U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 22, 1994

Helen Alfredsson

HELEN ALFREDSSON: My first birdie I had on 7. It was a 5 footer, I had a, I think, 6-iron in on that hill to 5 feet. I birdied 12. I had a sand wedge in. That was-- I don't know how long that was-- probably about a 36 feet, probably, that putt, up the hill. Then I bogeyed a I 5-wood on 13; hit it to the right, chipped it in; 2-putted. And on 18, I hit an 8-iron to four feet, made the putt.

Q. How much break was there on the putt at 12?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Probably about-- what is it -- six feet.

Q. It was a big curly thing?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Yeah, it was a big curly one.

LES UNGER: How would you describe the differences today and yesterday in your play?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Always hard to follow a day like yesterday, you know, I played pretty well. It was funny because I missed about three five-footers in the beginning, first 6 holes, so I was feeling like I was stroking the ball a little better; getting closer to the pin today, but I didn't really make the putts, so I mean, to have a round like yesterday, it is so typical. Putting is the one that is working. I think the wind was a little bit stronger today than yesterday, which made some holes a little bit longer and a little bit more difficult. But otherwise, you know, for myself, I just didn't make the putts that I did yesterday.

LES UNGER: You are feeling pretty good about things; I would take it?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Yeah, can't complain; so far so good.

Q. You said you didn't know what your mood was going to be this morning. What was it like and how was it after you missed those five-footers?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Well, I stayed pretty steady, I have to say. It was funny because we got off dinner yesterday at 10:30; I am thinking, geez, this is long working hours, and then you have to get up again at 8. I was a little tired this morning, actually, but I felt pretty good, and coming out obviously it was a little frustrating to miss some of those shorter putts, you know, that is what happens; you got to keep your patience and, you know, keep playing and, you know, it paid off at the end.

Q. Seem to be quite a few distractions out there today, I mean, not the same cameramen as maybe they had yesterday --

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Yeah. Even on the first hole I am sitting there and I am just about to take my putter back; somebody is just clicking right there. I think, you know, you don't want to hear it, but you do, and then you think, well, should I stop or should I not. So much time passes; you have to step back and I mean, that is a part of it. Sometimes you wish that they know when to click and when not to click. I mean, particularly if they are close enough so we can hear it. I mean, it was a few occurrences like that today.

Q. That putt at number 1, it was only about four feet; wasn't it, five feet?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Five feet.

Q. Did you hit the hole with that? I couldn't see from where I was --

HELEN ALFREDSSON: No, it never found the hole anywhere.

Q. What about 5 and 6, those were both close too; weren't they?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Yeah, those were not very good putts, period. So you know, it is really not much to say. I guess I took the line and I don't know if I didn't have-- I did have focus or concentration, but they were just not good putts. I was just trying to figure out why. All three of them went on the left side. I did something consistent.

Q. Could you translate what you said on 6 after you missed that putt?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Did I say something? Well, I don't think so. Things are better unsaid; we all know that.

Q. Did something happen on the 13th tee? Short hole?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Oh the par 3 hole?

Q. Yeah.

HELEN ALFREDSSON: No, I just hit the right -- a bad shot. I wish I could blame it on something, but you can't always.

Q. I got here late. Did anyone ask you if the course was tougher?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: I think it did play a little tougher today. Maybe if -- seems like it was a little bit heavier, the ball didn't release as much and also the wind picked up a little bit; some holes into the wind, coming down the end, are uphill, and it is pretty tough, so. . .

Q. What about the pin placements in the greens?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: I think the pins were in good positions today. You've got to know the greens. You got to know where the humps are. You've got to know what side to be on; it is up to you to know what you are doing. I mean, obviously if you are on the wrong side and you can think it is a bad pin position, but you shouldn't be on that side, so...

Q. They weren't any tougher, in general?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: No, I think they were very fair. I think they were good pin positions today.

Q. Must be very satisfying to play that well after yesterday?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Yeah, it was. Actually, it's hard when you come off and I started with two birdies yesterday and sometimes you just think about at this stage yesterday I was 4 under and then here 5 under and -- but you just got to let that go, because it is not often, I mean, I haven't really been shooting that low scores this year, so I don't really have much to fall back on. So just try to go out and it is a new day and whatever it is going to give me today, I take it.

Q. You had an albatross a couple of weeks ago at the 18th. What was the tournament?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Hennessey Cup in Germany.

Q. Where in Germany?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: In Cologne.

Q. Where did you finish?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Fourth.

Q. What were you in relation to par?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: I don't know. Do you remember? 9 under?

Q. No, I have got it with me.

HELEN ALFREDSSON: 7, something like that.

