U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

June 1, 1999

Se Ri Pak

SE RI PAK: Thank you.

SE RI PAK: Right now actually many people ask me what happen, like, because they think about last year, I played good season, right now kind of pretty quiet. I don't have any problem right now. Actually feel like more a lot better than last year. I learned more, then I can feel like my game is more strong. I can trust myself. When I play golf outside, it is very comfortable. That is pretty important. So actually everything right now all set, I mean, ready to go.

SE RI PAK: Because of last year, first time in my country, they don't have anything happen like this, especially golf, you know. Normal people think about golf from my country like, you know, kind of pretty rich sport. That is why many old people thinking like it is not good sport for our country. They feel like we messed up a beautiful mountain, everything, but it is not really. But after I started winning here, then all normal people thinking like whether it is golf or not, they are pretty happy because they are thinking like our country, like, kind of we can show, we have pretty strong sports players. Right now, I am here, what I am doing pretty proud of me, you know. Many people, many attention, especially media, my friend, my country. Sometimes it is pretty hard to handle it. Sometimes I not play good. Of course I try my best, but every week I cannot get No. 1 in the trophy every week. I am pretty strong player. Outside, many strong players. I cannot be all the time No. 1. Sometimes they don't understand right now here how tough all players, golf course condition anything. Sometimes they are pretty upset, not playing good, that makes pretty hard time. But it is okay because they love me. That is what they want to see me. They want to win; me to win. So right now it is okay, I am fine.

SE RI PAK: Yeah, it is, better than last year. Last year pretty much busy. Studying, win -- especially after I win the U.S. Open, getting -- many people, there are many media from my country here, every week. I have spent like three or four years interview, getting more -- I cannot practice, I have to spend my practice time. That makes me upset and not happy. Then getting more, every week, too much work, then a more soft season. I cannot focus my game. I have to think about schedule, what I have to do things, that, you know, I have only one body. I can do 10, 15 things. That makes it pretty difficult. I decided I cannot be like this all the time. I am to play long time, I am to be No. 1 in the world like long time, so I decided I just want to take care of 50% myself, no matter what, then 50% I am going to focus more on my game. That is my new goal in 1999.

SE RI PAK: My driver --

SE RI PAK: Actually, no, I think it is different -- on the other side, last year looks like more strong than this year, because last year I didn't know anything about golf course, here, players, people, you know, every different city. Then I look like, kind of strong, just kind of tension, you know. One shot when I hit the ball, sometimes I cannot trust, even though I hit the ball, I don't know which way it go. That kind of feeling. This year is like when I play golf outside in tournament, like feel like more focused one shot by one shot. I want to be perfect. Then I try to do my best more than last year, and I just want to show more, more perfectly. Last year I hit a little bit bad, still close to the pin. This year is more clear, perfect. That is why looks like pretty quiet, looks like that kind of feel, I think.

SE RI PAK: Right now nobody yet. Just like -- my dad, sometime he visit me like few tournaments. When he came -- next week, I think, so my dad is here. He checked on my swing. Then, you know, everything. But I am just trying to find right now. I don't have any time right now trying to find new coach.

SE RI PAK: Actually it is pretty good. A lot better than last year. Last year was very difficult. Right now I feel like more -- of course, still it is not that easy. I know the golf course is -- every hole is like, you know, different feel, different looking, kind of -- it is not that easy feel like, but better than last year. Kind of more wider looks like; looks like big greens. But actually it is pretty good -- pretty good feel, because when the fairway's pretty good condition, greens pretty fast, very beautiful. Every like weather -- everything is perfect. Not only me, all players feel the same way, I think.

SE RI PAK: Actually, I don't know, maybe 50/50 because, I mean -- I know this is like me, my thinking is I need some more time to learn. I am still -- I still feel like rookie. I didn't know that much right now, even though last year I didn't know anything about golf course, people, players, but this year I know that I make many friends from here and I know many people. And I feel like more comfortable than last year. But it is not that easy of a time from this year, 1999, is new season, new year. I have to start over, you know, it is -- last year -- from last year it is nothing; it is finish, passed away. I have to start over. Means I have to work more hard, I have to start again, everything. I know that and I don't want to push myself. I want to be more long time to play good, so I don't want to -- I have long time to go, so nothing help for me when I push myself. I am thinking about my friends, they want to see me. They want to see me win. They want to feel like happy from last year like that. Sometimes that makes me, you know, it is more kind of when I play golf, more -- sometime I push myself, but, you know, it is not that easy every week, every time. But still I try my best every week no matter what. Almost I get there, almost -- almost I am pretty close. Right now I am pretty happy with what I am doing. Every week no matter if I play good or bad, still I am happy. I try my best, everything, so, you know.....

