U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

May 28, 1996

Brandie Burton

BRANDIE BURTON: I got the chills stepping out on the 18th tee today.

BRANDIE BURTON: It was a Hawaiian girl, and I can't remember her name, actually, that I beat in the finals. However, both of them went to the 18th hole.

BRANDIE BURTON: I played the course this morning, and it's in fabulous condition. It's challenging. It's going to take all kinds of shot-making. It's playing rather lengthy right now, and of course you've got the challenge of the greens. So I think it's a truly spectacular Open golf course.

BRANDIE BURTON: I would say obviously we were up a little closer on the tee boxes, and it played a little shorter. I don't quite remember trying to hit four and three irons into par 4's like I did this morning. I play a lot of golf courses year in and year out, so -- overall I think the layout was pretty much the same.

BRANDIE BURTON: Well, it's been unbelievable, because this is my 6th year on tour, and it seems like yesterday I just got out here. But I had some very quick success when I came out here. And maybe it's been a little lull here in the last couple of years, but I've been working hard and getting back to enjoying the game again. I'm trying to go out and have fun, and hopefully a breakthrough will happen soon.

BRANDIE BURTON: My health is pretty good. I've got the wrist. Just seemed like I had one health problem after another, and that could probably be beating as many balls on the range as I'd like to beat. I know you can't do that week in and week out. I now try to schedule myself a little better to have a better playing schedule and be healthy while doing that.

BRANDIE BURTON: I'm not totally sure what it was. I know I didn't love the game as much as I did in '91, '92, '93. I just --

BRANDIE BURTON: I got a little bored with the game, I guess. I'm not that bored of success, it's not that at all. And I don't want you to interpret that that way. But I just felt -- I wish I knew the answer. I just know that I'm back, and I'm happy again, and I've incorporated some creativity in my game that wasn't there when I didn't win, and that's made it fun for me and made me enjoy it.

BRANDIE BURTON: I think it was the help of Dave Stockton. He and I have -- we live rather close together in southern California and he obviously saw some talent and was kind of wondering how come this talent wasn't coming out in me the last couple of years. And he took me underneath his wing, and he helped me on swing changes and course management situations. And just like you said, we've got to incorporate the fun back in the game again to win.

BRANDIE BURTON: That's a great perc, I think. It feels good to me, because I always have great memories, every time I step on the tee box here. Like I said, I stepped on the 18 tee today in the practice round, and I was playing with Nancy Lopez, and I said, wow, this is really weird, because I remember being here 7 years ago. So I think overall it's going to help me mentally, just to be really positive and be really excited to be playing this golf course again.

BRANDIE BURTON: I'll never forget the first hole the last day, and I'm sure Peggy Kirk Bell won't forget it, my first shot I hit it out in the pine trees and we couldn't find the ball. It was absolutely amazing, because it really wasn't that far out. And I'll never forget Peggy just dwelling on it that we never could find that ball. But between that and 18 on -- in the finals I know that I hit the drive a little right and made a pretty good four there to win. Then I have to say the final memory would be just being up at the presentation with Peggy Kirk Bell, that was an honor, in itself.

BRANDIE BURTON: No, I haven't yet. I saw her today. She was chipping or putting, and she doesn't walk around without a golf club in her hand. I'm looking forward to having a chat with her.

BRANDIE BURTON: She's always been an idol. I've watched her. I'm sure she doesn't appreciate it when I tell her I watched her from this big (INDICATING).

BRANDIE BURTON: I was nine years old. And every year up until I turned pro I was always -- back behind the ropes and watched her at the Dinah Shore, because I lived near Palm Springs. She's always been an idol, and she was one of the great players when I did come out here kind of also helped me along, if I had any problems. And it's been kind of a thing we do, we always play practice rounds at the U.S. Open.

BRANDIE BURTON: It's a lot of fun.

BRANDIE BURTON: Yes, she did, and signed it, that was when Roscoe was caddying for her, that's a precious item.

BRANDIE BURTON: Yes, I do.

BRANDIE BURTON: Oh, definitely and depending on what they're going to do with the rough, it will probably get pretty tall by the end of the week. So the positioning of the ball is going to be very important, and I do think it's going to favor the long hitter, because today I was hitting it out there pretty good today, even though it was wet this morning, on the average par 4 I had five four irons, it's like you've got to throw darts in there.

BRANDIE BURTON: Well, you know, I think it makes our tour that much stronger and that much better to have players like that come out. And it's just great to have the competitive atmosphere that we have. And it's amazing for me to look back just five and a half years ago and see the players and the competitive level I came out into and to see it now, it feels like it's doubled, and I think it's great for the game.

BRANDIE BURTON: Yes, I am.

BRANDIE BURTON: I finished second there to Karen Lunn when she won in '93, I believe.

BRANDIE BURTON: Colonial, wasn't it?

BRANDIE BURTON: It looks like it still might be a little steamy hot this week. But I don't think it's really going to change anything, because the course is in tip-top shape, and it's just going to be who's going to make the most birdies and fewest strokes out there that's going to win this championship.