THE MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT

May 25, 2000

Tom Scherrer

TOM SCHERRER: I was very happy with how I played today. I saw David Leadbetter yesterday, and he kind of tightened a few screws for me and got me back on track. So I had feelings before I teed off that I was possibly going to have a good day.

TOM SCHERRER: I birdied the 1st hole right out of the box. Hit it nice, through the middle and I had an 8-iron and hit it about 15 feet, and sure enough, went right in the middle of the hole. I thought I missed left, but it held its line. When that happens, you wonder, "Well, maybe this is going to be my day." 5, had to lay-up on that hole, and that pin was kind of tucked right over the water. So it played a little long, which I did, and I happened to make a 20 -- 25-footer. So that was a bit of a bonus. 7, I hit a nice wedge there about five or six feet. A little tricky of a putt, and sure enough that went in. Bogeyed 10. Hit the wrong iron into the green short of the bunker into a terrible lie. I was happy with 5 there. Birdied the next one, the par 5. Hit a nice wedge in there probably about six feet. No. 12 was playing so hard. The wind was going every different direction. One flag is going to the right; 11, it's blowing to the right. And obviously if you're short there it's dead. I didn't hit a bad shot, but just leaked it a little bit and kicked down, had to stand outside the bunker. So again, I was kind of playing for bogey on that one as well. And I bogeyed the next one. Hit a pretty good tee shot leaked it just in the right rough, terrible lie. Hit it about 40 yards short of the green and again had to accept bogey. If I had gotten a better lie in the rough I would have been happier, but where my lie was, I knew I would have to get up-and-down from 40 yards, and that's pretty tough. And then interesting enough, on 14, Jim Courier, the tennis player, is a good friend of mine, and I saw him on the tee there. So, that kind of pumped me up a little bit, having him come out and watch me. I made a nice birdie there. Hit a wedge in there about two or three feet. Made a nice par on the par 5. I hit it in two in the green-side bunker. Had a long bunker shot. Left it in the bunker, and then hit the next one up a few inches; so that was a little exciting. 17, hit a wedge in there about maybe 25 feet and it was -- Steve Stricker and I, we were laughing. I had to move his ball mark over because it was right in my line, and sure enough when I moved it, it went right over his ball marker. So I said, "Don't tell anyone I pulled that." I hit it, I must have misread it or something, but went right over his mark or something and in the hole. And made a nice up-and-down on 18 from just over the green.

TOM SCHERRER: Yeah. Usually -- it's a little exciting, but I'll take it.

TOM SCHERRER: I didn't think it was playing that tough. But I hit the ball pretty solid and really stayed very, you know, in the present. I didn't really wander with my mind too much, which sometimes I do, and I was just kind of in my own little bubble and just worried about me.

TOM SCHERRER: This tournament definitely has a different feel. It's almost like a major. Even the practice rounds, there's people all over. You know, normally on a Tuesday, there's no one out here, you know, a few spectators. So, it definitely has a different feel and kind of gets you excited to play.

TOM SCHERRER: Yeah. I played the Junior Amateur here and the U.S. aM, college tournament, and this is my second Memorial, so I do feel pretty comfortable. I've probably played this course probably the most of any course on TOUR, and I think that certainly helps. You know, I've played good here and I've played bad here, but a little course knowledge I think definitely helps.

TOM SCHERRER: I shot 86-86 and missed the cut.

TOM SCHERRER: I think I was 15 or 16, and that was my first national tournament. So I was a little bit overwhelmed coming here, you know. Every kid out here looked like he could shoot 65. And seeing Mr. Nicklaus, it was pretty overwhelming, but it was a good experience.

TOM SCHERRER: '86.

TOM SCHERRER: I think I met him. I think I introduced myself to him, which coming from a small town in upstate New York, you don't see too many professional golfers. So it was a little bit overwhelming. Even my parents were overwhelmed.

TOM SCHERRER: No. No.

TOM SCHERRER: Yeah. You know, I had just finished college, so I was more seasoned, and again knowing the course. And I just happened to play well that week. And kind of ran into a buzz saw in the finals against Justin Leonard.

TOM SCHERRER: Certainly. The toughest part for the younger guys on TOUR is not knowing the courses too well. You know, guys have been playing out here for 15 years. They know not to hit it here or not go long on this hole, little things that can save you a shot or two. So certainly, you know, I've got that going for me this week. But you still have to play good.

TOM SCHERRER: Probably a little bit. You know, part of it I think is I drove it pretty good; so I never really get into trouble. If you're struggling with your game, any golf course can be pretty tough. But I happened to play well today, so I didn't think it was -- that it was horrible out there.

TOM SCHERRER: He shortened my swing a little bit, a little bit in my posture, and a little bit in my takeaway. So it sounds like a lot, but it's really not.

TOM SCHERRER: Pretty good. I probably hadn't seen him in a month and a half; so I was kind of glad to see him Tuesday walking around.