U.S. WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 2, 2001

Meredith Duncan

MEREDITH DUNCAN: Thank you.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: I am very tired. It was hotter today for some reason.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: Yeah, that's what it was. There were some breeze this morning, but this afternoon it was just hot period.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: 5"1'.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: And a half.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: I love it when my feet don't touch the floor.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: I played really solid. I just hit my fairways and hit a lot of greens, made the birdie when they were close, and otherwise made pars.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: This morning I had really tough match.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: Right, she played well. She made a lot of like clutch putts. On 15, I had, let's see, oh a 20-footer for par and she was off the green. I knocked my birdie putt up, tapped my putt in for par and she makes about a 25-footer to save par, so she made some tough putts.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: Through this week, definitely because I didn't-- definitely didn't play any slouches, that's for sure. I played two really good players and they tested me.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: With, I mean I knew I was playing well. I knew I was playing well enough to go far, you know, to go a long way. Obviously I want to win, but I just -- I am taking it, you know, one hole at a time. That's all I can do. I don't like to look too far ahead of myself because once I start doing that, you know, I can't do anything about it now. Only thing I can do now is, you know, what is in front of me. So obviously I want to win but I am just taking it one shot at a time.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: I have just hit the ball really solid and I have hit a lot more greens and I have hit a lot more greens closer to the hole, you know, like I have just hit it a lot closer I have made more birdies, my putter, I have been putting really well.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: Yeah I have worked on my putting for -- that's a continuous work in progress, because you can't ever putt well enough. So I have been working just on getting good rhythm and working on reading the greens.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: No. Not a poor putter. I just -- I didn't make enough birdies, you know, I would consistently have 31, 32 putts a round, you know, and I'd hit 16 greens. So was hitting a lot of greens, just not making enough of the birdies. Now that five to six foot range, you know, I have got it down where I have got the stroke so whenever I knock it that close, I know I can make it.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: Not really. Just kind of worked with myself.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: Yeah, I do. I am playing well I am hitting it solid, so anything can happen.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: That match was really intense. We tied I think two holes with birdies, you know, and it was a couple of times where we both -- she was five feet above the hole and I was five feet below the hole. I'd make mine and she'd miss hers. So we were both -- then there was times where we both hit it about six or eight feet and both miss it. So it was just -- it was real intense. You had to make the putts this morning.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: It definitely helps because I know I can-- I am rolling it well, the greens are perfect. You can't ask for better greens, and I know if I put a good stroke on it, it's got excellent chance of going in.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: Not really surprised myself, but because all along I knew, you know, I won the Western last year and all along I have known that I can could this. It just a matter of getting the confidence to keep doing it. Once I won the Western this year and I just played really good, and after that tournament I just had the momentum to keep going and I mean, I never really expected myself to do it. But you know, I have known in the back of my head that I could.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: I don't know. I think -- I think I don't get down on myself when I hit the bad shots and I think when I do hit bad shots, I know how to recover a little bit better, so that's a big difference.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: My whole family plays, mom, dad, my grand dad, my mom's dad plays. He actually taught me how to play and he has been my golf my whole life he past away in February, so you know, when I was like two my mom and dad would go out and play and I'd tag along and take my little plastic club and you know, hit my little woofle balls. I'd love to hit it in the sand when I was little, because I loved to go play in the sand. Loved it. My little sister, she loved to hit it in the water to make it splash. I liked to hit it in the sand.

or Hillary?

MEREDITH DUNCAN: Yes, I played Hillary, I beat Hillary in the North South. I played Hillary, I beat Hillary in the North South and I have never played against Emily but I have played with her a bunch of times.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: I don't know. I mean, in Match Play you just -- I don't know if it's good -- I don't know. I don't know if it's good to know their game or not.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: Well definitely pay attention to what they are doing. I mean, if -- you like to hit first in Match Play. I think it is an advantage for me if I am the shorter play just because I am hitting first; if I hit a good shot up there, then it makes -- puts the pressure on them to hit a great shot up there. So I love it.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: No. Pretty much hit the same clubs off the tee.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: My mom and caddie are here. My dad is caddying.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: Yes, he likes it though and my mom is walking in the heat too. So she's not -- (laughs).

MEREDITH DUNCAN: Third, I didn't make the cut two years ago.

MEREDITH DUNCAN: I won two matches.