DORAL-RYDER OPEN

March 4, 1999

Esteban Toledo

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: I think I birdied 16 and 17. 16, I hit a driver and a wedge about twelve feet, made it for birdie. On 17 I made it from likes 25 feet.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: On 4 --

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: Yes, on 6 I hit a driver and sand wedge about five feet, made it for birdie. Then I hit it on 8 and 2-putted for birdie.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: It was kind of cold in the morning and kind of windy, but it wasn't that easy out there in the morning. I think the ball flies a little shorter and it wasn't that easy the first five, six holes I start kind of off, missed the fairway on 10 right away. I made a 10-footer for par at the first hole and it was kind of tough. But after 15 -- 16th hole I took control. I was hitting it on the fairway, making good putts. I was hitting great shots to the flag from 16 to 18. And then all in the back 9 I hit it pretty well. Kind of helped me because I was putting great. Last four weeks I have been putting something terrible. Almost decided to quit this game, but it is all putting. I made maybe 27 putts and that keep me going for the next three days: Yesterday I was practicing at least five hours on the putting green and that helped me a lot.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: I don't look until the last hole at No. 9, but I don't even pay attention about that score, because the scoreboard makes me kind of nervous and I wasn't thinking anything. I just -- I was shooting birdies, I was shooting good shots at the flag and I know if I can get it 5-under, I will be pretty close to the top, so I was surprised when I was 4-under. I was numb 1.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: No, no. My dream was to be a boxer not a golfer. Golf is just kind of, you know, second sport to me and I have been in situations like this before. In the Bell South Classic last year I pulled out the last two days, but I don't know, I am not nervous out there. I just play the game one shot at a time and I have been struggling for the last four weeks, but finally I got lucky last week, made the cut and got a little confidence back and I want to keep going the next three days hopefully, because I am expecting a baby any minute, so I might leave. So I don't know hopefully my wife will never call me. But if my wife calls me, I have to go.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: We are expecting a little baby girl any minute. So I took my chance to be here. Last year I missed the cut by, I don't know, I shot 80, 72 and I told my wife I wanted to play the Doral because I have a little match with the golf course, a little rematch and it is a tough golf course, one of the toughest courses I have ever played. I know I could play a little better this year.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: She is in my house in California, but she is expecting a baby any minute.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: No, I said, well, if she called me and she is going to deliver, I have got to go.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: No, but any minute. Any minute.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: No, I don't. If she doesn't call me. Somebody will. I have to go.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: I have to go.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: Yes. I mean what is money, what is life if your wife is in pain? It is more important that I go home and spend time with my wife instead of playing golf up here.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: It is very difficult because I never been in that situation before, so, this is my first baby and I am really excited about it and every single day I call home, maybe four, five, six times a day and I have been asking her if she feels okay and she have been saying fine, I am okay, I am in pain, but I will be okay, kind of make me really sad because I mean, here I am playing golf with the best in the world and she is in pain at home. So it is -- it kind of feels sad for her and she has been telling me to hang in there and maybe I will win this week. But I don't really care about winning right now. I just want to make sure my wife is okay, my baby.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: Just a few minutes ago. She is okay.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: Yes. Everyday.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: You know, my family, it is very important to me 100% and I have to go. I know if I play well tomorrow at least I say: Hey, I made the cut. So it is not going to be official money, but my wife will be more important.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: Yeah, you know, last year I finished with a 72 on Friday and it kind of make me feel better before I left this golf course, but I don't know, you know, I -- I am the kind of guy who missed the cut one year and I really want to go back again and play well, that course. It is kind of -- that is the way I am. I like to go out, I don't like to back up for anything.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: Supposed to be next two days, I think.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: I will give it all to her. I just want her to know that I am there for her and I want to make sure she knows that I am 100% that I want to leave, but for whatever reason she say no, I go whatever she say. I don't want to go home and she goes after me for something that I -- so, we will see what happen. I am real excited about this tournament. I think this tournament is great. The people are just terrific but my family is No. 1.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: She said she will call up here and they are going to get me. I have a free ticket, so can fly any time I want to. So that is kind of nice.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: Good question. I still don't know. I am in the golf course, I am thinking, oh, my gosh, she is going to call me and she is going to call me and I can't describe this. I guess God is putting me the energy in my mind and brain that, you know, that I hang in there. It is tough. I have been talking to my caddie a lot about my wife and my wife, all 18 holes and it is just very difficult.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: Irvine.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: Coleen.

ESTEBAN TOLEDO: Eden Coleen, just like her mother.