WGC EMC WORLD CUP

December 5, 2000

Angel Cabrera

Eduardo Romero

EDUARDO ROMERO: We are very happy that the World Golf Championship is coming to Argentina. We have waited for the event to come here for over 30 years, and we're willing to have the trophy stay here in Argentina. We are well prepared for this. We have had a very good year, both of us. We have practiced the course, and we expect, also, to have a little bit of luck on our side, as well. Par and to be able to, as I said before, be able to win The Cup.

ANGEL CABRERA: I am very proud to be here playing on behalf of Argentina, and we are doing everything possible to stay here in Argentina, where we believe that it should stay.

ANGEL CABRERA: We are conscious and well aware that at some point we had to play against them. I think that the best thing that could have happened to us is to start, playing against them.

EDUARDO ROMERO: I believe that because of the way that we are playing that we are not affected by the co-competitors; because as I said before, that we are well prepared for this tournament, and that's why we are here.

EDUARDO ROMERO: We are used to playing under pressure, actually. And for me, I think I have more pressure 15 years ago when I had to play; I only had 2 pesos in my pocket, and I had to play for 150,000 pesos.

ANGEL CABRERA: I think that you feel the pressure, but everybody is going to feel it. Everybody wants to win; so everybody is going to be under pressure.

ANGEL CABRERA: I think, yes, it's very important to keep the ball on the fairway. If you keep it on the fairway, things can be much simpler.

ANGEL CABRERA: I think, yes, it can be something in our favor, because we know how each other plays; so that can be an asset in our case.

EDUARDO ROMERO: We have been practicing together for over five years. In our Open, we played together. And for this reason, we know, I'd say kind of perfectly well how each one plays.

EDUARDO ROMERO: This has nothing to do with us. This comes from a long way. Roberto De Vicenzo, Vicente Fernandez, there are many players, Florentina Molina who have been opening the way for us. And I think this is what we've been looking for, for a long time to, give South American golf a place that we think it deserves.

EDUARDO ROMERO: My confidence doesn't come because I am Eduardo Romero, but because I have statistics that prove my good golf at this moment. And it's the same thing with Angel Cabrera; we both have been playing very good golf this last year. And I say this because Argentina hasn't had two players with such a good level of golf like the one we've been playing lately.

ANGEL CABRERA: I think that it is basically because we know each other very well and because we have been playing very well this past year that we have a very good chance. That's where our confidence comes from.

EDUARDO ROMERO: Like I said before, we have a very similar golf, or kind of way of playing golf, so that we know that when we have to play a game like foursomes in which each one of us has to play alternate shot, it's like just one player would be playing. I'd rather play best ball because that's the kind of game I like best, best ball.

ANGEL CABRERA: Like I said before, we are very confident and we have to play against them at some point. I think it is better if we start, playing against them, and if we make -- if we shoot a good score the first day, that's going to give us much more confidence for the rest of the tournament.

EDUARDO ROMERO: Yes, of course. Everybody is here to -- I mean, they came here to win, but in my mind I think I have four candidates: Ireland, Spain, United States and ourselves.

ANGEL CABRERA: Yes, in my case, I think that playing in your country with people supporting you gives you much more energy and in my case, when I am not playing so well, having people support me gives me a much better chance to make a better round.

ANGEL CABRERA: It's going to be very difficult. We are going to have to play with a lot of patience and very concentrated. Otherwise, it's going to be very tough.

EDUARDO ROMERO: Yes, I agree with that. The bunkers do have a lot of sand. But that's a problem for the people that go into the bunker. For us, for the rest, the course is in excellent condition, and the greens have a very good speed.

ANGEL CABRERA: As I was walking down the field, I asked Vicente Fernandez how he played the 18th hole, because I think it is quite difficult and it can complicate things, especially if you are defining a tournament, that hole. He says that he plays that hole with a lot of respect; that he usually plays an iron from the tee, even though then he has a very long shot to the green, but he feels more comfortable that way.

EDUARDO ROMERO: I think that the 17th hole is not as difficult as it looks, because it is a par 5. What does influence is if the tee is moved about 40 or 50 yards and you can reach the green in two strokes, that's when the hole can turn into a difficult one. Otherwise, if the tee remains where it is right now, the hole will not be so difficult.

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