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Interview With Suzy Whaley

Aired July 25, 2003 - 15:42   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.


MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, here's the line on Suzy Whaley. She scores 75 and 78 at the Greater Hartford Open as the first woman in more than a half century to qualify to play in the PGA Tour. She won't be around for the weekend rounds, unfortunately, but this still is a big achievement, and we're here to tell you a little more about it.
Matter of fact, here is she to sell you more about. Joining us from Hartford, straight from her date with history is Suzy Whaley. Suzy, congratulations on everything you've accomplished. How you feeling today?

SUZY WHALEY, PRO GOLFER: Thanks so much, Miles. I'm feeling great.

O'BRIEN: Yes? You're not disappointed in your play and the fact that -- did you think maybe just possibly I could make the cut?

WHALEY: Well, sure. I think anytime you tee it up, you want to do that. But for me, I had a great week. I made some mistakes on the golf court but I made up for it hung in there and really had a fun, exciting week.

O'BRIEN: All right. Let me ask you this. Did you run into a lot of resistance in your round of golf as Annika Sorenstam did, speaking, of course, primarily about what we heard from Vijay Singh. Was there a lot of that sentiment out there, or were you willing received?

WHALEY: I was extremely well received. I did not receive any kind of resistance at all. Everybody that I ran into introduced themselves, wished me well, told me to have a whole lot fun. And my playing partners cheered for me the whole way.

O'BRIEN: And I guess it's worth pointing out that there is a distinction here. You did qualify fair and square for the tournament, and in the case of Annika, she was invited on a special invitation. And I think that might have ruffled some feathers. But let's talk about the big picture here, women playing with men. Are we going to see more of this in the near-term future?

WHALEY: I don't think so. I really think it comes down to strength and the length of the golf courses that the men play. For a woman to take that on would be extremely challenging week in and week out. And I really feel the LPGA tour is a great venue for women to take their golf game to. O'BRIEN: Now, you are a club pro from Avon, Connecticut, so this is a hometown crowd for you. I heard your gallery was fantastic. I don't think you ever wiped that smile off your face the whole time. It was really kind of fun to watch it. Even when you were three- putting and all, you were still smiling. What was that like being out there?

WHALEY: It was just amazing. The crowd was four or five people deep, cheering for me the entire way. Whether I made a putt, missed a putt, it was so much fun, and they really kept me going and got me through the whole 18 holes.

O'BRIEN: As I understand it, you know, you're a mother of two children about the same age as my kids. And I know how much time that can take. You've really had to juggle an awful lot since it became evident that you were going to play in this tournament. Is this completely changed your life?

WHALEY: You know, I think it's changed my life in the fact that I've grown from this extraordinary challenge. I've realized how much I can take on and how much I can do.

But my priorities will never change, may family comes first. I do have two daughters, 8 and 6. I have I have a full-time job. But first and foremost I'm a mom. But I still love to play competitive golf and will continue to do that too.

O'BRIEN: Do you really watch the golf course at that course you work at?

WHALEY: Absolutely. I'm the head golf professional, I do a little of everything.

O'BRIEN: All right, as a mom, you know how to do a little bit of everything.

You know we have a special appearance here. I know you were expecting to hear from Kyra Phillips normally sitting beside me, but she's at the airport on the way to a little weekend jaunt, and she joins us now because she wanted to just say hello. Kyra?

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you so much. Suzy, can you hear me OK?

WHALEY: I sure can.

PHILLIPS: I just had to call and tell you all of us have been rooting for you and cheering you on. And you know we made such a big hype over Annika Sorenstam which, of course, was a really exciting time. But we want you to know that we've been following you for months and been waiting for this opportunity to watch you play and talk to you and we just want to say congratulations and we're so proud of you.

WHALEY: Well thank you so much. That's really nice. Thank you. PHILLIPS: Well, I was hoping, too, there is a little sidebar here. After playing golf with Miles, he needs a few tips, Suzy. Can you help him out?

WHALEY: Absolutely. He just has to come to Avon, Connecticut (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Fox Run Golf Course (ph).

O'BRIEN: You be careful what you offer, Suzy. I might be right on up there, helping you wash those golf course if you'll help me with that swing there.

WHALEY: OK, great.

O'BRIEN: All right, congratulations to you. Kyra, have a great weekend.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Miles.

O'BRIEN: Suzy, look forward to seeing you in perhaps in another male tournament someday soon. Would you like to do it again?

WHALEY: I think this is my one and only. My PGA of America club professional tournaments, I'll be playing against men in two weeks.

O'BRIEN: All right. There you go. Suzy Whaley from Hartford, Connecticut. Congratulations. Good to see you.

WHALEY: Thank you. Thanks.

