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Can Tiger Woods Take 4th U.S. Open?
Aired June 12, 2003 - 14:48 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.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The first round at the U.S. Open hasn't been kind to defending champ Tiger Woods, and Tiger's made it to the top of this tournament three times before. So what's going on?
Our Josie Karp is at Olympia Fields Country Club near Chicago with more on today's standings and who is looking good on the green.
So who is it, Josie?
JOSIE KARP, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, the leader in the clubhouse right now, Heidi, is Justin Leonard. He's the guy who's won the British Open before. He shot an opening round 66 and that's four shots better than Tiger Woods, who went through his opening round in even-par 70 fashion. He had two bogeys and one eagle during his first round today. But he said overall he's still pleased.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIGER WOODS, DEFENDING U.S. OPEN CHAMP: Been a USGA set-up. You know the golf course is going to be difficult and the pins (ph) are going to be tricky. And a lot of them were. And if you got too aggressive on some of these pin locations and short sighted yourself, you're making bogey. And consequently, I fired away from just about almost every single flag and I had -- over 18 holes I had two realistic looks at birdie, being 16-17 back-to back, and I missed -- missed them both.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARP: If Tiger was unhappy with any part of his game it was probably his game off the tee. He said he never really felt comfortable with any of his drives. And there's a good chance that you will see him at the driving range at some point this afternoon.
And Justin Leonard, the leader so far, the leader in the clubhouse, said that things are probably going to have to get a lot more difficult for the players the rest of the way out. He believes that the course played as easy as it's going to play all week this morning. And we're seeing a little bit of evidence of that right now. The sun came out and the wind's picking up a little bit, Heidi.
COLLINS: Josie, certainly a story that we're hearing about today, as well, Tiger talking about not feeling like he's not driving very well. Is there more to it than that? We've heard about -- certainly in "USA Today" today about these hot-faced drivers and some of the players possibly having these drivers that allow them to turn the -- they're so flexible that they turn the club face so quickly the ball just shoots out there.
Now this goes against USGA regulations, does it not? Is there a test for this?
KARP: Well, there is a test for this, but at this point in time there's not a test that they can bring out on the road with them and actually go from tournament to tournament and test to see if those club faces are too flexible and if guys are getting an advantage. And at this point, it is something that is being talked about.
It's not at the controversy stage yet. They are set here to have that test that can travel and go from site to site starting in January. They were supposed to have it this year. That's not going to happen. It looks like, at this point, i's not a huge controversy. But again, it is something that guys are talking about -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. We will certainly hear more on that, I am sure. Josie Karp, thanks so much, coming to us live from Chicago and the U.S. Open. Thanks, Josie.
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 June 12, 2003 - 14:48 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
HEIDI COLLINS, CNN ANCHOR: The first round at the U.S. Open hasn't been kind to defending champ Tiger Woods, and Tiger's made it to the top of this tournament three times before. So what's going on?
Our Josie Karp is at Olympia Fields Country Club near Chicago with more on today's standings and who is looking good on the green.
So who is it, Josie?
JOSIE KARP, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, the leader in the clubhouse right now, Heidi, is Justin Leonard. He's the guy who's won the British Open before. He shot an opening round 66 and that's four shots better than Tiger Woods, who went through his opening round in even-par 70 fashion. He had two bogeys and one eagle during his first round today. But he said overall he's still pleased.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TIGER WOODS, DEFENDING U.S. OPEN CHAMP: Been a USGA set-up. You know the golf course is going to be difficult and the pins (ph) are going to be tricky. And a lot of them were. And if you got too aggressive on some of these pin locations and short sighted yourself, you're making bogey. And consequently, I fired away from just about almost every single flag and I had -- over 18 holes I had two realistic looks at birdie, being 16-17 back-to back, and I missed -- missed them both.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KARP: If Tiger was unhappy with any part of his game it was probably his game off the tee. He said he never really felt comfortable with any of his drives. And there's a good chance that you will see him at the driving range at some point this afternoon.
And Justin Leonard, the leader so far, the leader in the clubhouse, said that things are probably going to have to get a lot more difficult for the players the rest of the way out. He believes that the course played as easy as it's going to play all week this morning. And we're seeing a little bit of evidence of that right now. The sun came out and the wind's picking up a little bit, Heidi.
COLLINS: Josie, certainly a story that we're hearing about today, as well, Tiger talking about not feeling like he's not driving very well. Is there more to it than that? We've heard about -- certainly in "USA Today" today about these hot-faced drivers and some of the players possibly having these drivers that allow them to turn the -- they're so flexible that they turn the club face so quickly the ball just shoots out there.
Now this goes against USGA regulations, does it not? Is there a test for this?
KARP: Well, there is a test for this, but at this point in time there's not a test that they can bring out on the road with them and actually go from tournament to tournament and test to see if those club faces are too flexible and if guys are getting an advantage. And at this point, it is something that is being talked about.
It's not at the controversy stage yet. They are set here to have that test that can travel and go from site to site starting in January. They were supposed to have it this year. That's not going to happen. It looks like, at this point, i's not a huge controversy. But again, it is something that guys are talking about -- Heidi.
COLLINS: All right. We will certainly hear more on that, I am sure. Josie Karp, thanks so much, coming to us live from Chicago and the U.S. Open. Thanks, Josie.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
