WGC ANDERSEN CONSULTING MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

February 22, 2000

Jeff Maggert

JEFF MAGGERT: You know, coming back obviously is a lot of fun. I've been looking forward to coming back here for a few months now. Obviously it was a great win for me last year, having played almost five and a half years without being in the winner's circle, it was nice to get back. Certainly to get back in the fashion that I did with the chip in and winning a million dollars was something that I didn't really think about doing, but it's just a great event. I think it's great that Andersen Consulting has picked this event to sponsor. I really think that over the course of the next 15 or 20 years, I think this is going to be one of the favorite tournaments that players like to come and play. I think we've needed a match play event on the Tour for some time. And the caliber of this field and the tournament I just think has a great future. It's a great honor for me to win the inaugural championship. And hopefully I can come back and have a run at it this year.

JEFF MAGGERT: Well, it's different. We play week in and week out in a medal play format, and match play is a totally different event altogether. I think it gives a lot of players an opportunity to showcase their games, and when it's a one-on-one match, I just think it's fun golf to watch. It's fun for me as a player. It's a different routine than what we're used to, and it's a very -- it's a challenge more than anything to try to beat 64 of the best players in the world over the course of six matches, is a very difficult thing to do, and it's a good challenge and it really tests your game.

JEFF MAGGERT: I don't know, it's been a long time since I defended a title. So I think this tournament is obviously different. Your mindset is different than a medal play tournament. I'm just thinking really about my match tomorrow more so than trying to defend on Sunday. I'm trying to get back to the same kind of rhythm and mindset that I had last year, and this tournament is five tournaments for five days, from a player's standpoint. For me there's only one day of the tournament and that's tomorrow, and I have to play well tomorrow and I have to win. And then I go onto the next day. So it's a long road to get to Sunday. And to win all of those matches takes a lot of patience, and you really have to -- you play a stroke-play event one day at a time, one stroke at a time, but this format really makes you focus in on what's in front of you, at least for me for tomorrow. I play Bob Tway, he's a very good player. And if I don't play well, I'll be flying home tomorrow night and he'll be playing on Thursday. I have to play well, and get my game in good shape and see what I can do.

JEFF MAGGERT: I think the wet conditions are going to favor some of the longer hitters this week, but in match play format I think keeping the ball in play, giving yourself an opportunity to stay in the match I think is also just as important. So I think my game is suited for this format, and the conditions. I hit the ball very straight. At least I don't plan on making a lot of bogeys. And I feel like my game is not going to allow myself to make a lot of mistakes on this golf course. I feel like I have a pretty good advantage under the conditions.

JEFF MAGGERT: You can look at it that way, yes, but to win six matches in a row, I mean it's a tough feat to pick out six guys and say all I have to do is beat six guys over the next five days is -- it's a tough chore, because as we saw last year, all these guys in the field can play, whether it's Michael Campbell or Tiger Woods, they know how to play golf, and if you let up for one second they're going to beat you. And you just have to be on your toes and play really good golf. You've got to have a little bit of luck on your side with some good breaks, some good bounces along the way, but you can say that in any tournament. But I think that over six matches you just have to play some really good golf.

JEFF MAGGERT: Not really. I know the forecast is not the greatest. I've heard that it may rain a little bit tomorrow, but the course is a little wet, but it's obviously in great shape. The course is -- it's ready to be played. I don't think the weather is going to hamper -- stop the tournament. I think the course can handle even a little bit more water. The greens are nice, and the fairways are a little soggy, but I think the tournament is going to be fine.

JEFF MAGGERT: Well, it's just another one of those matches where it's hard to predict a winner. Michael Campbell is playing some great golf the last couple of months, and obviously Tiger is playing well, and who knows? I'm not going to try to make a prediction, there. I know Michael Campbell wants to win just as bad as any of the rest of us, and certainly he's got a lot of confidence in his game, and Tiger has played well. I'm sure Tiger was disappointed to have his streak ended, but I'm sure he's looking to start another one. That will be a fun match to watch.

JEFF MAGGERT: Well, a lot of it is still in the bank, hopefully. I have a good accountant that's keeping track of it. I didn't put a lot of emphasis on the money last year, and I really, with the year gone by, I still haven't really thought that much about winning a million dollars in one tournament. It was a big milestone for me to get back in the winner's circle, and certainly still a year later it's one of the most important things that I can remember about the win. So hopefully I can do it again this year. And it's just great to be playing on the Tour right now. The prize money, you know the way it's gotten and to be able to have the opportunity to win a million dollars in one tournament is fantastic. I'm looking forward to the next ten years of my career, hopefully I can win a few of these things.