SE RI PAK: Sometimes many coach -- anyway, players need coach because we have to check our swing, we have to -- we want to get perfect feel, perfect swing. Sometime we have to know what is the problem. We have to fix ourself all the time because we cannot -- coaches cannot be with me all the time. So I have to fix myself. I have to trip and get right now something wrong that he can feel that. So yesterday on the range, I checked my swing, I saw it. I know I don't have any big problem. But sometimes feels like my tempo is a little bit lazy. That is why sometimes my swing is a little bit longer, that makes me a little fade. Pretty easy to fix. I find out right after I finish practice bunker, feel like more tight, more strong. Those things.

SE RI PAK: No, (laughs) no. It is not really -- you know, just -- think I feel like need some time. I don't want to be hurry right now, even though right now like 150 players usually. But all the time top players, many -- every week they watch TV and they know the names and in the newspaper; but other players, they are trying their best every week. Of course they want to get the trophy and win. But, see, me from last year I am rookie. I have a great season. But other players like me, they have good talent. They are great players, but they need some time. I feel like the same. Like kind of -- I don't have any reason right now. I mean, like I am not playing -- I don't have any reason, just kind of need some time to learn more. I think time to learn. From last year too, I think that kind of time.

SE RI PAK: Maybe all players do same. I don't know what they are doing. But what I am doing is every hole, when I hit the driver which way, I have to be more perfect, my distance, then like more better aiming, more better angle. Second thing is on the green, or front edge, fringe, chipping, the different areas kind of, breaks, speed, downhill, uphill; this ball is like, that, you know, everything is checking. Of course not that perfect all the time. My ball is there, but just in case I have to -- sometimes like for start tournament, I don't know which way my ball goes. So I have to check everywhere, even though it is not important, but important for me because I know -- it is more important to me because I know about more pretty well, and I don't have any -- have any pressure when I chipping, putting, bad times. Makes me more kind of comfortable.

