U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 5, 1998

Jenny Chuasiriporn

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Hole-by-hole?

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Oh, gosh, well, I guess the big save was probably on No. 7. I hit it into the bunker on my second shot. I only -- I had a 7-iron into the hole and I pushed it right a little and I made probably like a 15-footer for to save par. And then, again, on 8, two holes in a row. I made probably a 20 -- probably a 20-footer for birdie. Those were probably the two big putts, you know, in addition to the last putt, I guess, of the day. Probably, oh, the bogey save on 15, I made a downhill like left-to-right putt. Probably six feet, to save bogey. Actually I was -- it was funny because Joey and I -- yesterday in the paper I think it said like only 11 people had -- didn't have a 6 on the three days. That was my goal today, one of the goals, just don't get a 6.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: No.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: That was -- I pushed my 3-iron again and it actually, you know, was on too perfect of a line, going straight for the hole which I didn't intend, and it came in hot and hit a downslope and it trickled over into the water hazard. But, luckily it went in over near the pins so, I could make up-and-down for bogey pretty easily.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yes.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I hit a 6-iron in.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I am thinking it was probably about 25 feet. Pretty long.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I had -- I probably had about 155 to the hole and I was just going to play a 5-iron, put it back in my stance and just try to hit the green and 2-putt. I didn't really think I was going to have a hard time paring. But I caught it in -- a little thick, or fat, coming out, and left myself probably like 90 yards into the pin. And hit it over there to not -- it wasn't much that green to work with. I pulled it a little and ended up chipping it short six feet and making that.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: 17. The par 3, gosh, I was -- I hit my 6-iron right of the pin and I went down the hill into the thick of rough. But I had a pretty good lie, thicker rough coming out. As I hit through it, it -- the rough grabbed my club a little bit so I ended up pulling it a little. So I had probably about a good 15 feet left and I thought I made it. I just left it a little short. So.... Forgot to hit it.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I don't even know how long it was. I am thinking 45 feet, maybe. Maybe even more.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: On 18, well, I hit -- it was downwind, so I had my -- I hit a good drive and hit an 8-iron in and it was on a downhill slope, so I had left it off a little right, so which left me a good amount right. And then the putt or --

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Well, I was walking back and forth and I was really trying to get the speed -- the feel of the speed of the putt. It was a little downhill and Joey and I both looked at the putt and finally when I came back to the ball, I just asked him I was like: Just tell me the spot. He said, you know: About a foot left. Because I really didn't want to think about the break because I just want -- I was just trying to feel the putt, the speed of the putt. And as I -- and right before I hit it he just said: Give it a good run for it - which means, don't leave it short. I hit it pretty, pretty -- I hit it the way I wanted to and I guess the last 15 feet, it was -- my eyes probably popped out because it was going straight in. I didn't expect it to go in at all. I was really thinking 2-putt from there, at least.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: No, I actually -- I thought she was still 5-over and I thought I was almost playing for second. But, yeah, so it wasn't until -- it wasn't until after -- right before she putt that I kind of asked someone, I was like: What is she at or how many over is she? They said: 6. I didn't -- it wasn't until then that I realized it - she was putting for the win and not -- I thought she had to 2-putt so... I wasn't aware of it.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I don't know, I guess -- I think most -- I don't even know. I guess we probably have the same amount of pressure because she has already won her major and -- I don't know. I am just going to just go out and have fun, I guess. Nothing to lose from here on out so....

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I wouldn't have minded if we had to go right out. My emotions? I don't even know. It was so overwhelming after it went in. I just kind of turned to my brother and he was just delighted, almost in tears, so, couldn't really think straight at that point.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: No. That was -- I don't care -- the money is not -- it was nothing ever I could have gotten anyway. But, no, I didn't -- I don't really think about turning pro. I am really looking forward to my last year at Duke and we have -- it is going -- I have a great roommate, a lot of friends back there and I am looking forward to spending my last year there. But, no, not at all like I don't -- I don't want to turn pro at all.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I mean, not now.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Tomorrow? Oh, I was supposed to fly to Minnesota with the Curtis Cup Team for a four-day practice for the Curtis Cup. Then my parents were going to fly home.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I guess so, somewhere.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Since Nationals?