Q. You played how many events overseas?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: I only played two so far.

Q. Helen, can you comment have you ever been in a position that Patti Sheehan was in? She finished yesterday on 18 with a birdie; was tied for the lead at minus 5. Before she even tees off today she is five strokes back. Have you ever been in a position where you are tied for the lead; you finish one day, and the next day before you even start you are like 4, 5 shots back,? Can you imagine what must be going through her head?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: No, I mean, she has three more rounds to go. She is a superb player. She has been in this situation. She has seen the worst of the Open and the best of the Open, and you know, she knows what she needs to do to be out here. I mean, she is a great player, and it is different. I don't think she really thinks about it. It's a long ways to go still. I think she is just going to go out and play her best golf.

Q. What separates a day like today and a day like today; was it the putter? I mean, yesterday was pretty unusual. Was it strictly putting or was it other things too?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: It is very hard. I think yesterday I was very focused, but it is very hard to say. It is not to not sound humble or anything, but it is a day where you just go on and you do your business; you make a couple of putts and then you go on and you make another few putts and all of a sudden you are 6 under; then you are 7 under and 8 under and you don't realize what you are doing. I mean, it wasn't probably my best striking day, I mean, as far as ball hitting, but I was making a few putts. I wasn't in trouble and I got in close a few times and I made -- it is very hard to explain a day like yesterday because it feels so simple, like it is so easy, because nothing special happened. You make a few putts. Besides, I didn't make any bogeys, which makes it much easier. Today, it's was little bit more -- you were more aware of things, you know, and you know exactly where you were. Yesterday, everything was just floating. It is hard to explain a day like yesterday because it is just there, you know, you just -- you know, trotting on. I don't know how you say it in English, but you just keep going.

Q. Is this in any sense a day where you shoot the '60s; it turned out to be a letdown if there is such a thing?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: It is never a letdown to shoot in the '60s. No, I mean, I am very happy for yesterday, you know, and I am pretty happy today with a 69. It played a little tougher today and sometimes it is hard to come off a round like yesterday, you know, because you have a lot of expectations and you might sometimes lose a little patience because, you know, yesterday I have got all these putts in, you feel -- and now, you are not getting putts that you think should be getting in. You have to forget about that. That is a day that passed you and you are you are happy with that and today is a new day.

Q. Last year you dominated early, Helen, you are dominating again. Is it more fun this year?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: I don't know. It is hard. I haven't -- last year I was playing much better up until this point, you know, and I had some much better finishes. I guess, you know, coming in now I haven't really been producing that much, so you know, it is kind of a nice feeling to know that you can still shoot some of those scores, and I just take whatever it is right now. I don't really have any expectations because, you know, last year I won and I finished third and second a few times coming in here, so I knew I sort of had the game with me during the year and I haven't really felt that so far this year, you know, I guess it is more fun in that sense because you can enjoy it better.

Q. Is that feeling coming back?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: Not yet, but I guess hopefully.

Q. Helen, how will you approach tomorrow especially if you go out there with a 4, 5 shot lead; will that make any difference to you?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: No. I am just -- I just need-- I think it is even more important to just focus on your game and what you need to do and not thinking what everybody else is doing, I need to be on top of my game in order to do what I need to do, and not to worry so much. I think when you start worrying, it is the last nine and the last day.

Q. What would it be like if -- Alcott is a good friend of yours. What would it be like possibly, you know, shooting it out with Amy for the championship especially if you were paired together?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: You know, I think we talked about that very often because especially when I won the Dinah and she was very nice with me, and you know, we practiced and hang out sometimes in L.A., but we both know when we step on that golf course, we are head to head. We both try to win, and I think you need to know that even if it is a friendship and you are out here and you are good friends, but when you step out, this is what we do for a living and this is what we love to do and we also love to win tournaments and that way you have to separate the friendship, and the competitiveness out here and it is nothing wrong. It is nothing against her personally. It is just that I am trying to win a tournament and I know that she does too - probably more so with her.

Q. Do you leader board watch and what about Sunday when you are in contention?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: I will. I will probably watch. If I feel like I want to, I do. I don't see why I shouldn't. I know some people think that you shouldn't, but I am not that type.

Q. Will it enter your mind at all that you have arrived at the point where it is time to play safe and go for the fat part of the green, if there is a question in your mind at all, because you are 10 under now?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: We still have two more days. I mean, maybe if I come down the last nine, yes, I might think about that, but right now, no, because sometimes the more defensive you try to play, the more defensive you get and you make a few bogeys and then, you know, because you are not aggressive enough, you are not making any birdies, so I think you just got to keep playing and I mean, if you are coming down the last few holes on Sunday and you feel like you need to do that, well, that is the decision that needs to be made then.

Q. Have you been playing extra aggressive at all these first two rounds or is it just your game?

HELEN ALFREDSSON: No, it is just my game.

Q. When are the Swedes due to arrive here? They don't seem to be any here yet.

HELEN ALFREDSSON: I guess they are have all gone since the soccer. They are all tired, home taking a vacation. They have run out of paint.

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