ASAHI RYOKUKEN INTERNATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP

September 20, 2001

Laura Diaz

LAURA DIAZ: Who did that?

LAURA DIAZ: Oh. On Friday night I flew out of Portland, well, Friday afternoon I flew out of Portland home to Jacksonville on Delta. And I came up here on Sunday. Well I actually came to Atlanta on Sunday and then up here on Monday.

LAURA DIAZ: Right. I had thought about doing it myself. But I figured we were probably pretty safe coming from Portland to Atlanta. If we had been going the opposite direction I might have had a few worries. By no means was I happy getting on the plane, but I didn't want to make a four day trip either.

LAURA DIAZ: No, I did not take the charter. I flew on Delta.

LAURA DIAZ: Felt pretty good about my round today. Went out with no expectations and finished with a 67. So pretty happy with that. The course was playing good and I'm ready for the next three days.

LAURA DIAZ: No, not really. We have a tendency to take it low out here. So I'm never surprised when I see low numbers on the board.

LAURA DIAZ: Play seemed slow? Is that what you said?

LAURA DIAZ: No, I don't agree. This is the pace we play at every week. So it wasn't really a factor. In fact, I didn't really notice it much at all. So I thought pace was okay. I might complaint normally, but I really won't today. And I think it's also okay out there. I don't think anyone minds as much because that gives us a little more time to get to our ball and breathe.

LAURA DIAZ: Well, honored definitely. Those are the two top players in the world. Honored to have been even brought up in that subject area. That's great. I still have to go out there and win. So I'm glad that I'm playing well and I appreciate the support of my peers. That's great.

LAURA DIAZ: I started on 10. I can't remember my first birdie. So we're going to go on the front nine first. Is that okay? The 7th hole I hit 8-iron to three feet. It was playing about 143. The 8th hole I hit 8-iron to about three feet. That was 135. 13 I cannot remember for the life of me. Nine I didn't birdie. Give me a second on 13. 16 I hit sand wedge to about 12 feet. From like 50 yards out. 17 I hit 7-iron to about 10 feet. I had 147 to the pin. 13? Anybody know what the 13th hole is? I cannot remember that first birdie that I made. It's a par-5 and then, 12 is a par-5 and then 13. I can see the hole after it. Oh, yes. Yes. I hit 7-iron, I had 147 to the pin and -- no, no, I had more than that to the pin. I had 157 to the pin. 7-iron. Hit that to about five feet. It took me awhile but I got it.

LAURA DIAZ: I think in golf it's totally different. I don't think any of us really look to be up with Karrie and Annika. I don't think that's a goal. Every week we go out and we try and beat the golf course. It's such an individual sport that my goals are totally individual. I want to win golf tournaments and I would love to be in the Hall of Fame. That's my main goal. So I just really am looking forward to that first win and getting started on my way into achieving the goal of Hall of Fame.

LAURA DIAZ: I got to tell you, any tournament, any place in the world. I think that there would be a specialness to this week because my in-laws live in McCormick and I've got a lot of their friends and family out following. So that would make it special. But I got to tell you that whenever it comes, it's going to be pretty special to me.

LAURA DIAZ: Back to that last question, the other part that would make it really special here is that my husband is caddying for me. And that's a one or two time a year kind of thing. So those things all combined would make it special. McCormick. I've been there twice now and my in-laws have only lived there a year, so they have a lot of friends. In a year they got a lot of friends. And they happened to see the T-shirts on TV and they wanted to be part of Laura's Legions, so somehow there'll be 60 of Laura's Legions out here at some point this week. So that's great. McCormick is a really small place, I guess. And they live in Savannah Lakes and that's really where every one comes from.

LAURA DIAZ: I don't think so because every single player on this Tour has been affected by what happened in New York City and at the Pentagon. I mean everyone's been affected by the tragedy. So I think whoever wins by all means it will definitely be dedicated to all those people who have lost their lives and who are suffering from losing their loved ones. Thanks.