U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

June 17, 1995

Bob Tway

LES UNGER: Bob Tway has a steady round. Bob, I guess the favorite subject of everybody is the wind and how it has affected play. Why don't we address that one right off the bat.

BOB TWAY: I am sure you have probably heard it all day long. The golf course is finally getting, I think, where they wanted it. After all the rains the first of the week, it was a little bit soft. Now with the wind blowing the last two days, it is playing very, very difficult. The greens, you can't fly -- if it's a downwind hole you have to-- you can't stop the ball, but you have to hit a great shot because those holes are playing so tough. I heard Phil talking -- just repeat the same things. We have been saying all week even though the weather was good, the golf course was soft;' even the par is going to be a good score. I still think it's going to be a great score. I don't know that you could ask anybody if they take even par they probably wouldn't go play tomorrow. But you're just going to have to remain as patient as you can. And getting back to the same old thing of hitting the ball in the fairway, hit it on the greens, and try to play as smart as you can.

LES UNGER: Any particular save or shot today that deserves mention?

BOB TWAY: Well, I made a nice chip-in for birdie on number 2 which kind of is a nice thing to have happen, kind of settles you down. 2-iron just short of the green and actually 4-iron just short of the green chipped it in; so that was kind of nice. The bogeys I made, I bogeyed the 4th hole but I missed the fairway. Then I made a bogey on 16 and 17. I hit a poor third shot on 16 and a poor shot on 17. You just can't afford to mis-hit any shots. It is playing so tough, you really have to hit every shot almost perfect to have it end up good.

LES UNGER: Questions.

Q. Obviously your game today was a tremendous contrast with Phil, you had the stretch of 11 straight pars. Was it frustrating coming so close to so many birdies; did you feel good seeing what the rest of the field was doing?

BOB TWAY: Well, I was just trying to play as steady as I could. There was a couple of opportunities out there that I would have loved to have made, but you just can't get aggressive even with your putts. I would like to have made the putt on 14 and 15 which would have really helped, you know, then you make the bogeys on 16 and 17, so it is just tough. Those putts were good opportunities and you hate to let those get away because you don't get that many of them out there. But I am pleased. I played fairly consistent considering the wind. It was -- still wasn't quite as good as yesterday, but you know, I am still -- I still have a chance so--

Q. Bob, can you address the 16th hole, you and Phil both bogeyed it and--

BOB TWAY: It is playing very long. You hit straight in the wind. I hit 3-wood so I could stay short of the bunker; I kind of popped it up. I laid up with a 3-wood. I really only had 136 yards to the pin, and I am hitting a 6-iron, so you are playing for about 40, 45 yards of the wind usually. Hit my 6-iron, 180, 185 yards, so you have to do something quite different on your approach shot, keep the ball away. I kind of got over mine. Hit it way left. But you really have to use some imagination on that shot because you are having to hit so much more club than you normally would. It is like playing, you know, Scotland or whatever.

Q. Bob, describe the 2 putts on 14 and 15 and also the length of the chip-in at 2, please.

BOB TWAY: 2, I think the pin was back about 12 yards under onto the green. I was a few steps short, so you know, 40-foot chip, and 14, it was about a 12-foot putt and 15 was 6 or 7-foot putt, so you don't get that many opportunities that close.

Q. Nine years ago you were in a very similar position as this. Any feelings of flashbacks or anything from that experience that you expect to help you tomorrow?

BOB TWAY: Well, you know, I think it could be very similar to the last time. There is quite a few people who are very close; 9 holes to go. I might look on the leader-board tomorrow and see that there is 9 people tied again; that could very well happen. I said yesterday when I was playing in '86 I had a whole lot more confidence than I do now. But you know, hopefully I can keep playing like this and maybe regain some of that. But, you know, whatever happens tomorrow, it doesn't really matter to me. I am just trying to appreciate the situation I am in; you know, trying to learn a little bit more and be happy that I am here and have a chance.

Q. Can you talk little bit about playing out on fescue?

BOB TWAY: The shorter rough or the real deep stuff? It all depends on a lot. Sometimes, if it is thin enough, you can take a shot at hitting towards the green. If it is all the high strings and a bunch of them, the club is going to turn over; you hit it straight left. In that situation, I just take a wedge and go to the fairway. Couple of times if it is bare you can go ahead and swing at it. But I have pretty much had the philosophy this week if I hit my tee shot with trouble, I wedge back to the fairway; take my bogey and go on. Very seldom have I tried to advance it very far.

Q. Just after everything that you have been through in the last few years, is tomorrow going to be fun?

BOB TWAY: Yeah, no doubt about it. Like I said, regardless of what happens, I am just trying to enjoy it. It is great to be playing golf and being in this situation instead of being at home trying to figure it out or sitting on the couch watching it, if you missed the cut. So like I said, it would be a dream come true to win the U.S. Open, but like I said, no matter how I play tomorrow, I am very pleased with how I have done. I am very pleased with the whole year; how it has been happening. And just like I said, I am just trying to climb the ladder again.

LES UNGER: Anyone else? Good luck.

BOB TWAY: Thanks a lot.

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