pretty hard. I think the wind was more of a factor today. It was definitely kind of swirled in the trees. It wasn't consistent all day. Especially on I think it was 17 tee, we had trouble there. I think Yani backed off her shot two or three times. So the wind was just swirling in the trees. I think that made it a little more difficult today.
Q. Do you think your ability to stay patient today during a round where you had to really scramble and then get to an under par round stemmed from your experience where you led the U.S. Open?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah. I mean I think that's just me and just the way I play. I mean I know throughout four days you're going to have to have a round where you're going to struggle and you gotta just get the ball in the hole, so I hope today was that day and I'm just going to move on tomorrow.
Q. Do you feel like an underdog going into tomorrow?
STACY LEWIS: Yeah. I think so. I mean any time you're playing No. 1 in the world, I mean she's No. 1 for a reason and she's playing really good golf. So I think she's got more pressure on her for tomorrow, so I can just go out there and play.
MORGAN PRESSEL, Rolex Rankings No. 14
THE MODERATOR: We're here with Morgan Pressel. Morgan, thanks for coming in. Good round today. You're in contention to win your second Kraft Nabisco Championship. Can you tell me about your round and how you feel going into tomorrow?
MORGAN PRESSEL: Yeah. I feel good. I feel like I've played relatively solid the last couple days, but more than anything, I haven't gotten too upset over bad shots and have recovered very well. In a major that's really what it comes down to. It comes down to making the five footers, which I've done very well, and just realizing that other people are out there making bogeys, too.
Q. Morgan, I know it's been four years, but is there anything you can tap into from 2007, especially with the similarities? It was hot then. You start the final round four back, like you did then. Can you tap into the memories of how you played that final round and can that in any way help you tomorrow?
MORGAN PRESSEL: I just remember that I played very solid. I didn't have any bogeys. I think the course might have even played a little bit more difficult than it is right now. The scores were much higher that year.
And you know, a round with no bogeys and a few birdies tomorrow won't hurt me. I might need a few more than three, but you never know. And like what happened with Suzann, you never really know what happens, but I'm going to go out and try not to have that be an option, go out and take it myself.
Q. Yani is playing so well, she's No. 1 in the world. It seems like every shot is right on the hole. Do you feel like how do you go into tomorrow not thinking about making seven birdies to have a chance?
MORGAN PRESSEL: Well, I do think that I have to make seven birdies to have a chance, and if I go in, you know, thinking that way and I make five, well, you know, five's not too bad.
Q. How good is she playing? Have you watched her at all this week?
MORGAN PRESSEL: I have not watched her, but I mean judging by her scores, I think she's playing pretty well.
Q. Are you glad you aren't playing with her maybe where you don't have to watch every shot go into the hole?
MORGAN PRESSEL: I don't think it matters one way or the other.
Q. You're going to be playing with Michelle tomorrow. How does that stack up for you, Morgan?
MORGAN PRESSEL: Oh, I didn't notice that. I realize. It'll be fun. We get along very well, and it's been a long time since we've played together. So we'll have a good gallery, for sure.
Q. Yeah, for sure, between the two of you, you will pull them in. On your putting have you been doing a lot of work with Stockton. Has that sort of made some of the putts go better for you this week because a lot of people have had a lot of problems with the greens.
MORGAN PRESSEL: Well, for sure. I putted very poorly last week, and we did a lot of work just so that I would feel more comfortable over the ball and get the golf ball started on the line that I want. And it also goes hand in hand with the fact that I have good memories here. I feel like I know the greens fairly well, and there's a lot of putts that I stand over that I know exactly how they're going to break.
Q. And lastly, have you planned your jump for tomorrow into Poppie's Pond?
MORGAN PRESSEL: We can't plan that yet, but I won't be wearing white.
Q. Have you got some ideas?
MORGAN PRESSEL: No. It'll be spontaneous.
Q. Back to the pairing with Michelle, can you talk a little bit about how your games are different, different ways you play the course and how it sets up for you?
MORGAN PRESSEL: Well, I feel like I've spent, what, this is my sixth Kraft, maybe my seventh. I've spent a lot of time devising my own game plan, so I'm going to stick to that. I don't obviously hit the ball as far as she does or as high and as soft, but I probably hit a few more fairways, so it's a toss up.
Q. Morgan, I know you practiced in a lot of heat in Florida, heat here. How has that helped you this week so far?
MORGAN PRESSEL: Usually when it's this hot at home, I practice for about an hour and I go in. It's too hot for me. When you're out here, you gotta actually tough it out and hang out there. But I did grow up in Florida. I certainly have practiced in my fair share of heat. You know, I didn't realize that it was that bad yesterday. It gets much stickier in Florida. This dry heat isn't that terrible.
Q. All right, Morgan. Have you done any change up with your wedges for this week because the greens being so firm, et cetera, after last week?
MORGAN PRESSEL: No. My wedges are the same as they've always been.
Q. You've been in the hunt in a number of major championships. What do you most take out of that that will help tomorrow?
