MARK MCNULTY - ROUND TWO 65
Q Have you ever shot two 65s and not led?
A
“I don’t think I’ve ever shot 65, 65 on a course of this quality and been one behind. I am very happy to be one shot behind, because when you’ve shot a couple of scores like I have I am obviously delighted. When I started yesterday I had one goal in mind. David (Leadbetter) and I planned just to make the cut. Okay I’ve done a little better than make the cut, but that’s life. The golf course is playing the same today, a bit shorter, great nick and I’m looking forward to the weekend.”
Q Is the swing getting into the groove with each successive round?
A
“I had a long chat with David last night and he watched it yesterday afternoon on TV and said it’s looking 80 per cent of what we want and when he says that, wow, I’ve done very well. He went back to Lake Nona today. It’s really all about segmenting it. If you take four segments, I was hoping by now to have done one segment and I’ve done three. I have one to complete the fourth segment and who knows? I’m not talking about winning. I might be fortunate enough to win on Sunday but I’ll be satisfied with finishing the last segment, so there’s going to be a lot of work ahead.”
Q Has he ever told you it’s 100%?
A
“No, I think he might have told Nick Faldo or Nick Price 100% occasionally, but he’s never said that of it. My goal now is getting from 80 to 100%. I said to him last week I’m sick and tired of this. I’ve done it all before. We’ve been close to 100% in the past – let’s see if we can get there. I enjoy playing this Tour and in the under-50 bracket if you know what I mean. And who knows? I am continually asked the question – what am I going to do in three years time? I’ll wait and see when the time comes. If my quality of golf is improved to a point where I can go onto the Senior Tour and do extremely well – I’ve spoken to Tom Kite and a lot of the guys – it’s just like a mulligan, a mulligan in life! So that’s the last segment.”
Q What did you think of Gary Orr’s score?
A
“I didn’t hear any scores until I walked down the first hole and I said to Andy (caddie): ‘Is that 13 or 15 under?’ He said 13 and I said 15 so I knew Gary had shot 62. I turned to Andy and said: ‘hats off to him, that’s a great score.’ It is a great score. There you go. I am sure that’s a course record here and it’s a truly great score. I would really like to say I’m not thinking what I might shoot over the weekend. I’m just going to concentrate on what I’m doing and that’s one shot at a time. That’s all I can do – each swing as it comes along. I had a couple of mistakes today but I promised myself that I wouldn’t complain about missed putts. I had one tee shot at the ninth I was indecisive about and one poor shot on the 13th. I was a little indecisive again.
Will I phone David tonight? Well he gets back to Orlando this afternoon so I will. I don’t speak to him a lot during tournaments. If we have worked on something dramatic I will, but he wouldn’t have watched it today so there’s not much point. Maybe I won’t. He will most probably see it tomorrow then I will call. I’m ring and tell him what I shot.”
Q Have you noticed the improvement in standards?
A
“There are times on the European Tour when I look at it and I think the players are not performing like they should be performing. Then there are times when they are performing a helluva lot better than I think they should be performing. I don’t see this as a 15 under par after two rounds golf course. For me to shoot a pair of 65s is phenomenal. I can only say that it’s the aura of the best man in the world at the moment, what he’s creating, and everybody realises you can’t sit on your heels and accept a four under round. If you get to four under after 13 you’ve got to make another birdie, or you’ve got to just make the best quality shot you can next. Certainly when I first came on Tour in 1977 cuts were four or five over par. The cut margin has come down dramatically in recent years. The winning score seems to stay the same, but they bunch up much more which says that everybody is playing better and working harder and that’s what it’s all about.”
COLIN MONTGOMERIE – FIRST ROUND – 64 (-8)
Q That was a very good round today?
A
Yes, the advantage of that round is that that is the highest it could have been. That proves I’ve played pretty well. When you score 64 and say that’s the highest it could have been, that proves that everything’s back in order if you like. I made the odd mistake and left the odd putt short but at the same time there were a few good ones as well. At the 10th, my first of the morning, I holed out of a bunker. It was close to the pin but it had to go in and that got me off to a good start. Crazy mistake at the 16th so to finish that nine 3,3 from then was very good because I wasn’t in the best frame of mind on the 17th. To birdie, eagle was good. Disappointing in a way but 64’s very encouraging and that’s exactly what I wanted to do and I said yesterday I wanted to come here for competition. That’s why I’m here. Some of the other top European golfers are going over to America early to prepare in their way. I feel the best way for me is to have competitive practice if you like and I’ve done exactly what I wanted to do and I’m glad about that. I did it at Loch Lomond. I was leading with two holes to go at Loch Lomond and I’m leading here and that’s exactly what I wanted to do and now I’m glad I entered. People always ask about your preparation before a major and I would go along with the fact that I want competitive play. I was never not entered. I just wanted that competitive play.
Q How has this start helped?
