THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

March 29, 1997

Steve Elkington

STEVE ELKINGTON: You know, my bogey-bogey finish didn't -- I mean, it was not what I wanted, but it didn't upset me if -- I played so well today. I really felt like I played well. Didn't spoil my dinner, but it almost did. Want me to go through the round?

STEVE ELKINGTON: I started on -- let's see, driver on 1, a sand wedge to two feet, birdie. 2: A driver and a 3-wood just short of the green. Chipped on to about 6 feet, birdie. 3: I hit 7-iron to about 10 feet, birdie. 4: Driver, 9-iron, 2 putts, 30 feet. 5: Driver, 9-iron, 20 feet, 2 putts. 6: Driver, wedge, 4 feet birdie. 7: Driver, 9-iron, 20 feet, 2-putt par. 8: 5-iron, two putts from 20 feet. 9: Driver, 4-iron, sand wedge just short left, chipped up, 4 feet par. 10: 3-wood, wedge, 2 feet birdie. 11: Driver, 4-iron, wedge, 10 feet, birdie. 12: Hit a 3-wood in the recover, went over the green, chipped back to -- bad chip maybe 20 feet, maybe 2-putt bogey. 13: 5-iron to 25 feet, 2-putt par. 14: Driver, 6-iron, just short in a bad spot; chipped down, 15 feet, par, made that. 15: Driver 8-iron, 20 feet 2-putt par. 16: I drove right, hit a wedge out; then a 7-iron about 15 feet, birdie. 17: I didn't know what to hit on that hole. 9-iron, 40, 50 feet or whatever; 3-putted. And, 18, I hit a 3-wood, 2-iron -- I mean, a chip down to maybe 10 feet, bogey.

STEVE ELKINGTON: Okay, I'm gone. (audience laughter)

STEVE ELKINGTON: Yeah, it started out gusty for us, and then it seemed like in the middle of the round, it just stopped. And, then towards the end, it picked up again. I think that was probably the -- we probably had the best of it really playing late. The boys played in the wind all morning. It was probably to our benefit, scoringwise, in the front nine. The 18th hole is playing long just now. And, 17, you know, is really tricky. You never know what to do there.

STEVE ELKINGTON: Well, good.

STEVE ELKINGTON: Well, I'm just playing my game. I'm not really concerned about, you know, what everyone else is doing. You know, I realize that I'm hitting the ball where is ideal. You know a lot of these holes, I'm staying away from trouble very well and hitting, you know, some great iron-shots, so, I realize that. I also realize that the scoring is not really doing anything. So, the guys aren't finding it easy. I'm not finding it easy. I'm just playing very good and hitting the shots where needed. You know, it's going to be plenty of work cut out tomorrow. Tomorrow will be tomorrow. But, today was, you know, a good day to reflect on me because I played so well. You know, I basically needed to do what I did today and I was pleased in that regard.

STEVE ELKINGTON: Like I said, tomorrow is tomorrow. You can't tell what's going to happen. You know, obviously if I play good, I probably got to beat one guy, you know, one or two guys or three guys. If I play not so good, then I bring in more. So, everyone is hoping I'm not playing good tomorrow. So, you know, even the guys that are down there at 6, 7, 8 9, whatever, will have to shoot a hell of a round anyway. So, I think it's shortened, who can win tomorrow, a little bit by the way I played today; plus the way the other field played. So, in that regard, it's good.

STEVE ELKINGTON: Not really. I mean I'm -- you know, I feel like I'm swinging well, and the ball is going pretty much where I'm aiming. I'm moving it around pretty good. I'm hitting slices and hooks when I need to. You know, I feel like it's in pretty good control.

STEVE ELKINGTON: You know, it's hard to say. I'm playing well and I'm doing good putting and good chipping and good thinking. I've had good tournaments where I've hit the ball well and not done that well, so it's hard to say.

STEVE ELKINGTON: Practicing --

STEVE ELKINGTON: Well, just I've been working on my putting. I always do. I think, you know, usually when I'm playing well, I'm putting pretty good. And, you know, I'm putting good right now. I think putting, you know, comes and goes a little bit for a lot of players. And, you know, I feel comfortable with what I'm doing right now. I mean, it's no secret.

STEVE ELKINGTON: No, not really. I mean, those holes are hard, you know. You can make bogey-bogey easy coming in here. So, it would be different if I was playing, you know, downwind or something, and made the last hole I was playing into the wind, off the left. I had a 3-wood and a 2-iron, and I was kind of aiming my 2-iron to the right anyway. I didn't want to go left. I tried that out on Thursday. And, you know, I figure the worst I can make is 5, so I'm still in good shape. I mean, at this point I'm not really protecting the lead. I'm just trying to finish my round. I'm not going ruin my round with making a double or whatever. You know, I made bogey at 17. But, I hit a pretty good second putt. It's pretty bumpy up around that hole. I don't know if you all have been up there. It gets pretty trampled up on top because everybody on that green has to exit the same way and enter the same way on that green. So, it gets pretty tracked along my line where I was going in. I thought it would break right. It was pretty windy out there too, so it's hard to keep steady.

STEVE ELKINGTON: Probably 3 feet, maybe less.

STEVE ELKINGTON: Well, I think it's always different, you know, I've had some good rounds on Sundays. You know, it's hard to tell. You know, you try to prepare yourself well, and if you get in position, you know, you have to try to take advantage. I mean, I'm playing well. I feel like I'm playing well. There's no reason I'm not going to play well tomorrow. You know, I'll let it rip. Don't worry.

STEVE ELKINGTON: I don't know. I don't know. I don't think that I have. I did when I won at the Buick Southern.