MCDONALD'S LPGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 25, 2000

Stefania Groce

STEFANIA CROCE: I birdied number 1. I had an 8-iron in and I put it probably six feet and made a putt. Then I birdied No. 2 with a 3-iron. I put it probably eight feet. Then I birdied No. 3. I hit an 8-iron and then left it probably, a lot, maybe 30 feet short and I made the putt. Then I birdied No. 7. I made -- I hit a 7-iron in and then made a 20 foot putt again, maybe 30 feet putt. Then I birdied No. 11, with a 25 feet putt with a sand wedge. And I bogeyed No. 6. I always bogey that stupid hole. Then I bogeyed No. 8. I hit it left into the into the rough. I was maybe 30 feet from the pin and I was deep in the rough. So I chip it in and then 2-putts. No. 8, I had a 3-iron, very nice, but I was -- the wind pushed me into the bunker. I had sand shot and two putts. Then that's it. Then I went into the playoff, and I parred No. 18. I hit a 5-iron in. And then, as always, I bogeyed No. 10. I think I bogeyed that hole almost every day, I think, except today. No, two days I bogeyed. Today was the adrenaline that got me. It was a good 9-iron, but I was a little bit pumped up, but it's not the nicest hole for me.

STEFANIA CROCE: More 17 than 16. I hit a second shot into the bunker, I hit a driver with second shot because I was going for it and I went into the bunker, and unfortunately I caught it a little bit clean, but there was a little bit -- not too much sand; so I could not get it close.

STEFANIA CROCE: No, I didn't think so, no. I just waited around, but I didn't think I was going to get into the playoff. I thought 4-under would win. So, even though I lost, I still had a good time, you know. I didn't expect. I tried, to win, but I don't feel that bad.

STEFANIA CROCE: I was nervous on the 18th tee. I was nervous, but after I hit, I said, all right, I'm back into my game.

STEFANIA CROCE: I went all over the place, because I was taking care of my friends; they are here watching. So I was bringing them water, trying to talk to them. And then I rest for five minutes and then I went chipping, because I said, maybe I have a chance, I have a good chance. So I was chipping the last 10 minutes.

STEFANIA CROCE: I was chipping on the putting green. And I said, I don't know if Juli is going to win, by the crowd, and if they are not clapping that hard, it means that I'm going to go in the playoff, and from the clapping, I understood I was going to go into the playoff.

STEFANIA CROCE: Angelo. This week Angelo is here, good thanks to him. He flew all the way from Italy last week. I was not playing too good at all. Unbelievable. I was desperate. He came and we worked a little bit last week, and this week it showed.

STEFANIA CROCE: I did. I feel good, as I said, even though I didn't win, I think I kept my card, which I was having a lot of trouble before, because since now I made like $18,000, so with this big check, it helps.

STEFANIA CROCE: I won the won time, in England, '92.

STEFANIA CROCE: I think the players are better, and so it's more difficult, because everybody is good. But for the organization, for the tournaments, it's so much easier here, like the hotels, the golf courses are transportation, housing, how the golf course are maintained. It's easier for the organization, but it's tougher for the game, because everybody is good. But in Europe, I had a tough time, because you have to find your own way to get to the hotel, to get to the course, so you have to work, even after the golf.

STEFANIA CROCE: At home, in golf, I am known, but besides golf, nobody knows. I think if Tiger Woods walked into Rome, I don't think people will really understand who he is. (Laughter.) It's true.

STEFANIA CROCE: Tough. Tough.

STEFANIA CROCE: It was just a tough shot. I tried.

STEFANIA CROCE: No, the lie was not very good, of course, but more than that, it was the downhill grain. I try.

STEFANIA CROCE: Yeah, I was just nervous when I got there, you know, for like maybe a couple minutes. But other than that, it was just -- at home, I put myself, like at home, on my golf course.

STEFANIA CROCE: Yes, I did. I was changing clubs all day. But then once I made up my mind, I would hit the shot I wanted. Most of the time.

STEFANIA CROCE: I had 122 yards to the pin. I had a little bit of wind, a little bit against, and I think it was not -- not too long, actually it was a little bit left. Maybe if I had a better kick, it would have been maybe like Juli, I don't know. I think I had a little bit of adrenaline.

STEFANIA CROCE: I go -- lately not too far, I go 125, 127.

STEFANIA CROCE: My backswing. I was going too much outside. So I had to go more inside and more up.

STEFANIA CROCE: I made some very nice putts for birdie. And I think the thing is, when I was home, before I was coming here this morning, I was picturing myself playing the golf course, and I felt very good, and so I was picturing a lot of birdies, I was listening to music, and when I was -- I came here practicing, putting. I was practicing birdie putts because I felt good.

STEFANIA CROCE: I thought that any time you can go 4- or 5-over on this golf course -- so, I knew that if I was going to go 5-under, I had a chance, even though they were 7-under to begin.

STEFANIA CROCE: Well, I said if I keep on going like this, I'm going to win. (Laughs). No, I just kept focused. I didn't think too much ahead.

STEFANIA CROCE: From the clapping. I don't know who told me.

STEFANIA CROCE: No, from the clapping I knew it was going to go in, in the playoff and then minute later, I don't know who told me, but you are in the playoff, you've got to go.

STEFANIA CROCE: Yeah, I said, let's see, if I get in, I get in, if I don't, I had a good tournament, anyway.

End of FastScripts….