DU MAURIER CLASSIC

August 11, 2000

Laura Philo

LAURA PHILO: I hit 7-iron into the green, four feet.

LAURA PHILO: 5. 13, I hit 5-iron four feet. 14, I hit 5-wood into the green and 2-putted. It was about 30 feet. I bogeyed 15. I 3-putted, I hit 5-wood into the green. 7-iron 10 feet. I 3-putted 17 after hitting 8-iron. And I birdied 18, it was about 25 feet; I hit wedge.

LAURA PHILO: Not really. It was more the shots into the green. They were all long, very long putts, over 60 feet. They were front of the green to back pins, so I wouldn't really consider that -- I mean that's not necessarily a fight with your putter, that's more of your approach shot.

LAURA PHILO: Yeah, they were big.

LAURA PHILO: Yes, considering I've only played one other major.

LAURA PHILO: McDonald's. So I was not -- I wasn't at Nabisco, and I wasn't at the Open.

LAURA PHILO: I played du Maurier last year. I played McDonald's last year. And that would make this, what, four, I guess. This is my fourth.

LAURA PHILO: Yeah, I feel pretty comfortable right now. I've been playing pretty well the last four or five weeks, and I feel good.

LAURA PHILO: It was a great day.

LAURA PHILO: No, I missed a 2-foot putt for birdie.

LAURA PHILO: 11. And the 3-putts were -- I probably hit it up to six or seven feet both times. I could have made those; but like I said, it was more of the approach shot. So just maybe one or two shots out there. It was very calm and the greens are rolling good. Like Lorie said, we had a real long day yesterday, so it was nice to get out before the rain, possibly, that might be coming.

LAURA PHILO: I think everything is just about the same, to tell you the truth. I'm putting good right now. So that's -- I think that's the key, no matter what else you do well. But I'm definitely putting better than I've probably ever putted.

LAURA PHILO: I have about three instructors. My father, Ron Philo, Sr., Is my main instructor; and I have my brother, Ron Philo, Jr., And my fiance, Kevin Diaz. At any given point, I can call on any of them.

LAURA PHILO: Kevin really doesn't say as much. He's not real comfortable yet. I always listen to what my father says, no matter what. And if I ask Kevin, I'll listen to what he has to say, because I'm the one asking the question. But my father is more of the one who has the biggest impact on my game.

LAURA PHILO: Diaz, D-i-a-z.

LAURA PHILO: November 25th.

LAURA PHILO: He doesn't say much, no. My father has taught me for 20 years, so it's pretty hard to get involved in that situation. For me I just -- I want him to get more involved, because there's going to be a time when my father is not around.

LAURA PHILO: No.

LAURA PHILO: Golf is a target sport. That's basically our main philosophy. And everything kind of goes from there. The short game is where we start, and then we work from there. The short game is where you score. So we teach the angle and then teach -- it works into the full swing.

LAURA PHILO: Just let me hit it. We owned a driving range and miniature golf when I was a kid, so it was a family-run business. I was always out there just playing around. And my swing just kind of evolved from that.

LAURA PHILO: No, I don't feel any pressure. I'm American, yeah, but we're all out here trying to win a golf tournament. And personally, in my opinion, it all comes down to winning the golf tournament. It's great that I represent the USA, and I'm very proud of that, but I just want to win a golf tournament.

LAURA PHILO: I think I saw it flash before my eyes, and I'm ready to not see it flash anymore, for it to be real. I think it's right there.

LAURA PHILO: Two weeks ago in Youngstown.

LAURA PHILO: I was tied going into the last hole, and I double bogeyed.

LAURA PHILO: You know, I didn't know at the time that I was tied, so it really didn't hurt until I made the last putt, the second putt, and I looked at the score board. It was tough, but the more times I put myself in position, the better off I'll be the next time. Although it was a tough learning experience, it was a learning experience. And I made a big putt last week on the last hole for a par, and that kind of erased that 6 at Youngstown for me. So just a growing experience.

LAURA PHILO: Because -- just like today, I couldn't tell you what's leading right now, either. I know I'm in here, but I don't know what that means. I don't pay attention. It doesn't matter until I've putted out on that 54th or that 72nd hole.

LAURA PHILO: That's right. I didn't choose to look, but when I did ask in the middle of the 18th hole that day, nobody knew. My caddy didn't know, and I didn't know.

LAURA PHILO: Keebler. It's a cookie and cracker company, second largest company in the United States.