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BRITISH OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 21, 2002

Shigeki Maruyama

MUIRFIELD, SCOTLAND

SHIGEKI MARUYAMA: Towards the end of the round I had difficulty in composing myself. However, it was such a great experience that I'm pleased that I've played well the first nine. I thought I was making up for yesterday, but the green seemed to be a little bit fast. That's why my putter was too long for the 10th. I thought my return was right, but I broke. That made me think too much for the putting at the 13th. There seems to be an invisible pressure somewhere in my mind, though it was not the heart pumping one. I didn't feel the pressure early on. But when I came to the 18th, I did feel it. I feel I've grown up through this experience, such experience is very important. I learned that as long as I'm playing my own golf I will see a chance to win. I understand how much expectation was cast onto me from the Japanese fans. I tried to surpass Mr. Kuramoto's achievement, but I will keep trying next year on.

Q. How did you feel when you holed out at the 18th?

SHIGEKI MARUYAMA: The four-day major tournament is over. Such a great experience.

Q. How did you find your play today?

SHIGEKI MARUYAMA: I found the green a bit faster. I did pay attention to that, but that return putt on the 10th I never expected that kind of breaking. I never expected that which affected me in losing the Tempo of my play in the 11th, 12th, and 13th, and then at the 15th when I got out of the rough, I regained my own feeling which helped me in the holes from 16 to the end. So in the end I'm pleased.

Q. Was that what pressure did to you?

SHIGEKI MARUYAMA: Well, the bogey on the 12th was expected, so I lost composure you are. It was not the heart pumping pressure, but it was there. I suddenly realized that my body was not moving the way I thought it would. When I hit the tee shot at the 12th. That was the pressure of major tournaments. Now I'm through it so I feel matured. I'm a Tempo player. I have a rhythm in my mind when I play. Then suddenly all I felt was a vacuum.

Q. Did you feel that you'd win at the end of the 9th?

SHIGEKI MARUYAMA: Yes yeah I was feeling a good rhythm so I thought I would make it. Then at the 10th green I didn't predict that kind of breaking though I had got away with it when I teed well at the 11th, but then at the 12th my body just didn't move. However, I did regain the rhythm and came back in the last holes, which I appreciate.

Q. Did you see the leader board?

SHIGEKI MARUYAMA: Yes, I knew what was going on. I knew Ernie had come up to 7 but thought it wouldn't be too easy.

Q. Is winning the major different from winning other tournaments?

SHIGEKI MARUYAMA: I don't know it yet. I felt the same way as I did when I won Byron Nelson, especially in the first nine holes. When I won Milwaukee I felt some poisonous sting (laughter).

Q. Do you find your result regrettable?

SHIGEKI MARUYAMA: No, I don't. I played my golf. I did come back to the leader board today, which pleases me. I think my emotional control has been improved.

Q. Did your bogey at the first affect your play afterwards?

SHIGEKI MARUYAMA: No, it didn't. The shot itself was not too bad anyway. At that point I was not feeling any pressure. Some top players say that they would focus on majors, but I don't think it's possible for me to do so. I keep my good work for every tournament and I'll manage my major tournaments as events in my whole tournament schedule where I will see how good I can play.