U.S. WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

June 2, 1996

Cristie Kerr

CRISTIE KERR: It feels great. I didn't expect it. Maria had me by six shots coming into today. I just went out with a game plan, hit good shots, and give yourself putts at it. I had been putting good all week. I hit a few more greens today.

CRISTIE KERR: I don't think the course is playing any softer than any of the other previous days. It was actually playing a little bit different than any other day, and that's usual for the golf course. I played three practice rounds Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, and the golf course played differently every day. And as that is true, it's true today, because it played differently today than any other day.

CRISTIE KERR: No. Unfortunately, I have to go home tomorrow and get a wisdom tooth taken out, and I have to take finals.

CRISTIE KERR: Yeah, I tripled 2. I hit it way right and chipped out into the first cut of rough, which is right off the fairway, and I hit a bit too much club into the back bunker, and I couldn't see my ball walking up to the green. And I'm like, God, just give me a good lie, because the pin is real tight off the green. And I walked up and I noticed that it was about six feet from the downhill lip of the bunker, so I just said, oh, geez, and proceeded to try and get it out. Didn't get it out. And almost made the putt, but I made triple.

CRISTIE KERR: I birdied 1. I birdied No. 5, the par 3. That was --

CRISTIE KERR: I was happy with that one.

CRISTIE KERR: I hit a 3-iron to about pin high left, about 25, 30 feet or so. I birdied No. 12. I hit it about a foot. 13, I hit it about six feet and made it. And then 18 --

CRISTIE KERR: I was happy with that.

CRISTIE KERR: I guess that would be the '94 Sprint. Yeah, it's a lot different now. I'm two years older, and I would think a little bit more mature, and a lot more comfortable playing out here. I've had a lot of experience in amateur tournaments and mini tour events and junior golf, as you know, and I just find that each time I'm out here I'm becoming a little bit more comfortable in playing in the circumstances and learning how to play within myself and not worrying about what the leader board says or what this putt means or what the shot means. I try and just play every shot for what it is. I think I'm becoming a little bit more comfortable out here.

CRISTIE KERR: Well, that's what makes you win tournaments, like Annika is doing right now. It's almost like she's on cruise control and she's making no mistakes. That's what has to happen to win major championships. That's what she did last year, and that's what she's doing now. As far as a player playing with her -- you mean if I was Brandie Burton playing with her?

CRISTIE KERR: I think Brandie has to play her own game. I would be playing my own game. Of course it's going to be frustrating if none of the putts are dropping for you and every putt is dropping for her, but you have to go out and play your own game and congratulate the winner at the end.

CRISTIE KERR: Hopefully with a lot of hard work and a lot of mistakes and learning from those mistakes, that I can hopefully one day be contending in a major championship. Maybe I should be looking at the TV screen. (Laughter.)

CRISTIE KERR: It's one of the climaxes. I'm playing in the Curtis Cup and representing the United States with seven other people. I would say that this is, if not, more equal to that.

CRISTIE KERR: Coming back from the Curtis Cup, and I know I'm going to play some tournaments, but I'm not sure exactly which ones they are. But coming back on the plane, I'm pro, I guess that's how it is.

CRISTIE KERR: Yes. Or the day after, if you will.

CRISTIE KERR: I've pretty much known since I've started, since I was nine. I used to watch Nancy Lopez on the television, and all those great players, and I used to say, wow. I used to go up to them and get autographs and say maybe this is what I want to do. And God knows I've worked hard, and with his help I can hopefully achieve that goal one day.

CRISTIE KERR: I plan to go. But the only reason I didn't go is because academically for me it's hard for me to accept that I wouldn't put all my efforts into my academics, because I have over a 4.0 average in high school. And for me to go and do that with half an effort and try and do golf full effort and maybe not succeed at that, then I don't think I would have given it my all.

CRISTIE KERR: Well, I'm hoping just to get playing and get used to tournament conditions and playing like that. I'm hopefully going to just get my game in shape, really, for the qualifying school.

CRISTIE KERR: As far as I know LPGA allows you to get four. And from what I understand, what I believe to be true, even if I qualify for an event, that's my spot in the event. So I've played this year in the Healthsouth, the Dinah Shore and the Sprint, which I was invited to, so I'm allowed one more. Hopefully I'll get one. I don't know which one that will be. And this Open, of course, does not count for those exemptions.

CRISTIE KERR: I think it was -- actually, it was my father said to me -- I actually asked my dad, what would it take for you to back me in my decision to turn pro, if that's what I wanted to do when I was a senior in high school? He said it would not only have to be his decision, but a number of other people that are close to me, like my family and maybe my golf teacher. He said to me that I would have to at least win a mini tour event and some major amateur events. And I think it was at the Women's Western Amateur Tournament this year when I prevailed in the final that I actually realized that I could do this.