U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 11, 1997

Annika Sorenstam

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Well, I'm very disappointed. I wish this tournament would have ended a little differently, but that's the way it goes. I'm actually very pleased the way I played the front 9. I played the best golf I have in a long time. The putts didn't drop. The back 9 was hard for me, too. It's been tough, real hard.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: 13, I hit a 7-iron. That's my second shot. I had 147, I recall, and I don't know what happened, just maybe hit it too good or the wind turned around. I really don't know. It ended up probably 25 yards behind the green in one of those reserve areas and had to drop, a penalty drop, and hit it on the green and 2-putt.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, I haven't. I'm going to go home and try and replay the holes in my head and try and figure out what's wrong. I really don't know what's wrong. Like I said, the front 9 I played great, and it's hard when you say you play great and you shoot level par. I usually shoot three or four under, and now today it was level. So I really don't know what it is. Maybe I put too much pressure on myself. I wish I had an answer.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: A little bit. But normally I have a lot of patience and I keep trying as good as I can. And I did that today, too. Sometimes it's real hard when you can't make any birdies and you make a bogey or even a double, it really hurts you, and I think that's what happened this week.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: I hope so.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Luckily life goes on, and it will be another day tomorrow. And I haven't missed a cut in a long time, and I really don't know what to do on weekends (laughter). So we'll see. I think I'll get over it. I played really good this year, and that's what I've got to think about. One tournament is only one tournament, even though this is a very big one and a very important one for me. And I'll be back and I'll do better then.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Yeah, that's a good way of looking at it. I just didn't read that putt very well. I just went up, it doesn't matter what I do, and I made it. Maybe that's what I should have done all day.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: No, I was just really looking forward to it. I knew I was striking the ball well. I know how to play this course. I know it doesn't seem like it, but I feel it inside. I'd like to come back and play it. It's a great golf course, and I really have a lot of respect for it. I didn't change my strategy. I just did my own preparation and I was out here and got ready as I always do, so I didn't change anything.

ANNIKA SORENSTAM: Thanks Juli.