MORGAN PRESSEL: Well, just that usually when it comes down to a Sunday of a major championship, it's the grinders that pull it out, and you know, the ones who really hit the most fairways and greens. You obviously gotta make a lot of putts, but as long as you really don't get too upset with yourself and stay in there and keep grinding.
I mean every hole out here is a birdie hole. If you put it in the right spot, you can certainly make birdies, but if you're in the wrong spot, it can go downhill quickly. So I think if you approach every hole as let's birdie this hole and see what happens.
MICHELLE WIE, Rolex Rankings No. 9
THE MODERATOR: We'd like to welcome Michelle Wie into the interview room. Congratulations, 3 under 69 today, 6 under now for the tournament. Kind of take us through your round today and what went right for you.
MICHELLE WIE: It was a pretty solid round. I felt like I just went out there, tried to make a lot of birdies. Didn't make as many as I wanted to, but still a good round.
Q. Michelle, for you to be in contention now after the way you started Thursday, does that even mean more to you than if you had been hitting on all cylinders from the start?
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah. You know, it feels good to be in this position right now after starting the way I did. But obviously I still have a long way to go, and I really want it, so hopefully tomorrow I'll have a lot of birdies.
Q. I don't know if you've seen any of Yani, but it's like target practice almost for her today out there. How hard is it to chase somebody who's playing so well? And tomorrow can you even think about what she's doing or just try to make your own birdies?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, it's tough to think about anybody else. You can't really control what they do. You can't like will them to do something. But all I can do tomorrow is just go out there and try to shoot as low as I can, and if I go out there and I try my hardest and do everything I want to do, then I'm going to be happy no matter what.
Q. Can you just talk about what it was like to be out there on a roll on a major championship Saturday again, just what the atmosphere felt like?
MICHELLE WIE: It was good. I think it was fun. It was a good crowds out there today, very energetic. Good weather and it was just a lot of fun today, a lot of fun to play.
Q. Can you talk about how the course sets up for your game?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, it sets up the way it does. It doesn't really suit me or not suit me. It's just what it is. I just have to go out and hit good shots.
Q. What happened on the tap in and how frustrating is that when your shots are so dear to try to catch up?
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah. I think it was kind of one of those putts that like I mean I didn't mis hit it. It just broke a lot for a two footer, a lot more than I thought, especially I missed the same putt last year from two feet.
Q. (Indiscernible).
MICHELLE WIE: I don't remember, but it was the same thing as this. But I mean it is what it is. I feel like I hit a lot of other good shots, and hopefully tomorrow I can use the frustration for even more birdies.
Q. Michelle, can you talk about how were the conditions today? Were the greens a little more receptive? It looked like you were able to hit the ball a little better.
MICHELLE WIE: I think with the wind a little bit into the wind it kind of stopped a little bit more. But it wasn't as windy as I expected it to be. I thought it was going to be a lot windier, but it was good playing conditions today.
Q. What happened on 9?
MICHELLE WIE: I don't know. I parred.
Q. With your shot. I mean all the way through. Did you mis hit that or did it just release more than you thought it would?
MICHELLE WIE: It was a hard shot. It was like one of those things where you can't really be sure, like be too aggressive. It was just a really hard shot.
Q. You kept coming close and not birdieing on the front 9. What made them go in on the back 9?
MICHELLE WIE: The putts just dropped in. I hit good putts on the front nine, but they didn't go in. Hopefully tomorrow I'll start on the front and hopefully get on a birdie roll.
Q. What did you hit it in there real close on 16?
MICHELLE WIE: Yeah. I hit a 9. It was about 140 to the hole.
Q. Is it true that win or lose you will be in class on Monday?
MICHELLE WIE: Yep.
Q. Or Tuesday. And can you talk about the decision to go to the spring quarter of school this year?
MICHELLE WIE: You know, I thought it was a good time to do it. I didn't want to come back another fall after next March, and also it's my first spring quarter, so I'm really excited. The sun's out. It'll be fun.
Q. Do you prefer coming from behind and maybe getting, you know, getting the crowd going if you make a couple early birdies or do you prefer playing from in front?
MICHELLE WIE: I prefer being in front at this point, but you know, it is what it is. I am where I am. I'm really excited to play tomorrow.
Q. You said you really want this. Does getting close again just awaken that desire even more?
MICHELLE WIE: Yes, for sure. It's been a while since I've been in contention here at Kraft, and it's a lot of fun. I forgot how fun it was, and I'm really excited to play tomorrow.
Q. Talking about tomorrow, have you thought about what you would do if you get to jump into Poppy's Pond?
MICHELLE WIE: Not really thought about that yet. I'm just going to think about the first shot, second shot. I'm just thinking about game time tomorrow and just thinking about that.
Q. Have you played with Morgan recently? When was the last time you two played together?
MICHELLE WIE: I mean we've played together. I think I can't really remember the last time I played, but I played with her a lot, so it should be fun.
