Q. I've got to go back to your comment about the greens. Can you compare them a little bit in regards to the front and back? You said that there was definite differences. Can you tell me Stimp-wise what maybe they are running on the front against the back?
CHARLES HOWELL III: You know, it's hard to guess the Stimp. There is a definite notable difference in the front and the back nine, which is very understandable. They had to do it with the amount of slope on the greens on the back nine. There is a definite difference. When you get on the 10th green coming from the ninth green, you definitely expect slower greens on the back nine, without question. The slower ones being, I think No. 10, No. 17 and No. 18. But, that's very understandable.
I remember the U.S. Open at Southern Hills a couple years back, the 18th green at Southern Hills looked like a fairway; they had it growing so long because of the slope in it. They have done it before and it's the only thing they can do.
Q. You're often held up as the new breed of the guys that can bomb it forever. Would you like to see more golf courses setup like this? Would you like to play golf courses where maybe there's a little more creativity and shot-making involved?
CHARLES HOWELL III: You know, I think it's funny that everyone talks about distance the last two or three years. If you look at the people that have won our major championships, they have not been the longest hitters.
You know Mike Weir can hit the ball a long way, but he hits it very straight. Shaun Micheel drives it straight, Ben Curtis, Jim Furyk obviously. I think it shows you that accuracy is still the most important thing.
Yeah, it's nice to be able to stand up there and bomb it and hit it a long way but if you don't hit it in the fairway, it doesn't matter.
And on top of that, at the Open this year, I hit four drivers around. At the PGA, I hit seven. So even with the ability to hit it long, you still can't hit a lot of them. Without a doubt still, the most important thing is driving the ball in the fairway and it always will be.
To answer your question, I do like a golf course like this. I wish we did see more like this because this isn't short, either. There's still some 450-yard par 4s, so you have to drive in the fairway.
Yeah, this golf course is fantastic.
Q. How many did you hit today?
CHARLES HOWELL III: I think I hit seven.
Q. How far was the chip on 4?
CHARLES HOWELL III: That was from about 25 feet. Actually I putted that in. It was off the green but I putted in. Driver, 7-iron.
JOAN vT ALEXANDER: Thank you, Charles.
End of FastScripts.
