Q. You had a horrible first round here last year. What was the difference for you this year?
DENISE KILLEEN: Last year was a difficult year for me. About this time, I found out my dad was dying, so that kind of didn't set me off on a good foot right here for this tournament. I actually started out to a pretty good year last year and had that undoing about this exact same time last year.
So, I kind of muddled my way through the year and worked pretty hard this winter to kind of resurrect things. I decided I either had to quit or work a little harder and become a little stronger and fix the things that needed fixing. I think that hard work is maybe paying off.
Q. Did your dad end up passing away?
DENISE KILLEEN: Right after this tournament. It was very quick.
Q. This year has been kind of hit or miss for you, hasn't it?
DENISE KILLEEN: I started playing pretty well about three weeks ago, and I think was just exhausted for the Augusta tournament. I played well in Atlanta and Williamsburg. I have two kids, so it's hard for me to play three or four weeks in a row. I think my children take that much more out of me mentally and emotionally than maybe other people have to deal with. Up until that point, it had been a little sketchy, but I think my game is turning around, and I think, you know, the hard work that I had done and the good play that I had in those three tournaments is a turn-around. I'm fresh off a week off. Life's okay right now.
Q. Did you pay much attention to what Annika was doing today?
DENISE KILLEEN: Actually, I came through 15, and I saw the scoreboard, and my teacher is caddying for me for a couple days, and it was kind of neat to see.
Q. Is it especially satisfying playing well here after last year?
DENISE KILLEEN: Yeah, I wanted to come back here and play well. My dad was a big supporter of this.
Q. Do you think the jumbotron at 18 is going to be a distraction for players?
DENISE KILLEEN: I hope she's there on the weekend and it's a distraction. I think it's kind of neat and is motivating for players to look up there and see her playing. It's the best players in the whole world. I think it's a great accomplishment. I hope she is around on the weekend and is playing.
Q. Are you going to go back now and watch Annika play?
DENISE KILLEEN: I have a couple things to work on and then probably go get my kids and go back. I'll take a little break right now, but, yeah, I would like to watch some of her. I think a lot of people are fascinated with it. I think it's fascinating.
Q. The weather forecast for the weekend is pretty rough, so is there a sense of urgency today since it's nice out?
DENISE KILLEEN: Well, you kind of feel like you need to get off on a good start. It's not supposed to be very nice today. Hopefully we will get lucky, and it will go around. I should have been more prepared. I didn't bring the right clothes.
End of FastScripts....
