WGC AMERICAN EXPRESS CHAMPIONSHIP

November 4, 1999

Mark James

MARK JAMES: Delightful.

MARK JAMES: I've been playing right for most of the year. I didn't play particularly well today, I didn't 3-putt and I hit it pretty close on the greens. I struggled through and made a pretty good save at the last, as well.

MARK JAMES: I think my average score was about 78.

MARK JAMES: Yes, definitely overachieved. I'm certainly not overconfident.

MARK JAMES: I've spoken to all of them I've bumped into. We haven't discussed the Ryder Cup. I think everyone said all they want to say. And I think we're leaving it as it is now. And some of us are probably agreeing to disagree on certain aspects. But I think the time for discussing what we've done is gone. And we're all trying to get on with playing golf.

MARK JAMES: The last time I 3-putted? I didn't 3-putt today. I don't know, I had 37 putts the first two rounds last week, 34 the last round. I've got about 12, 3-putts probably last week.

MARK JAMES: Yes, but I only had two long putts, I think. One hit six feet short, one eight feet past.

MARK JAMES: Since when?

MARK JAMES: I used 2 or 3 last week. I'm using one today that I finished off last week with, purely because it's shorter, when I put it in the bag, I can't see it. (Laughter).

MARK JAMES: Because I'm a slow learner.

MARK JAMES: I thought it wouldn't affect me too badly, because I can switch off from things. And on the course I'm not one to concentrate for four and a half hours, I can lose my tempo and just switch back in a couple of seconds. I thought I would be able to cope with it. It was still a nice surprise when I started playing well early on this year. If I putted a bit better, I really would have had a very good year. From tee-to-green I've been fairly safe and pretty solid. So it's pleasing, really.

MARK JAMES: It depends on exactly how bad this gets. A sort of day when you shoot 77, it's hard to come back. This is one course where a good player can come back. I've seen people shoot 62, which seems more incredible when you come here. You have to be a really good golfer on this course.

MARK JAMES: I think it's a question of desire. When you've been doing the same thing that involves an awful lot of traveling and work for 20, 25 years, it starts to get a bit wearing. And as you get older you have to -- you lose -- if you're not careful you can lose your fitness. To play the same number of tournaments now as I did when I was 23, I have to work out a lot to maintain the level of fitness so I can practice and stay alert on the course. And that all takes time. And also you get to an age where you have other things you want to do, other distractions. It does get more difficult. But I think the fact that a player is of a certain age should not preclude him from playing to a certain standard. But things do tend to get in the way.

MARK JAMES: I think they've always thought themselves a fraternity, and we've always been pretty close.

MARK JAMES: No, I think it was -- it could have been. 6, just off the right of the green, chipped up, 2-putts. 8, driver, sand wedge to 6 feet, 1-putt. 9, driver, 5-iron, short, chipped to 6 feet, two putts. 11, driver, 4-iron, 6-iron, 15 feet, 1-putt. 13, driver, 5-iron to two feet, 1-putt. 14, 2-iron, 5-iron, 2 feet, 1-putt.

MARK JAMES: I start off the day with -- I reach over and press down the alarm. And I jog to the bathroom.

MARK JAMES: I don't really have a daily thing. I work out relatively little when I'm on Tour, and I stopped running a couple of months ago, so I've done very little of it. Early in the year when we're near beaches or in hotels with good gyms I'll work out. I work out at home nearly every day, there's no other way. If you want to compete with guys that are 23, you have to be fit, if not fitter, than they are. It's as simple as that.

MARK JAMES: Not really, no. I go to the gym. If I do it at home, I get fed up after ten minutes and go to the fridge.