SE RI PAK: It is 1998. Actually 1997 is the first time I played U.S. Open. Other time, nobody know. Another time I didn't get ready yet. Doesn't pass the Q-School yet, just come over here. I am waiting Q-School, but I have some chance to get U.S. Open. So first time I play 1997. That time pretty hard. Just kind of, I didn't know about any people, golf course, even my caddies, you know, nobody knows. I have to work more hard because I didn't know -- different speeds than my country and everything. That time I finished pretty well. First one -- I mean 21, so, that is perfect, you know, time, not bad. First time I tried, not bad; especially big tournament, not bad. So before I feel like if I leave golf course I just tell myself I should have really won that trophy, maybe I got the trophy. I am very happy, no matter what. After that, I pass the Q-School, the season start, too busy time, you know. I knew it is not that easy, but pretty hard for me from first year. Then another year I have chance to play in the U.S. Open, but I didn't know at that time I can get the trophy. Other time I go every week, no matter what, even though I play good or bad. Every week my goal is I want to get the trophy -- big, small, no matter what. But every year I keep trying like that. Then I get first my major, LPGA, McDonald's, I feel more confident. Then getting right after I win, start kind of big up-and-down. Then finally U.S. Open came at that time, so seems like every week is my best; I practice hard. It is more difficult golf course, I know. First time I saw the kind of difficult golf course, I don't have any idea when I hit the ball, I have to think about next shot. First round, second round, pretty good. Third round is still good. Final round, still I am there, start hanging there. So after I finish I have to go to -- I mean, almost finished I know I can -- I have chance to win. I can have my trophy even know one year is later, pretty quick. I know I am not finished yet. I just want to finish, take it home. At that time I know I win or something happen. Finally I have to go to playoff. I just tell my caddie, maybe USGA, they say I have to go to playoff. I say: Okay. Anyway I don't have any chance, no choice. I have to get the trophy then I have to do it. I just tell my caddie, I said: I am ready, let's go. What, 16 or 18. After finish a few holes. Okay. I am ready, let's go. The caddie said: No, no. I said: What do you mean no? Then he said: You will play tomorrow morning. To play 18 holes. That makes me -- after I finished, I said: My head is getting headache, I have to play again the kind of difficult golf course. I have to -- something -- Next morning I play with Jenny, she is same my age. I am pretty surprised. 20 years old, two young girl, play playoff in U.S. Open. That maybe is biggest thing before. I start first hole, second, third -- wow. She is playing really good. At that time, I feel like I can feel like -- I don't need to see, I just feel very solid. She hit it close. I know she make the putt. But I have chance too, just started. I play my game, pay attention to myself. Keep trying, trying, trying. Almost finished the playoff. Still I have chance. Then No. 18, finally my ball is going into the water, so I don't have any chance anymore. At that time, feel like I am trying my best, still happy, but almost I get there last hole. Like this happened, that makes me pretty sad. Still I have chance, I can see my ball, I can still have chance; never give up. Keep trying more hard, keep thinking. I just try to -- that last second, I just was trying to do my best. So I decided my caddie and me trying to hit my ball inside the water. I get into the water. I am trying to practice, but it is impossible to try and practice swing. I had no choice. I have to hit it right away. So if I hit the ball, I think -- I don't know. My eyes closed, or I don't know, very fast second. So anyway, I know that I just waiting, ball sounds into the water, or I can feel like people, they are screaming good news, people say something else. Right after that, I just listen to the people. Then I know my ball is outside. So I am pretty happy. Still I have chance. Then that happens. Still tie, pretty tough, difficult point. Really difficult to get the trophy. Then Jenny she is a great player. I mean, that time she is pretty strong already. She feels pretty good. She know, she can feel that. Last second I try my best, make the putts, make the putts. We have to go. Another hole again. Then I know after I finish 18th hole, I can feel I know that the trophy is pretty close to me. More looks like more strong player, more -- hit more longer. I don't know what it feels like -- feel like I want to. Finally hole No. 11, we have two birdie chance same time. She missed the putt. Right after I tried my putt, I know the putt is in, like before I hit the ball, before practice my swing, I feel like I made it in. That is why this happened. 1998, finally dreaming trophy, very difficult to get it. Worked pretty hard. So I got the trophy. Right now I am here. Then I learn many things from U.S. Open from last year. That is why I can play more better. I know what happened. I can control. Now I come back.

SE RI PAK: Yeah. Actually I know this golf course has lots of water, different than last year. Last year had lots of rough. Hilly, big up-and-down. This year has lots of water. I know that especially back 9, left-hand side water. But like same. Every golf course, not exactly same. Every golf course have some big hilly, big water, big bunker, have some special difficult -- some make the golf course design. So this one is same, like every week I am doing, make my driver in the fairway. Of course every player want it. I just want to try to play pretty smart. If I have some water on the left side, doesn't matter, I just want -- I trust myself to hit the ball, that ball is right into the fairway, so that means looks like pretty simple, but it is not that easy. So I just -- I know pretty -- many thing to work from this golf course, but I just want to try other times same. My routine, what I am doing, every golf course, every tournament, same. Then second answer is the defending champion -- every golf course is not that easy. From last year it is very difficult, but this year, still difficult. Of course last year has like deep rough, difficult grass, difficult greens. Every hole is pretty narrow. But this golf course has lots of water; have to be pretty smart to play because of water. Don't have any chance to -- I don't think it is not that easy golf course every week. I don't think -- still difficult.

SE RI PAK: Actually the same. When I play golf -- it is better than last year because I interviewed, talk on the phone, pictures, things like that. Still busy. But this year, I mean, I still practice. It is more happy, more fun, more happy to practice at home without the golf course. But still pretty comfortable to practice, play, happy. So that is why a lot happy than last year. Can play more -- I can practice more. I can play more. That is why more happy. Nothing else. Same when I leave golf. Practice, go home, practice, go home.