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Gosh, probably my putting. I have been working, tweaking a few things on my putting stroke and really just trying to get really comfortable with one stroke because I was wavering between different styles, the placement of the ball, or like forward-pressing or not. Finally I have kind of figured it out out here.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Probably, I don't -- you know, it is funny, I don't know if I -- I have been hitting the ball pretty similar like to how I have been hitting it for the latter of the spring season, so I am not, you know -- of course I guess the expectations go up, but I have never been really wanted to put too many expectations on myself or too much pressure. I am just out there to have fun.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: The Bangkok Place.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yes.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Gosh, I don't know. That is hard to explain, but I don't know. I guess I can only speak for myself, but I just -- I really just went out there just trying to hit a lot of fairways and greens. I didn't really have too many expectations. I was almost like just -- I kept wondering what it is going to be like if I do win, but I guess I am one round away, I don't know.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yes.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Not really. We just learn a lot of theories back there (laughter). But, I guess it probably helps in some way or another, just whether or not specifically with golf, but just in general, it is always -- it is fun to learn it. I don't really think I want to do much with it, like, beyond college, but I enjoy learning it, though.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I don't know, I guess it is -- it is kind of neat to explore, like, the mind -- like, how people work. I guess, that I kind of -- I like -- I enjoy just, you know, learning about people and -- that kind of sounds cheesie, but -- and, I don't know, I don't really know how much I have learned yet. But it is just a bunch of theories so far.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Well, I guess, both, in a way. I am not disappointed at all about -- you have got to expect -- I had to expect bogeys to come some time or another out there and, you know, like I made a couple of bogeys coming in. But those happen. I mean, those couple of holes are pretty tough. I am kind of -- I am kind of fortunate to be in the playoff. I might as well not have been in the playoff had it not turned out this way, but --

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: It would be a great honor. It is neat -- it is always nice to -- wow, I don't even know how to explain it. It is also neat to see like an amateur just do well, compared to the pros. But, I guess it speaks for a lot of the level of the college play now. I never thought personally that I was any different from a lot of the players out on the college Tour and just to be able to compare myself to these pros is always such -- it is such a good experience; it is a good learning experience for me and hopefully for a lot of people that I have played with in amateur golf and in junior golf as well.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah, he actually -- one thing I remember is he just says: Just don't think it is something that can't be done, is what he was telling me because, you know, he really basically just told me to believe in myself, just believe that it could be done and that four shots really wasn't very much to catch -- you know, to make up in one round; especially out there.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yes, definitely. Yeah, I mean, I really enjoy just playing -- wish the best for her too. I think it will be really fun out there. Just two, 20 year olds, I guess. It will be exciting.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I haven't met her officially, but I guess we both know each other now. But, I guess the Nationals, I finished fifth, just as recently in Madison. And then the year before, I didn't -- we didn't make it to Nationals and my freshman year, I finished 19th.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah, I don't know, it is the Thai food, the spices. (laughter).

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yes, that was the only way into the Open. And realistically, actually my parents came with me. They closed the restaurant and they had -- they had the plane tickets and everything and my first goal was just to make the cut because, you know, I wanted them to watch a good four rounds. That was basically my first goal, I mean, I didn't really think beyond that at all.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Well, I didn't -- after birdieing it yesterday, I kind of felt like my chances were kind of slim making another birdie. But, from today, compared to yesterday, the 18th hole, played a lot shorter today; pin was up also from yesterday. We had a downwind today. Yesterday it was into our face, so, I think most of the players had a good 200 - maybe a little less than 200 into the green. Today it was an 8-iron for me, so, it played extremely different. I mean, a good like five clubs different.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Not anymore.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yes, I helped quite a bit, like, while I was in high school, but since I have been in college, they -- I go over there and help every time I can -- every time I have a chance, but they don't really need me all too much in college. I have never had, like, an official job, you know, like I never had hours there. I usually go whenever they need help, especially on weekends.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I am all right. I am not -- I don't like waitressing, actually.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah, this has got to be the hardest course I have played. I mean, the length, especially, it is just playing so tough. It really demands some good iron shots and consistent driving and just all-around good game, good --

