THE SOLHEIM CUP

October 23, 1994

Laura Davies

LAURA DAVIES: Well, our match today obviously for a while there it looked pretty exciting, we were back and forth making birdies and A bogey here and there, then all of a sudden it didn't seem that important anymore because obviously we had lost The Cup by the time -- I think we were on the 17th. I think we basically had had it. So, it was just a matter of playing with a bit of pride and I even messed that up. They played very well as a team. 5-all coming in and we had our chance today and just didn't do it.

LAURA DAVIES: Obviously, they are a very strong team and they won today. We had the first two days of competition and they have beaten us on Sunday. Usually most golf tournaments it is who plays best on Sunday wins, that is just what happened. The American team -- Brandie played very well today. She holed a lot of good putts today. She missed a couple of short ones; gave me a chance and I managed to miss a couple too, just to stay with her and then it seemed like the rest of them were making -- every time you turn around, it was a big cheer. Obviously, the bigger the cheer, it was obviously the American team.

LAURA DAVIES: Unlucky. Just only had an approach wedge in my hands and just at the top of my backswing, a leaf just blew right on top of my ball and I was committed to the swing by then, and I just didn't hit it at all. You know, at that stage, I was still thinking if I could just win my match, maybe Lotte can hold on or something; maybe Pam in front could do something and then we still had a chance because we had Ali's win and so that point, that was pretty cruel to get that leaf blown in there, but that is the way it goes.

LAURA DAVIES: No, I was happy with that. I always like going out 7th. I rather go out later than earlier. Mickey was always forced to put me out earlier. I was happy to go there. It didn't matter where you go. You got to win a point. If it gets to the situation where you need the point, you got to win it. Doesn't matter really where it comes.

LAURA DAVIES: Well, they are very good. Both teams shaped up very well. It all comes down to putting. First time they hole the putts; the second time we holed them and this time, certainly from what I saw of it, they holed the putts. That is just the way it goes. I think they have got a great team, really friendly team, and I think we all had fun during the week. That is -- I am a bit disappointed to begin with, but we tried our best and, you know, they get The Cup back, but we are certainly gunning for it in two years.

LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, definitely. I mean, if you don't make the putts -- I mean, if I had putted well early on then I would have had Brandie well down and I am sure a few of the other girls, they just didn't make the crucial putts and the American girls did. And you have just got to take your hat off to that. If you make the putts under pressure, obviously, you are a good player. They did it; we didn't.

LAURA DAVIES: I just missed -- I putted really badly all week; just didn't really seem to get to terms with them. I love the golf course, though. The greens didn't quite suit me though.

LAURA DAVIES: 117 yards which is perfect for my middle wedge. It was slightly down wind and Brandie was left. I was thinking, here we go get back one up now.

LAURA DAVIES: No, just today really, Brandie and I both on the 8th hole hit good shots near the green, around the green; on the 5th we were both in a pile of leaves. Again, that is the same for everybody. It is a windy day and there is leaves falling off the trees, nothing you can do about it. Just try and miss them, I guess. Having them blow in your backswing, that is purely bad luck; nothing you can do about it.

LAURA DAVIES: They got 12 most valuable players as far as I am concerned, they are the winning team. That is -- like I said, someone said come on, win your heart; get a halve here up the last-- really and truly, that is -- you are talking from personal stuff and there is no place for that in a team event. If I get a half a point and we lose by half a point less, that is absolutely no less satisfying to me at all. I think they have 12 most valuable players including Michelle McGann. I know she did a lot of work for their team; encouraging them all. Obviously, Captain Karner did a fantastic job. They got 12 of them I wouldn't single out anybody.

LAURA DAVIES: Yeah.

LAURA DAVIES: Well, she was good then and she is now. There is not much difference in anyone's game. The teams are still very much similar. It is one loss on the day. Our team is just as good as their team. On this day they beat us; they get The Cup. That is exactly what happened two years ago.

LAURA DAVIES: I lost The Cup now. Now I got to try to win the money list.

LAURA DAVIES: It is a completely different thing. This is, as I say, this was a team thing and that is a personal thing and the two would have gone very, very nicely and the trophy, to be honest, hopefully I will hang on to one of them; you just don't know what is going to happen.

LAURA DAVIES: I hardly think it is a crushing defeat. As I say, score lines are absolutely irrelevant and completely -- nothing to do with it. I am sure Lotte and Reid, back of the field thought, oh, well, we can't win The Cup now. What are you going to play for? You are playing for a point, big deal, a point is nothing. It is -- the overall thing is the team and I don't think this is a crushing defeat. It is a good victory for them and that is the end of it.

LAURA DAVIES: I think we play pretty well, individually. You got a lot of winners on our team on the LPGA considering how few of us there are and how many Americans there are. I think ratio of wins I think we stay well up alongside. Lotte and I have won 6. Alfie won one, that is 7. And if you are checking Canadians talking, 10 victories this year. That is pretty good averages.

LAURA DAVIES: We are just trying to win the match. We all want to win for each other and for Mickey; want to win for the Tour. You want to -- when you are given a great target like you are given in The Solheim Cup on Sunday afternoon, you don't need much more than that. I mean, of course, you are going to try and play well.

LAURA DAVIES: Well, pretty much when -- walking onto the 17th green and I basically heard that Meg was in a strong position at the last to beat Pam. That was good enough because, well, if Brandie had missed that putt, I suppose there was an outside chance I could have won my match going at last on 17, but once she holed that, The Cup was lost at that stage and, as I say, you are just playing for -- well, you are not really playing for a lot then.