LPGA MEDIA CONFERENCE

June 11, 2003

Annika Sorenstam

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Sure. Obviously, I'm excited to get to Youngstown. I haven't been there in two years, not very familiar with the golf course. But I feel very good about my game at this point. Obviously, I'm very psyched about the last two weeks, you know, with my performance at Colonial and then winning in Chicago, then of course the LPGA McDonald's Championship, which is going to be on my priority list. I'm obviously very excited about that. It's been a great month for me.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think so. I'm just returning home from the mall. I've been shopping a little bit, got to spend the money. But yesterday I went out on the lake and wake boarded for about five hours. I'm trying to do other things, get my mind fresh for the next few days.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I think I'm getting more recognized overall. I know for a fact there have been more people out at the tournaments, especially after the Colonial. Everything was so built up. I think people just want to come out, you know, and watch and so forth. I think it's great for women's golf and golf in general.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I mean, it's about time that I go to Youngstown. That's one of the reasons I'm coming. The course will be totally new for me. I've got a good caddie. He's already out walking the golf course. Obviously, he knows my game really well. He'll let me know where to hit the ball, et cetera. To be favorite is always a nice thing. I'm looking forward to coming.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, from my side, I intended to play this event a long time ago. It's just that I believe I just entered last week. I had all intention of coming.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: It's Terry. It's the same caddie. I didn't say "new." Terry is still on the bag, and he's up there scouting, getting all the yardages for me.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: That's all right.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I believe the more I'm under pressure or tough courses, tough competitions, I believe the more I do that, the better I get, and hopefully it will raise my game to a different level. That's what I'm trying to achieve. I want to become a better player. I believe that all the preparation I did for Colonial is really going to help me long-term for the LPGA majors. You know, I didn't know if it was already going to help me two weeks later, but it did. Obviously, I'm very thankful for that.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, it seemed like especially on the Back 9, the last day, I wasn't striking the ball as well, but my short game really helped me. That's something I worked really hard on the last couple years. Some weeks it seems to work, sometimes it doesn't. I really needed it on the Back 9, that's when my short game turned up. The timing was perfect.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, I believe I turned it down last week. I have no intention of playing against him or any other PGA guys like that. I mean, that was not the point. The point for me was to learn and experience. You know, everything I did at Colonial was perfect for me. That's the way I want to leave it.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, you're right, I did play tennis for many years. But I always played golf on the side because my parents, they loved the game very much. We only lived, my sister and I, five minutes from the golf course. When I got burned out with tennis, it was kind of natural at the time to just play more golf. Even though living in Sweden, I'm very limited season-wise, we only have six months of golf, but I played more and more. The more I loved it, I decided to move here to the States and play golf all year round. That's kind of the way things happened.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah. I think I did that in Dayton, Ohio, a few years ago. I did the same thing. It was a three-day tournament and I showed up late.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I don't know, since I don't know the golf course at all. But normally when it's wet, seems like the courses become a little longer. And I don't mind longer courses.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I believe I won in Dayton that year. I could be wrong, but I did win at Dayton, and I think it was that year.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I think so.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, if she'd like to talk to me, I'd love to talk to her about my experiences at Colonial. I don't know if she needs any advice or any pointers. I think she's going to do all right when she goes. But I would love to talk to her if she feels like doing that.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I agree with you. I mean, mentally I'm tired. Physically I feel fine. But that's why I'm trying to do other things, trying to get my mind off golf, and just focus on other things. You know, like going on the boat, today shopping, stuff like that, keeps my mind fresh. I think the more I do that, the faster I will recover.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, it's obviously very flattering. I remember when I was a little girl and looked up to either tennis players or golfers. I mean, I find it flattering. If I'm any role model at all, I'd like to try to do the best I can.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: My greatest what?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Oh, strength. I've always felt that I hit the ball well, especially with irons. I've been driving it pretty good, too, all year. Overall, in my career, I'm very patient on the golf course. I try not to let bad holes get me down. I keep on focusing. I keep on going. I never give up.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I believe Monday.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: That's right, I did call Dean on Sunday night. I talked to several people. Yeah, he was one of them. I e-mailed Aaron a couple times. I've talked to Dean more than I have to Aaron.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: A little bit of both. I mean, Dean and I get along really well. We're just talking. He was like, "So, are you thanking me for all the experience?" We kind of kid around. He's a great guy. Most of all I just wished him good luck at The Open because he's playing there.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: The last few years I've tried to focus more on the majors, see if I can peak at a certain time. But the deal with Colonial was to try to take my game to a different level. The preparation, motivation, all of that I did for Colonial, I was hoping that would help me for the majors. Right now, in June sometime, I want to try to get ready for the US Open and of course the British Open. Those are tournaments that I love to play well at. That keeps me motivated. That makes me practice every day.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Not that I can think of right now. Obviously, the Colonial was something -- if you would have asked me two years ago, I would have looked at you and said, "Hey, you're crazy." But now obviously I'm glad I did it. But after that, now I just want to focus on the majors, see what happens. I like to take it a day at a time and see where golf takes me.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: You mean on the PGA TOUR?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, no. The Colonial was the best week I've ever had in golf. I don't think it can get any better. The experience that I had, you know, it was as good as it gets. I'd like to leave it at that.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: My schedule is I'm planning on coming tomorrow. Actually after this week, I'm taking next week off. I need some time off. I think it's going to be good timing to relax next week.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I'm coming in late tomorrow. It will be a total surprise on the first tee.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Are you talking about golf or just in general?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: In general? It wouldn't really be golf, I must admit. Especially right now I feel like doing other things. I like the outdoors, either do a sport of some kind or just take it easy, just hang out at the house. I've got two cats. I love my house. I like to just be at home and spend some time at home.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I think it's a combination of both. I mean, obviously the workout has helped me to get some strength, but I also believe the equipment, being with Callaway, I know I'm playing the latest equipment out there, especially the ball I'm playing, the HX ball really helped me to gain some distance. I think a combination of both is what has helped me.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I've always said I love what I do, but number two is I'm going to try and be me. I mean, that's what people are realizing. You know, I'm out there having fun and I'm being me. I'm not going to put up a (inaudible) or do anything. I love to be able to be a role model for young kids. Then again, you know, like with golf, I've got to be comfortable in the things I say and the things I do, et cetera. I'm just going to be natural and enjoy myself out there.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, not at all. I have always thought going to a tournament, I want to play the best I can, try to win the tournament. I have to focus on what I've got to do. Every tournament is obviously important to me. Obviously, some events are considered high profile. If I didn't feel like I was ready to play or ready to go, I wouldn't go. But I feel like it's an important tournament.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I don't know. I'd recommend it obviously because I had such a good time. Definitely taught me a lot of things. I've heard of a few players that want to do it, but some players have said they don't want to put themselves under that type of pressure. I think it's totally up to individual players, how they feel, if they want to challenge themselves.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Good question. I think, first of all, it's very important to set goals. They have to be realistic goals, short-term or long-term, then just keep on working towards the goals. I think it's all about enjoying the journey, as well, and not just thinking too much ahead. You've got to live in the present. If you're stuck at a plateau, it's not a bad thing, just enjoy that, keep on working, you'll hit the next level.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Not from fellow pro players. But friends and family are kind of laughing at me. It's kind of been the joke here this week.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: You mean the people in the mall?