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah, in amateur golf we get so much experience with matchplay and I personally enjoy it more and more. It is so much fun to have the player right there and just play him head-on and know what is going on. I like it, personally. I mean, it is fun to just have kind of everything in your face.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: When did I start believing in it or did I start --

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Those two putts, I just felt everything was going my way, those two putts were pretty long. Those things happen. That is what you have got to hope for when you are playing for a Championship like this. But, I believed it the whole way. I didn't doubt that I -- I didn't count that I could win it at all. But I just really hoped for some good breaks coming in.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: He has caddied for me in both Opens. It is nice to have him along because we have played together since we could walk and being only eleven months apart, we have pretty much experienced everything together in golf since we -- ever since we -- while we grew up. He knows my game really well. He knows my weaknesses, and my strengths and he is probably the best caddie for me right now.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: On a couple of putts, but nothing major.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: We both read them and he kind of -- we kind of have to -- kind of agree on one line, but he helps me read them. That is not my strength.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: He is 21.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yes, I did.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I actually was about to hit my second shot, I turned to Joey, I am, like, I was: Hey, there is George Bush down there. He is like: Oh, are you going to hit the shot or what? He was, like: What are you doing? (laughter). But, I saw him out there because I couldn't miss all those black suits, all the secret service out there. You could see them right on line. It was cool. I didn't get to wave at him, though.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: That was on 16.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Right.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: No. I think it is more wins and losses, haven't been very many. I think the last two that I have been in I have won. One was in the Eastern Championship. That was 12th hole sudden-death playoffs. We went to 12 holes. Ended up making a long putt - was a 35-footer up a tier and it went in. And, then, the second one was just for like a local women's golf association event near my -- in my hometown and there, I also made a putt kind of to save par on the first playoff hole. That was like a 15-footer, so, it has gone pretty well. I have been pretty lucky.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: So far. The 2 that I can remember.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Not really. I haven't really thought about it. I don't know, I am looking -- I really am looking forward to going back to school, though.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: He came over like in 1971, 1972 and he immediately got interested in the game. He didn't -- when we were probably like one -- since we could walk he used to sneak us out like on the public course to play a couple of holes. We actually got kicked off a couple of times. But so since then my dad -- my dad is absolutely crazy about the game. He goes out in all kinds of weather and freezing temperatures and just, anything he will be out there. He would play all day if he could. But -- and he enjoys -- our -- we enjoy it as a family. We used to have a foursome until the little one came along. But -- so now we have to kind of split the time between like my mom and Jimmy, the little one.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah, he plays too. He has played in a couple of tournaments too. He played before us. When he was two he played in his first, probably a one-hole thing about 30 yards; he has played in his first tournament and played ever since. It is part of our family, I guess.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: No, I don't remember.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yes.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yes.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: My dad is probably like a 9 or 8 handicap. My mom is probably more like a 16 or 17.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Beyond golf? I don't know, basically when I do have time, I really enjoy spending it with my friends and, you know, what do I do? Gosh, I like to watch sports, so, that is why I like being at school. I enjoy it, like the basketball games and I guess -- I don't get very much time off from golf. But, I like to do a lot of things like -- I don't know, I kind of do a lot of random stuff. I like to read a little and then listen to music and then just kind of relax. I played with the UVA golf ball today.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I did. It was -- this was funny because I played with a friend of mine, Louis Chitengwa, he is from UVA because I worked the UVA Golf Camp last week, we had a putting contest, the bet was if I lost, to play a UVA golf ball in the final round of the Open. And I lost it. So I don't know if anyone noticed, but --

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: It was a big V on the ball. And he had an amateur tournament that he was going to play in that he had to play a Duke ball had I won, but I didn't -- I was on his putting green too.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah, he played a lot of -- he played soccer and kind of on his free time he played ping pong is his did.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I don't know, he played a lot like in college, not for a team, though, but he enjoy -- he has been a really big athlete, you know, he loves sports and he got -- every chance he got when he was growing up he used to -- he kind of snuck out and either played soccer, shoot pool, played ping pong, like his mom didn't want him to do that when he was growing up, but he got out there. So he has been the athlete in the family since we have grown up.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah, Ted Sheftic is his name. I have been with him for a long time, since I was about 12 or 13, so he has been -- he has done wonders for me. I don't think I could have done it without him. But he has really taken me in as a student and really done all he can for me. He works at Hanover Country Club in Hanover, Pennsylvania.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah, he is good player from Zimbabwe, actually.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: C-h-i-t-e-n-g-w-a. He is a good college golfer. Probably turning pro later on.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Probably a Playing Ball. Maybe the UVA ball again. I have a dozen of them (laughter).

