KEMPER INSURANCE OPEN

June 4, 2000

Steve Lowery

STEVE LOWERY: A little disappointing, but I gave it a good effort. I felt like I played well and had a chance there on the back nine but I just couldn't quite get it done.

STEVE LOWERY: I don't know. I just didn't make enough birdies early in the round. Got off to a slow start . I hit a really good 8-iron into that 15th hole. I was all over it and another couple yards it hits the downslope and goes right down there. But it didn't work out. I mean, that's the way it is. It's a fine line between winning and not winning when you're right there that close. I feel good about the shots I hit. 17, I hung that shot out to the right. Hit the right club. Franklin Langham hit the same club I hit. I needed to hit that ball 10 yards left, let it hit and roll down to the pin, but it went right and it was hairy-carry.

STEVE LOWERY: I was trying to make birdie. I'm not standing there trying to play it safe. But I wasn't trying to hit it right off the flag like I did. I knew I had to birdie one of the last two holes to have a chance for a playoff. But I don't hang my head. I played aggressive, solid. Between a busy few days for me. Played with Tiger on Monday; finished second, and finished fifth on Sunday. So pretty busy.

STEVE LOWERY: 6-iron.

STEVE LOWERY: It was the right club. I just started it too far right, needed to go left and kind of playing the ball -- if it rode the wind to the left, but I just didn't cut it.

STEVE LOWERY: I just tried to not focus on it, really, and just take care of my process of hitting good golf shots. But, you know, it's a lot of stress on you. This week has been, you know, a big effort for me.

STEVE LOWERY: It was a tough putt to have to make to finish second by myself, but boy, I sure would have liked to have made that. It didn't work out, but I can't worry about it. Go on.

STEVE LOWERY: Yeah, I know he's out there playing hard. We're all playing hard. All trying to win but only one person can win. Although a little disappointed about not winning, but I feel good the way I played and I continue to try to play the way I'm playing and hope things go my way.

STEVE LOWERY: What do I remember of it? I eagled two of the last five holes is the main thing I remember.

STEVE LOWERY: To finally win and, you know, he's been a good player for a long time, but to finally win out here, I'm sure he's just ecstatic about, you know, accomplishing something as significant as winning on the PGA TOUR, because it's a tremendous accomplishment to win any tournament out here. He's been a good player for a long time. But getting that first win I think is good for him and probably get him over the hump maybe where he can maybe win some other tournaments.

STEVE LOWERY: I don't know him that well other than he's a very good ball-striker. I really have not played that much golf with him. I know he's fairly long and a very good ball-striker. But I really haven't spent much time playing with him.

STEVE LOWERY: I'm committed to play 36 holes tomorrow, 7:09 a.m., at Woodmont; so I'm committed to Westchester. I'm going to be there tomorrow at 7:00 and make a decision on Westchester after that.

STEVE LOWERY: Well, I don't know. I mean, our games -- is that what you mean? I think we play similar style of games. He's fairly long and a very good ball-striker which is kind of my strength. I don't know, it's hard to say.

STEVE LOWERY: Yeah, I was. I mean, I was, you know battling the nerves that you battle to win a golf tournament, you know, trying not to play safer, trying to aim the ball at the flag, aim putts, aggressive rolls and I felt like I did that. I had some opportunities there on 13 where I could have laid up and hit an awkward yardage for me; and hit a 4-wood on the green. And then 15 I could have laid up but I hit 3-wood and it went off the green there. So I played aggressive. Tried to play smart when I could, when I didn't have a shot. But, yeah, I felt like I played aggressive. Like I said yesterday, I need to make more birdies today than I did yesterday to win, and, you know kind of came down to that.

STEVE LOWERY: I tried to do it. Those shots, especially 14, really sets up for my shot a left-to-right shot, that's my strength so played to that. Other holes, when the pin is lefty, try to play a little smarter shot.

STEVE LOWERY: No. I thought it was just stiff. I really flushed it. I thought I was going to get the downslope and feed down there. I hit it really solid, but not as high as a normal 8-iron. Came off a little lower and didn't carry. If I had to hit it again -- if the wind was in the air, it would have held up perfect.

STEVE LOWERY: Well, you've been there. You've accomplished it. I think the doubt of "can I win out here" kind of goes away and you realize that you can win. And I think you come with a different attitude when you play on Sunday, that you've done this, and it's not such a big deal.

STEVE LOWERY: It's never mentioned until the week. It just seems like it's amazing that certain events seem to do that. I don't know really why that is. I mean, obviously the U.S. Open coming up, some of the top players are not playing so it gives a chance for guys that are here that are here to do well. Other than that, the golf course is very difficult. It's a championship golf course.

STEVE LOWERY: I thought I might as well go for it kind of thing. Lined up and, you know hit it right at it. Like I say, I hit some aggressive shots. I played well. I was, you know -- I played with Tiger on Monday and that was tough. Going in with the lead this week was a challenge, but I felt good about it. You know, I like to come out with something positive every week. I played good with the lead most of the week and I think I will do better next time.

STEVE LOWERY: An 8-iron.

STEVE LOWERY: It's been an effort for me because I didn't have much time. I didn't play a practice round. I played nine holes and trying to rest and all that. But I played well enough to win the golf tournament, so I can't say it was a -- fatigue was a factor. I'm glad it was not as hot these last couple of days.

STEVE LOWERY: 15, I think that was probably about eight feet. The last putt, about four-and-a-half feet, something like that.