Q. You're listed at 5'6" and 132 pounds. You're giving away a lot of inches, giving away a lot of inches and a lot of pounds to your competitors. What keeps you with the same length? Why can you hit it as far as they can?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: I feel I need to. Because I'm small I feel I want to beat the big guys. That's my feeling, so then I feel that maybe the kids will look at me and say because I can do it at this size, the kids can also do it. Motivation, I guess.
Q. You heated up on the back nine obviously. Was there a key shot that just really got your round going?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: On the 10th tee I put it in the rough but made a bogey there, but on the next hole I made a birdie, and I think that was the key hole maybe.
Q. Is it fair to list you at 132 pounds?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: About 61 kilos. I don't know too much in pounds. 61 kilos, whatever that works out to. 27-inch waist.
Q. David Duval, we're used to his name. We all had to look up Tanaka. How are you going to sleep tonight? Is this a unique kind of thing?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: I sleep well every day.
Q. You're tired after playing 28 events, right?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: I don't have as much stress as I have when I play in Japan.
Q. Do you feel like you can always go through here with some anonymity?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: In Japan every time I go -- maybe you don't believe this, but in Japan every time I go out to dinner or anywhere, people come up to me and ask for autographs or pictures or whatever, all the attention, and here in the United States, maybe you won't believe me, but no one knows about me, so I feel that much less stress.
Q. How difficult is the rough?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: From my height that's very difficult. I need to wear higher shoes. I really feel that Bermuda rough is pretty thick, and the taller you are, it's a little bit more advantage. I just feel that I just don't take too many chances, I just hit it out.
Q. Is driving accurately one of your strengths?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: I think so, according to the data, the statistics out there. This year it's been very good.
Q. Hole by hole?
JOAN v.T. ALEXANDER: Just the birdies and bogeys. What club did you use to No. 3?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: I'm nervous now: My tee shot went in the rough, I pitched out with an 8-iron, 70 yards, sand wedge.
Q. To how far?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: About two meters, which is a little over six feet, I guess.
No. 7, 4-iron second shot.
Q. To the green?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: About four meters, which is about 12 feet, a little bit over 12 feet.
And then 9, the par 4, 170, 7-iron about six meters, which is about 20 feet, I guess.
Q. Bogey at 10?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: Put it in the rough, the tee shot. I used a 6-iron and put it in the rough again. I had about 120 left, used a pitching wedge, on the collar of the green, two-putt.
Q. No. 11?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: 138 left, 9-iron, three meters, about 12, 15 feet.
Q. 12?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: 125 yards with a wedge, two meters, a little over six feet.
Q. 15, the par 5?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: 240 yards, used a 3-wood. It was in the rough.
Q. So short of the green?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: No, right of the green, just about 15-yard approach shot to about three feet, four feet, about one meter.
Q. 16?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: Par 4, 173 yards, 7-iron to 12 feet, 15 feet.
Q. 17?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: 7-iron to about six feet.
JOAN v.T. ALEXANDER: Good job.
Q. How long was the putt on 18?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: About four meters, about 12 feet.
Q. Did you think you had given it a chance?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: It was kind of a hook.
Q. You played too much break?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: Too much break. I was thinking if I put this in I would be on top of it and I knew I would come to the interview room and I was wondering what I would speak about in here, that pressure.
Q. How is your English?
HIDEMICHI TANAKA: It's one word. "I am over the moon," and "McDonald's".
JOAN v.T. ALEXANDER: Thank you very much for joining us.
End of FastScripts....