ANGELA STANFORD, Rolex Rankings No. 25
THE MODERATOR: Like to welcome Angela Stanford. Angela, thanks for coming in. Good round today, 5 under 67. Can you tell me about your round and how you feel going into tomorrow?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I finally found the bottom of the cup. The last two days I feel like I've been all around it. Hit 15 greens yesterday, so you know, I've had a ton of good looks. And today, the first couple of putts for birdie were straight. So maybe that was the key. Finally found the straight putts on these greens. So I think, you know, I don't know. I just felt comfortable out there. I don't know. It was just one of those days that everything kind of goes your way.
Q. Could you talk a little bit about how conditions were different today than the first two days? Obviously the wind was up. It's a little cooler. Does that make it easier or harder out there?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I think the wind usually changes things. I was surprised that we made it through nine holes before it started blowing. I kept thinking, what's going on, where is the wind. So you know, and that was some of it starting out. I thought, well, if it's not going to blow, we better take our opportunity here and get some birdies and maybe try to climb the leaderboard before it does start to blow. And when we made the turn on No. 10, I've never had a lob wedge into No. 10. So I think the wind makes a big difference, especially when it's so dry out there.
Q. So do you think for the leaders that are still out there, it may be a little tough?
ANGELA STANFORD: I don't know. I think 10 green was really firm. I mean I would like to say yes, but I don't know.
Q. And could you just talk a little bit about what it would mean to really challenge for a major at this point in your career tomorrow?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, that's why we're out here. I mean I've always said players' careers are judged by the number of majors they win. So the four that we have on our schedule are the ones that everybody wants to win. So this one would be I said I want to win this one and an Open. No offense to the other two majors, but a U.S. Open, obviously growing up in America you want to win your national championship, but I've grown to love this tournament just because of all the tradition and the leap into the pond. And having all those ladies today playing on the other course, it's pretty cool to have them around, and I really appreciate the tradition and would love to be a part of it.
Q. Angela, most people try and score early so they can protect their score on 15, 16, 17. You did it the other way around today. How do you birdie those three holes in the teeth of this golf course?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, 15, I think it just comes down to having good numbers and having a little bit of luck. 15, we had a really good number that I could be aggressive with that shot. I think sometimes you get in trouble out here because you get in between numbers, and I know I do this. I'm worried about the big bounces that it may take, but 15 we had a good number into that green. 16, I was coming out of the rough and got lucky there. I got a good bounce and it rolled close. And 17, actually hit a really good shot off the tee, the shot I wanted to hit and just lost it right and just got down in the bunker and just tried to hit a good bunker shot and it went in. Like I said, it's just one of those days that I hit a chip on 10 that if it wouldn't have hit the pin, it would have been 20 feet away. So just a fun day.
Q. The way you were playing two, three years ago, I think most people thought you would have a major title by now. Did you think you would and what do you think has kept you from making that break through?
ANGELA STANFORD: I think it's just timing. You know, it's not my time. It's the Big Man's time. So obviously I'm not ready to win a major. And I thought I was ready in 2003, and I thank God every day that I didn't win that one because my game wasn't ready for what followed. So you know, I think it's all in good time, and you know, if tomorrow's not my time, then I'm going to keep trying because I know deep down that I will win a major. Just don't know when.
Q. Why was your game not ready if you had won back then?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I think my ball striking at the time, just a lot of different things. I wasn't mature enough. I think it's harder after you win a major because all of a sudden there's all these expectations. You're a major winner, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I don't think I would have been ready for that. So now I understand the game a little more. I understand the expectations, and obviously you can tell because I did have a pretty good year in '03, and '04 and '05 weren't. I feel like I'm a little smarter now, but you never know.
Q. Speaking of possibly winning tomorrow, have you thought about your jump into Poppy's Pond?
ANGELA STANFORD: I think about my jump like even when I'm not here.
Q. Oh, you do?
ANGELA STANFORD: Just all the time.
Q. Do you dream about it, too?
ANGELA STANFORD: Oh, yeah. You gotta think these things through, even though I would think that if it actually happens, I don't know if all your dreams I think you're probably living in a very surreal moment, so I don't know if I'm going to follow what I've been dreaming about.
Q. So you don't know if you'll follow your actual programmed idea?
ANGELA STANFORD: There is no telling. I might go off the bridge.
Q. Yani is obviously playing very well. Does that change the way players have to approach a Sunday when a player is hot like that?
ANGELA STANFORD: No. I mean I think you gotta make as many birdies. I can understand your question because I think in the past you see people get to the top of the leaderboard and you think, well, you know, if they shoot even or 1 under, it's fine, but the way ladies play out here today, just seems like you gotta make as many birdies as possible. So I think Yani is not really my opinion of Yani, I don't think she's really thinking about protecting anything. I think she just wants to birdie every hole. So I guess I better birdie every hole and find a few extra to catch her.
Q. Three hours from now are you going to think about the first 17 holes or the 18th hole?
ANGELA STANFORD: Probably the 18th hole, just because that's the way I work. You know, that third shot confuses me. I cannot explain to you why on 15 today I hit my gap wedge 110 yards, and then just then on 18 I hit it 89 yards. I can't figure out that third shot. It drives me nuts. So I'll probably still be thinking about that.