SE RI PAK: Actually, yeah, Jenny is a great amateur wanting to turn pro, it is pretty good things. They just feel like they can growing, but I feel like totally different than professional than amateur. We know then maybe they know they can feel right after they study really professional golf, tournaments, play with top players. I just want -- yeah. That is why I feel too before I came here. But I just want to tell -- I mean, actually I didn't say anything about them because I still learn, me just started, I am still baby. But important thing is right now, what we are doing, what I am doing, they have to be happy, they have to get their confidence themselves, no matter what. Golf course pretty hard, even though they turned pro, they cannot win. Maybe few years. I mean, I am still -- maybe I am rookie, maybe I cannot win few years. That is golf. Golf is pretty hard sport. That is why don't just feel like drop, you know. Just keep work hard, have some confidence. That makes them happy. Helps them having fun outside. I think that is more important. I just want to tell them no matter what, I know it is pretty hard, so just kind of thinking this is learn, have the time to learn, so they just want to have, still have the confidence themselves.

SE RI PAK: No. Actually Media Day, I -- many people asked me. Did you talk to Jenny? Do you know Jenny? I said no. Actually I just play with her like five hours on the golf course. That is it. I didn't even talk to her, say, you know, things like: What are you doing after that? Things like that. I don't have any time to talk with -- pretty important, pretty busy to play, because hard golf course. I didn't even know. Then I don't have time to talk to her. Right after say -- right after, I just want to talk to her. Many people just come in and they interview, taking pictures, things like that. At that time I think I don't have any time to say bye to her I think. Even until right now, I didn't even saw her. I saw her first time in first major, Nabisco. That time I didn't know that she was there. One day, I don't know, first round; second I cannot remember. But at that time in the morning I am trying to walk to driving range. Someone said hi to me. All the time many people say hi to me. I say hi, walk pass them because I am pretty busy to practice. Same happened. Someone say hi to me. Then I say hi; then I just walk. I say I saw her somewhere but I cannot actually remember because few second I just pass her. Wait, I think I know her, but I just turn around, I saw her, it is Jenny. So at that time I say hi to her, I am pretty busy with press things like that, but otherwise no time to talk to her still. Maybe she turned pro, we can just play together, you know, things like that. Actually I don't have any time to talk.

SE RI PAK: Yeah, it is true. Last year I am still -- like from last year, first of all, first answer I just finish my coach. I know he is number one; he is great coach. He is pretty famous. Then I know I learn from him a lot, but I just feel like I work with him two years. But he just kind of -- every time he is busy, you know, even the first year 1997 I just waiting Q-School at that time, you know, I am not busy, stay there and practice myself, pretty hard to practice, hot weather, still practice. He is not there all the time. He just came like sometime -- all the time he travels, so he come back, he just check my swing one time. I just practice pretty hard myself; he is not there anyway, he is leaving. He come back, check it. I practice myself. So 1998 -- finally I pass the Q-School 1998 season start. Still he is busy. Still he is pretty busy. I cannot see him that much; especially he didn't come any my tournament. He said he came to McDonald's. At that time he have some problem. He came to U.S. Open; he say he has another problem. So I didn't even talk to him. He don't have any time to check my swing. So right after almost off-season I just go, I just want to talk to him about this. I don't have any time, any -- other tournaments, so I just want find good time to talk to him about this. But I just actually, now he -- that happened, he just makes himself, you know, himself -- he doesn't want me anymore. So, well, I mean, fine. I didn't mean like that, but he is just thinking it, he -- that is why I don't want -- I don't care famous or not. I don't want all the time famous coach, I don't want any No. 1 in the world; I just want to find -- I really I think all players, they need -- they feel like they need real coach, meaning how to take care of players, about swing, how do they make players pretty good play, things like that, they don't take care of that. But the times I feel like to work myself. I just want to find better schedule, better coach, you know, I just want to be more comfortable when I talk everything to understand that he fix everything. I just need that kind of coach. Then second answer is like my management, IMG right now, but before just quiet, it is like -- it is -- my old manager is pretty-- worked pretty hard. I agree he worked very hard. He is pretty nice people. But I find out he just doesn't know what he is doing. That makes me more worried, management is -- I mean, management has to take care of its players, schedule, everything. I understand he take a schedule, everything, but I feel like nothing different. I have to do everything, feel like kind of clearly, do this; no, that; you have to do that -- I mean, all the time I just cannot play, too many things around me, too many happen to me, that makes me more messed up, everything. So I decided I need very strong manager around me and I can play more focus, I can practice more focused. More important is I have to -- this is my job, so I have to be, you know, more focused my game, I have to be what I am doing is more happy. But before it is like many things like too many works happen.

SE RI PAK: Thank you.

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