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Only used two, so...

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah, we had bunkbeds, but the restaurant is kind of set up kind of -- it is set up as a house, so, there is an upper level to it and we stay there probably less than a year, just while the restaurant got started and --

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: We helped out a little bit.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: What did we do? Gosh, we did -- we kind of did the cash register and I helped a little like with the appetizers and soups and sometimes I hosted. But we kind of did everything. Actually dish washing was what we had to do. I can't believe I forgot that. (laughs) That was the job.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Probably starting at 8, we lived there, third grade.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: It is great. Not to be biased but I love Thai food so....

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Oh, yes, they closed since Wednesday and then we are normally closed on Mondays, so, they just need to get a later flight home.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: See, they have American names, which is Paul and Edy, but I like to give their Thai names, my dad name is Supoj, and my mom's name is Pornpimol; I like those names better.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: My Thai name or --

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: No, I don't -- actually it used to be like it -- my parents -- my dad's parents came from China, so, when they got to Thailand they kind of adjusted the name to be Thai, because the Thai names are naturally pretty long, so, I think it used to be like Sachua (ph); they changed it to Chuasiriporn.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Actually on my birth certificate at that time it is not even Jenny. It is Wanalee, so that is what is on everything.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I think it means Great Forest or something like that, Deep Forest, something Forest.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Stay out of the woods.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Oh, yeah, the ticket booklet.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I noticed there was a Monday.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Just the normal like ticket badge or the ticket stubs that you have to wear and we both saw Monday, just from when we first got it and all week we couldn't figure out what it was for. And finally on - I don't remember what hole it was - but probably on the back 9, I turn today him -- I finally figured it out. I was like: Oh, it is for a playoff, the Monday is --

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I always knew there was an 18-hole playoff. It didn't -- I don't know why, it just didn't click. I was wondering why people wanted to come back Monday.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: What did we do? My little brother wanted to go go-cart racing, so we did that one night. We saw fireworks the night before, and we didn't do much. Basically we just -- we hung around here to watch. My parents went back out to watch. For me, I just relaxed, you know, watched a little bit of TV.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Actually one of them drove in this morning from Ohio, an old teammate. He just graduated and so that was only one and another teammate of mine from Minnesota was supposed to come, but she didn't drive in.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah, I thought about it. I knew I had to hit some goods shots, though, coming in. But after -- on 14, my approach shot, I thought -- I really thought it was going to happen, like I just -- I really felt it. I was hitting the ball solid and then it was going where I wanted it to. So really wasn't fighting anything. Just had to play my own game.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: About eight feet.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: It lipped out.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Probably. Definitely.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I guess over the past year it has -- last year I had trouble putting all three rounds together, all four rounds together. I would always have like one mediocre round, but the latter part of the spring season I was really beginning to play well and usually like if I play in tournaments consistently, I usually start playing better, like it is the breaks that I take that kind of set me back a little bit. But, this is probably the best I have played overall.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: I didn't know that.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Probably, yeah, because I mean, I hit the ball well. Gosh, I didn't know that. But that is kind of neat to hear. I have always been a pretty good ball-striker and I have always relied on hitting a lot of greens, hitting a lot of fairways and greens, and I guess that has really helped me out.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Yeah, I mean, out here you just have to hit the greens, so it is really to my advantage, I guess.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: No, not really. I don't know, I just try to keep it simple, not really. I don't really get upset because there is not really -- nothing to get upset about.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: No, not at all. Not at all. I don't play that way.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: The Bangkok Place?

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Oh, we just ordered Chinese out. We ate on the car watching the fireworks.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: What restaurant?

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: It was the Chinese carry-out in town. I don't know what it is called. We have done that -- we did that for two nights, three nights. Just something quick.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Thank you.

JENNY CHUASIRIPORN: Thanks.