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: People recognize me. I think today we got a lot of good help from the people in the store. They were very helpful. They all looked at me and said, "I know who you are." The service was excellent.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: That was pretty incredible. I happened to be there. I was having lunch at the same time and left just when it happened. It's incredible when you think about it. That puts things in perspective. Here we are trying to make birdies and so forth, and when it comes down to it, it's amazing what she did there. She saved somebody's life. I don't know where she got the courage from and instinct. I don't know if I would have done that in the same situation.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I haven't really been talking about that for a while. I agree with what the LPGA was saying: It's time to move on, it's time that we do the right thing. I kind of agree with the LPGA.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, to be honest with you, I don't remember very much. I believe that I came in late that week, as well. It seems like this tournament always happens between a big one or before one that I've always decided to come in later to prepare better. To be honest, I don't remember much. I'm looking forward to see it again.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, not really. I got a sponsor obligation tomorrow night, as well. So that has a little bit to do with it. I try to look at my schedule, try to do the right thing, try to pace myself, also play tournaments that I'm interested in coming to.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I don't know. I mean, personally I always feel like when I come to tournaments, I always feel like I want to perform the best I can. Most of the time I don't really look at the field and say, "I got to beat her," so forth. I try and just do my own thing, play one shot at a time and do the best I can. Obviously, I have the intention of winning every tournament I enter. Hopefully I can play my best. As always, the competition is very tough, whether it's from Michelle Wie or Se Ri Pak or whoever else. The competition is getting tougher on this tour every year.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, I must admit I was a little surprised, especially the way I played in Chicago the week following Colonial. I thought I'd be more mentally drained. I didn't think I was going to be able to focus right away. I came off really hot and shot 10-under the first day. McDonald's, on the other hand, I felt like I had more time to get back into the swing of things. The McDonald's is so important to me. Obviously, you never know if you're going to win, but I did feel I was playing really good coming into the tournament. I'm glad I performed so well for four days.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Thank you very much.