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CNN Live Today

Interview With Tiger Woods

Aired June 17, 2002 - 14:25   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Excitement, to say the least, at New York's Black Page (sic), because even under pressure, Tiger Woods showed the world he is still one very cool and winning cat.

At the U.S. Open yesterday, it ended just like that, a short putt to prove he's a world-class champion. So far this year, Tiger has won the U.S. Open and the Masters. That's half the Grand Slam. He is on to the British Open and then hopefully the PGA from there, a feat that has never been done before, a Grand Slam.

After the Open, CNN sports correspondent Bob Fiscella spoke with Tiger Woods.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BOB FISCELLA, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Tiger, congrats. Second U.S. Open, eighth career major. I've got to ask you, are you running out of shelf space?

TIGER WOODS, 2002 U.S. OPEN CHAMPION: No, no. You can always find shelf space for these. These are awfully special.

FISCELLA: First two holes, you come out three putts, a couple of hiccups. Sergio said he thought you were nervous. Was it nerves?

WOODS: Well, of course, I was nervous. I mean, I'm nervous every time I tee it up. That means I care. If I'm not nervous is the day I quit, because that means I don't care anymore. And I came out and I figured my speed was off, but I -- it's not like I was struggling. I was two over par. I hit the ball well on the first two holes and I said, you know what, just continue doing it. There was -- I've been putting well all week and there's no sense in changing now. And just go ahead and keep hitting the ball well and, more importantly, just work on my pace.

FISCELLA: Physically and mentally, was this the most grinding week that you have ever spent on the golf course? You had to battle the wind, the rain. You were like the post office though. You did deliver.

WOODS: Not physically, but mentally, it was certainly a lot of work. I mean, this golf course is so brutal. It's playing so long. And on top of that, it's narrow. And if you miss the ball in the rough, more than likely you are not making par. And you had to get the ball in play in order to have a chance to win this tournament.

FISCELLA: Was this more special than some of the other majors in the fact that you played here in New York before these rowdy fans on Father's Day and with 9/11 so much part of this golf tournament?

WOODS: Not only that, there's so much going on here this week. You know, but these fans were absolutely tremendous. They were so supportive. Some of the people were over the line, across the line. But, you know, those who didn't, you know, I was trying to be as polite as I possibly could to those fans and as courteous as I possibly could because those fans really wanted you to play well. And it was neat to be in that environment. And today, with Phil playing as well as he did, it was just -- God, it was just a lot of work.

FISCELLA: I know you don't like to talk about the Grand Slam. You take it one tournament at a time. But we in the media love to talk about the Grand Slam. Are you ready for the media crunch that you are going to receive at Muirfield, and do you allow yourself at some point during the day or night to think about it?

WOODS: Well, I've done it before. So there's -- I can't say that. So I'm just going to go ahead and take it one tournament at a time and, more than anything, savor this one.

FISCELLA: You've now become the first player since Jack Nicklaus in 1972 to win both the U.S. Open and the Masters in the same year, your eighth career major to pass Arnold Palmer. Are you the greatest of all time?

WOODS: No, I don't think that's right for me to even speculate. I think that's one for everyone -- the fans to throw out there. You know, I certainly don't have the playing record that Jack has. I'm young. I'm only 26. I have a long way to go, and I'm going to try and improve and try and get better. I don't know what my career has in store for me in the future, but I am certainly going to give it my best.

FISCELLA: Tiger, appreciate it. Congrats.

WOODS: Thanks. You got it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WHITFIELD: Tiger Woods, the U.S. Open champion, the only one to finish that tournament under par.

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