THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

May 25, 2000

Gabriel Hjerstedt

GABRIEL HJERSTEDT: It was funny. Yesterday, I was in -- I went out and played yesterday, I played terrible. So, you know we did a little bit of work on the range yesterday afternoon and just got back into the rhythm. And I was a little unsure how it was going to go this morning. You know, I was thinking a lot about some of the bad shots I hit yesterday. So, you know I was just happy to get off to a decent start, you know, playing with Greg is always nice. I mean, he's such a professional on the golf course. I think it rubs off into you as a player; so I really enjoyed that.

GABRIEL HJERSTEDT: I had a 4-iron on No. 4. Made a 20-footer on the next. Probably a 20-footer on the hole after that for birdie. In the weather conditions, you know, you get it on the green and the greens are so beautiful that if you make a good stroke, you'll hole it. And the par 3, I probably hit it to 15 feet there. 10, just misclub. Second shot just didn't hit enough club, and the bunker shot and bogey. 15, actually almost holed out my wedge. Actually had to lay it up short, which I've never done before playing around here, but hit it 2 feet and a half, and made that one. And coming down 17, I had a good drive and a wedge to maybe 9 feet. Made that. 18, I just misjudged the wind. It was coming off the right and left it out to the right of the green. Had almost -- I was actually lucky hit a great chip out of the thick rough, and one more roll and I would have been 40 yards short of the green.

GABRIEL HJERSTEDT: I had a groin problem earlier in the year. Pulled my groin pretty bad. So they have actually helped me walk. That's what I was having trouble, walking around the course.

GABRIEL HJERSTEDT: They are comfortable. If they can just get me a black pair, I'll be okay, but I think I have to win a major before --.

GABRIEL HJERSTEDT: (Smiles.)

GABRIEL HJERSTEDT: It's just the length factor. I carry the ball, so it's not a huge difference. But when the fairways are soft, like Greg was saying, it's a little bit more forgiving off the tee, and more than it would be like if it was running into the rough like it can do. Off the tee, I think it's definitely easier, but it's playing a little longer.

GABRIEL HJERSTEDT: I was a little greedy on that shot. I was actually trying to play it left of the flag, because I had a 7-iron out of the bunker. And I thought if I hit 6(-iron), I might hit it all the way up the back and have a long putt. I was just in between clubs. 12 was playing really tough today. Greg hit it over the green with a 7-iron. Olin Browne got his 8-iron over the green. I was stuck with my 7-iron and hit it on the green. So it's just swirling.

GABRIEL HJERSTEDT: I think Greg.

GABRIEL HJERSTEDT: No. He'd be fun to play with. I've love to watch him around the golf course playing, with the way he thinks. I think Norman has got a lot of that in him, too. Obviously, he's a little bit more aggressive, but you can just see their mind always -- always going, you know, always thinking things through properly. As a young player, it's great to be around. Really, you can see the leverage -- the plateau they have.

GABRIEL HJERSTEDT: No. It was -- well, it's always a big inconvenience, you know, especially in golf when you've got to walk. But I think if I would have been in another sport and had the same injury, I probably would have been out for a long time. I've just had a lot of time off. Maybe a played a little bit more than what I should, but it's not so physical, golf. If it was on my left side, it would have been worse.

GABRIEL HJERSTEDT: No. You know, that's a tough one. I mean, I looked at it last year. I was close to winning Westchester, and it would have been interesting to see what really would have happened if you won twice over here in a Ryder Cup year. But I like it over here. I don't think I'm going to go over and try to play 10 events or whatever it is to -- for something like that. I mean, I've got to look after my own interests. For me, until I get to that level where I can maybe play both Tours -- I'm not at that level right now. So maybe in the future I might think about doing it but not for the next few years.