U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 11, 1999

Ed Dougherty

ED DOUGHERTY: Eichelberger won this golf tournament. I didn't blow it. I played pretty good. It is a major championship. I came in second. I didn't accomplish what I wanted to, but I did pretty damn good.

ED DOUGHERTY: It a feather in my cap in the sense that I can say I led the Open in the three days. Probably only tournament in the Senior that is not a three-day tournament. I want to talk to the USGA guys about that. There is not a golfer in America that doesn't go on the range and envision a practice shot, saying: This is for the Open; this putt is to tie the Open - I just lived that dream so I thank the USGA for running a great tournament. And I just wasn't good enough today, that is all.

ED DOUGHERTY: 14, I thought I could hit an 8-iron on that plateau. It has like a false front. When I hit the ball, I swept it. I didn't pinch it. I put a lot of spin on it. Came back down. I chipped it up which was an accomplishment because if I did not hit it hard enough it could come back down that plateau I got it on top. I have about a, I would say eight or nine-footer. I watched Hale's putt go by the hole - just trickling -- ended up like eight foot by. For some reason, I am ready to putt. I couldn't get that out of my mind. I was just sort of lagging. I was trying to make bogey there in the sense that -- because if I goosed that putt, I could have had a 10-footer or something and as a result I hit a very poor putt; probably the worst putt I hit all week. And then I had like two or three-footer and I thought I made that one, maybe I hit it too hard. It went out one end came -- or in one end came out the other. And I had a chance to make birdie on 15. I just didn't hit it hard enough. 16, I hit a good drive. I was in the divot and I hit a good 9-iron. I almost made birdie. 17 I thought I hit good shot. Now I am in a situation that I didn't want to be; I wanted to, you know, I had to make some birdies. 17, I thought I hit a good shot. I saw the ball land on the green, I saw it go up; I pick up my tee; I honestly thought I was 10, 12-foot when I walked on the green. My ball was on the back fringe. That putt fooled me. I didn't play par 3s very good evidently. I can't fool me.

ED DOUGHERTY: No, I didn't watch the leaderboard. I was pretty proud of the way I played today to be honest with you. Hale is a great guy to play with in the sense that I mean, his record is, you know, speaks for itself, so I told him it's an honor to play with him. I do feel that way. Everybody -- it was a good day. I had a great day. I just didn't win the tournament, but I had a great time.

ED DOUGHERTY: I don't want to speak for the USGA but I will imagine it will be back here some day. I just think it is great, honestly. I will take these memories home about people cheering and it was great. They were equally for Hale. Everybody was behind somebody and I think that is great for a sporting event and this is major leagues here. I really do. It was great, honestly, take nothing but good memories home from Des Moines.