THE SOLHEIM CUP

October 21, 1994

Mickey Walker

MICKEY WALKER: I need to say that I am absolutely delighted that we are 3-2 ahead at the end of the first day. I thought there was some wonderful golf out there, some wonderful matches and the three points that Europe won; and the way in which they won them, I thought was magnificent. So I am delighted. The team is delighted and obviously in good spirits, and very much looking forward to tomorrow. I will be happy to answer any questions. I really don't have a lot more to say than that. I am sure you can imagine that I feel pretty happy.

MICKEY WALKER: I don't know that there were any -- nothing the European players would do that would surprise me in terms of turning on brilliance, if you like, they are -- as the American players are -- the 20 best players in the world and they are all great golfers, so they are all capable of playing some great golf. And match play inspires you on to greater things. The Solheim Cup certainly inspires certain people to greater things. I think Catrin Nilsmark, for example, she just was magnificent today and the 3-putt she holed on 16, 17 and 18, and the shots that Annika hit on 16 and 17 were absolutely wonderful. And I think beating Beth and Meg was an absolutely fantastic victory. In those three middle matches, 2 of them birdied 16 and 17 and Dale and Lora birdied 17 to win their matches and throughout the day, looking up at the score boards and obviously listening on my ear piece to what was happening, it was incredible how many swings there were. Early on, it felt and looked as if the Americans were getting ahead and then it looked as if Europe was coming back and we were ahead in more matches; then it looked like after, almost immediately after Dottie and Brandie won their match, it wasn't looking that great for Europe and then as I say in the space of a very short time, it suddenly really swung. I mean, there was a five minute spell when Dale and Lora were playing 16 -- sorry, when they were playing -- yeah, when they hit their tee shots on 17 and then Laura hit a magnificent 8-iron into 16; then suddenly I thought we are going to get at least 3 points, I mean it swung around, I would say four, five times today.

MICKEY WALKER: I think it was hugely psychological. The match was all square with 3 to go. Annika, I think, in particular, was very nervous understandably starting off and they quickly went two down to Beth and Meg and they came back brilliantly. I think it was very, very important. I mean, if it had been half a point, it would have been much more significant than just half the point as it were.

MICKEY WALKER: Absolutely wonderful. Fairclough and Annika performed magnificently out there. Lora Fairclough, she was nervous at the start and once they got underway, I chatted to her a couple of times out there on the course and she really was having a good time and really enjoying it. She had a great time with Dale and was quite relaxed after the match got underway.

MICKEY WALKER: Yes, wonderful. Another player -- she holed -- although both Kelly and Tammie and Dale and Lora made a bit of a mess of 16, I mean, she still holed a wonderful putt, four, five footer for a half. I mean, she had to hole it to make Kelly hole hers. She made a wonderful putt there and although she prob -- well, she didn't have to hole it. They had 2 putts for the match on 17; another wonderful putt. I was mentally telling her to get it closer and she finally knocked it in.

MICKEY WALKER: Not especially.

MICKEY WALKER: Not especially. I mean, I think after Europeans have an advantage in foursomes because we play a lot of it but professionals don't play any of it apart from The Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup, etcetera, so it is not something we are particularly familiar with; although, probably, most of the people in the European team have played foursomes, whereas maybe some of the Americans maybe haven't and it is a difficult format if you are struggling with any part of your game, it is very difficult to get it going.

MICKEY WALKER: I have spoken to Lotte since her match finished and she knows she didn't play that well and she has been out practicing and feels confident again and as I have just said, I think foursomes is such a difficult format; I think she will be a different person playing tomorrow playing her own ball.

MICKEY WALKER: She had 7 birdies the second day when they beat Dottie and Cathy Gerring.

MICKEY WALKER: I am sure everybody in the European team would agree that really there are two pairings that I could play tomorrow, either Alison, Laura or Lotte and Helen and I just felt that just like to switch them with Lotte and Helen not having such a wonderful day, as I say, I don't think they will have any problems. I don't think Lotte will have a problem tomorrow when she is playing her own ball. I just felt that it was the right thing that Laura and Alison should lead the team tomorrow.

MICKEY WALKER: I understand what you are saying, but I don't necessarily agree. If you are ahead, somebody has got to win more points to beat you, and I am delighted we are ahead and the team is delighted and feeling very positive about tomorrow.