Return to Transcripts main page

Live From...

Interview With Suzy Whaley

Aired May 22, 2003 - 15:34   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.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the PGA battle of the sexes doesn't stop with Annika Sorenstam. Suzy Whaley will play in the PGA Tour's Greater Hartford Open in July. She qualified for the event back in September.
She joins me now by telephone.

Well, Suzy, first of all, are you ready for the Hartford Open?

SUZY WHALEY, GOLFER: I just am so excited about today that I am just ready to go practice in the rain. So I will get ready, yes.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about today. Let's talk about just the strides that Annika made as a player. She was just on her game all around, wasn't she?

WHALEY: It was -- unfortunately, I was doing an outing all day and running in and out between holes so I could catch as much as I could and she was just so impressive and so composed and really at ease, it seemed, with herself, even though she says she wasn't. It was really fun to watch.

PHILLIPS: Well, we'll talk about the -- maybe the physical part in a minute. But mentally -- I mean, this is a gal that said she stepped up to the tee, her heart was racing, her palms were sweaty, she felt sick to her stomach, but then she outdrives the guys she's playing there off the first hole. I mean, talk to me about the mental discipline and how that is so crucial to winning a game of golf.

WHALEY: Well, you know, certainly, she's the best female golfer in the world so I would hate to put words in her mouth, but...

PHILLIPS: Well, tell me from your perspective. I mean ,you know what it's like to get out there. You were under the same pressure when you were qualifying for the Hartford.

WHALEY: Sure. She -- you know, I think that you just -- you find a way, when you're that competitive, to make it work and to make it happen. And you just don't know, at the moment, if it's going to go your way and if it's going to work.

And she's prepared her whole life for this moment being, as she put it, and she really came out on top with, was so focused and just did a great job. PHILLIPS: She looks -- she looked to be more comfortable. She kind of got accustomed to the environment. From what you saw, what were her strengths today with regard to her game? Were you watching certain strokes or a certain form or maybe something that she did and you thought, OK, I got to remember that when I get out there and play with the boys?

WHALEY: I did. I did. And what I was impressed with was the fact that she stuck to her game plan.

Annika in her stats is terrific at hitting fairways and greens. That really is her strength. She hit 13 of 14 fairways today. She hit 14 of 18 greens, which is an extremely high percentage, and she didn't vary from that plan and I think that's why she really played so, so very well.

PHILLIPS: Now, what do you think about a domino effect here? I mean, you and Annika are very unique individuals, very unique athletes. Should this continue? Should more women be able to play in the PGA?

WHALEY: I don't think it will continue. I -- certainly when I qualified for the Greater Hartford Open, it wasn't my intent. I was just playing in a golf tournament, won that event and the exemption came with the win.

Annika, I know, has stated that this will be her one and only, and I think truly, females, unless there's a phenomenon -- you know, a phenom like Michele Wie come along in about, you know, five, six years who just hits the ball so incredibly far, physically, I think women would choose the LPGA Tour.

PHILLIPS: So -- well, looking at the PGA aspect, what does it do for you as an athlete? What does it do for you personally? Obviously you can't speak for Annika, but why don't you tell me -- because you're probably feeling a lot of the same things she's feeling.

WHALEY: Well, certainly, I'll feel as nervous if not more, on that first tee.

But for me, it's very exciting. I, of course, would like to play well too. But at the same time, as a PGA of America member, I'm looking forward to inspiring a whole lot of people to get out on the golf course, especially young boys and girls.

PHILLIPS: Well, Suzy Whaley, you've already done that. We're going to be watching you July 24. Best of luck to you and thanks for being with us on this historic day.

WHALEY: Thanks so much.

PHILLIPS: You bet. Good luck, Suzy.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired May 22, 2003 - 15:34   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the PGA battle of the sexes doesn't stop with Annika Sorenstam. Suzy Whaley will play in the PGA Tour's Greater Hartford Open in July. She qualified for the event back in September.
She joins me now by telephone.

Well, Suzy, first of all, are you ready for the Hartford Open?

SUZY WHALEY, GOLFER: I just am so excited about today that I am just ready to go practice in the rain. So I will get ready, yes.

PHILLIPS: Well, let's talk about today. Let's talk about just the strides that Annika made as a player. She was just on her game all around, wasn't she?

WHALEY: It was -- unfortunately, I was doing an outing all day and running in and out between holes so I could catch as much as I could and she was just so impressive and so composed and really at ease, it seemed, with herself, even though she says she wasn't. It was really fun to watch.

PHILLIPS: Well, we'll talk about the -- maybe the physical part in a minute. But mentally -- I mean, this is a gal that said she stepped up to the tee, her heart was racing, her palms were sweaty, she felt sick to her stomach, but then she outdrives the guys she's playing there off the first hole. I mean, talk to me about the mental discipline and how that is so crucial to winning a game of golf.

WHALEY: Well, you know, certainly, she's the best female golfer in the world so I would hate to put words in her mouth, but...

PHILLIPS: Well, tell me from your perspective. I mean ,you know what it's like to get out there. You were under the same pressure when you were qualifying for the Hartford.

WHALEY: Sure. She -- you know, I think that you just -- you find a way, when you're that competitive, to make it work and to make it happen. And you just don't know, at the moment, if it's going to go your way and if it's going to work.

And she's prepared her whole life for this moment being, as she put it, and she really came out on top with, was so focused and just did a great job. PHILLIPS: She looks -- she looked to be more comfortable. She kind of got accustomed to the environment. From what you saw, what were her strengths today with regard to her game? Were you watching certain strokes or a certain form or maybe something that she did and you thought, OK, I got to remember that when I get out there and play with the boys?

WHALEY: I did. I did. And what I was impressed with was the fact that she stuck to her game plan.

Annika in her stats is terrific at hitting fairways and greens. That really is her strength. She hit 13 of 14 fairways today. She hit 14 of 18 greens, which is an extremely high percentage, and she didn't vary from that plan and I think that's why she really played so, so very well.

PHILLIPS: Now, what do you think about a domino effect here? I mean, you and Annika are very unique individuals, very unique athletes. Should this continue? Should more women be able to play in the PGA?

WHALEY: I don't think it will continue. I -- certainly when I qualified for the Greater Hartford Open, it wasn't my intent. I was just playing in a golf tournament, won that event and the exemption came with the win.

Annika, I know, has stated that this will be her one and only, and I think truly, females, unless there's a phenomenon -- you know, a phenom like Michele Wie come along in about, you know, five, six years who just hits the ball so incredibly far, physically, I think women would choose the LPGA Tour.

PHILLIPS: So -- well, looking at the PGA aspect, what does it do for you as an athlete? What does it do for you personally? Obviously you can't speak for Annika, but why don't you tell me -- because you're probably feeling a lot of the same things she's feeling.

WHALEY: Well, certainly, I'll feel as nervous if not more, on that first tee.

But for me, it's very exciting. I, of course, would like to play well too. But at the same time, as a PGA of America member, I'm looking forward to inspiring a whole lot of people to get out on the golf course, especially young boys and girls.

PHILLIPS: Well, Suzy Whaley, you've already done that. We're going to be watching you July 24. Best of luck to you and thanks for being with us on this historic day.

WHALEY: Thanks so much.

PHILLIPS: You bet. Good luck, Suzy.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com