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 July 25, 2003 - 15:42   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, here's the line on Suzy Whaley. She scores 75 and 78 at the Greater Hartford Open as the first woman in more than a half century to qualify to play in the PGA Tour. She won't be around for the weekend rounds, unfortunately, but this still is a big achievement, and we're here to tell you a little more about it.
Matter of fact, here is she to sell you more about. Joining us from Hartford, straight from her date with history is Suzy Whaley. Suzy, congratulations on everything you've accomplished. How you feeling today?

SUZY WHALEY, PRO GOLFER: Thanks so much, Miles. I'm feeling great.

O'BRIEN: Yes? You're not disappointed in your play and the fact that -- did you think maybe just possibly I could make the cut?

WHALEY: Well, sure. I think anytime you tee it up, you want to do that. But for me, I had a great week. I made some mistakes on the golf court but I made up for it hung in there and really had a fun, exciting week.

O'BRIEN: All right. Let me ask you this. Did you run into a lot of resistance in your round of golf as Annika Sorenstam did, speaking, of course, primarily about what we heard from Vijay Singh. Was there a lot of that sentiment out there, or were you willing received?

WHALEY: I was extremely well received. I did not receive any kind of resistance at all. Everybody that I ran into introduced themselves, wished me well, told me to have a whole lot fun. And my playing partners cheered for me the whole way.

O'BRIEN: And I guess it's worth pointing out that there is a distinction here. You did qualify fair and square for the tournament, and in the case of Annika, she was invited on a special invitation. And I think that might have ruffled some feathers. But let's talk about the big picture here, women playing with men. Are we going to see more of this in the near-term future?

WHALEY: I don't think so. I really think it comes down to strength and the length of the golf courses that the men play. For a woman to take that on would be extremely challenging week in and week out. And I really feel the LPGA tour is a great venue for women to take their golf game to. O'BRIEN: Now, you are a club pro from Avon, Connecticut, so this is a hometown crowd for you. I heard your gallery was fantastic. I don't think you ever wiped that smile off your face the whole time. It was really kind of fun to watch it. Even when you were three- putting and all, you were still smiling. What was that like being out there?

WHALEY: It was just amazing. The crowd was four or five people deep, cheering for me the entire way. Whether I made a putt, missed a putt, it was so much fun, and they really kept me going and got me through the whole 18 holes.

O'BRIEN: As I understand it, you know, you're a mother of two children about the same age as my kids. And I know how much time that can take. You've really had to juggle an awful lot since it became evident that you were going to play in this tournament. Is this completely changed your life?

WHALEY: You know, I think it's changed my life in the fact that I've grown from this extraordinary challenge. I've realized how much I can take on and how much I can do.

But my priorities will never change, may family comes first. I do have two daughters, 8 and 6. I have I have a full-time job. But first and foremost I'm a mom. But I still love to play competitive golf and will continue to do that too.

O'BRIEN: Do you really watch the golf course at that course you work at?

WHALEY: Absolutely. I'm the head golf professional, I do a little of everything.

O'BRIEN: All right, as a mom, you know how to do a little bit of everything.

You know we have a special appearance here. I know you were expecting to hear from Kyra Phillips normally sitting beside me, but she's at the airport on the way to a little weekend jaunt, and she joins us now because she wanted to just say hello. Kyra?

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you so much. Suzy, can you hear me OK?

WHALEY: I sure can.

PHILLIPS: I just had to call and tell you all of us have been rooting for you and cheering you on. And you know we made such a big hype over Annika Sorenstam which, of course, was a really exciting time. But we want you to know that we've been following you for months and been waiting for this opportunity to watch you play and talk to you and we just want to say congratulations and we're so proud of you.

WHALEY: Well thank you so much. That's really nice. Thank you. PHILLIPS: Well, I was hoping, too, there is a little sidebar here. After playing golf with Miles, he needs a few tips, Suzy. Can you help him out?

WHALEY: Absolutely. He just has to come to Avon, Connecticut (UNINTELLIGIBLE) Fox Run Golf Course (ph).

O'BRIEN: You be careful what you offer, Suzy. I might be right on up there, helping you wash those golf course if you'll help me with that swing there.

WHALEY: OK, great.

O'BRIEN: All right, congratulations to you. Kyra, have a great weekend.

PHILLIPS: Thanks, Miles.

O'BRIEN: Suzy, look forward to seeing you in perhaps in another male tournament someday soon. Would you like to do it again?

WHALEY: I think this is my one and only. My PGA of America club professional tournaments, I'll be playing against men in two weeks.

O'BRIEN: All right. There you go. Suzy Whaley from Hartford, Connecticut. Congratulations. Good to see you.

WHALEY: Thank you. Thanks.

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