A It’s just confidence. You are favourite to win, you come here and shoot 64 the first day and you’re leading. It doesn’t matter today. 64 is good and it’s confidence boosting and I feel good about myself and that’s half the battle and I’m getting competition so I’m glad I’ve made the right decision to play here. Whatever happens now it’s a good start. I am playing well enough and we’ll see if we can win here, because that would be nice to take to America.
MARK MCNULTY ROUND ONE 65 (-7)
It’s like a dream start. You don’t anticipate going out in the first round and shooting 65. Two things that have come out today’s round are that the season’s been a bit up and down. I did play well in South Africa before joining the Tour here. The form was, from my old consistent past, not as good as I would like it to be. Last week spent a good 10 to 12 hours with David Leadbetter. He’s going back to America tomorrow. He basically read the riot act to me. Changed quite a few things in the swing. They might not look different but to me feels like a completely brand new swing. Today was a pleasant surprise. It is a course I do like, I’ve won before and finished in the top five a few times and generally always done well. When you have that confidence about a golf course and your swing reacts better than you were anticipating and you hit some good shots, it helps.
I slipped into some very old bad habits. I was taking my swing completely the wrong way. I was taking the swing into no-mans land. Even at the Open. I’ve never been like Faldo was in the past and other guys who like to have their coach breath down their neck the whole time. I like swing thoughts for the day or motions that will help the wing for the day and off I go. After the Open I called him and said ‘You know and I know things are not right. Lets get it sorted out.”
I split screened a swing of my in 1997 when Ernie won the US Open, when playing well, with my swing now and I felt like getting the bucket out and vomiting. That’s how bad it was. My goal this week was to make the cut. Lets hope I do for a start and go on and do better.
What do you think when you see Monty at the top?
In the context I what I have just said, it doesn’t bother me one little bit. I expect that from Colin. If Tiger was playing I would expect that from him. I’m not going to sit back and admire somebody’s playing and think I’m never going to get there. I’m interested in what I am trying to achieve myself. If I can get some normality back I can shoot another 65 then a 66 and maybe 68 and if I do something like that then I know that should be good enough to win. The fact that Colin might shoot another three 64’s then I would say thank you very much, he played better than me. That’s it. You’ve got to be not too analytical and think my God he is so far ahead of everybody else. Accept the fact that he is a great player, consistently been in the top ten in the world for the last seven years. The fact he hasn’t won a major is sad but his time will still come I feel. I just sit back and admire somebody who does consistently what he has done. I’ve done that in the pat myself. But if you sit back and say I can’t do what he is doing you are in trouble. He was already eight under when I birdied eight and nine. It was great for Monty but I still had shots to hit.
MATHIAS GRONBERG ROUND ONE 67 (-5)
I’m in 12th position in the NEC qualification table. There are quite a few players fighting for it. I’m just ahead of Patrik Sjoland and Ian Woosnam. I’ve got to play well this week. Patrik is four under and there is about £4-5,000 between us. Woosie just has to finish one shot ahead of me and he passes me. But I could overtake Coltart and McGinley. I’m playing well at the moment. 25 birdies in the Dutch, 16 birdies last week. I’ve tried to play easier, not be overly aggressive. Took the easy route around the course today. Middle of the greens. Hit lots of good shots.
Felt I could have played the second half better. The bogey killed the round. Bit of a struggle after that. Could have played two or three better after that. Missed a few putts coming back.
COLIN MONTGOMERIE - WEDNESDAY 9TH AUGUST
Q You’ve done well here – 61 under par in tournaments at Woburn and third and second on your last two visits here. Could it be first this time around?
A
“I didn’t realise I was third and second on my last two visits. That’s encouraging. I like the course here because it does favour me. I hit the ball particularly straight and it favours me this particular week. I always look forward to playing at Woburn and there’s no difference this week either.”
Q Did you feel that last year was one that got away?
A
“Oh sure. I was three ahead going into the last day. I played particularly poorly on the last day and Bob May played well and beat me on the day. It was one of these things. That happens. You learn from these things and if I’m in the position again, it won’t happen again. I enjoy playing here which is half the battle.”
Q What about your last two starts?
A
“The British Open and Scandinavian Masters, possibly I haven’t holed necessary putts. I don’t want to go on about it but you’ve got to get the rewards for the iron shots and I’m not doing that right now. I’ve been practising on it and putted well today, so that’s encouraging too. I always look forward to playing here. I can stay at home which is always good for me. It’s an hour up the road. I can relax in my car driving up here and it’s good for me to be at home.”
Q Have you lost weight?
A
“Yes I have. I’ve lost about 15 or 16 pounds since Loch Lomond and I’ve been meaning to do that. I decided you don’t have to be overweight if you don’t want to be and I decided to do something about it. This is only the start. I’m going to not only lose more weight but get fit as well and I feel I’ve got six years at this and I want to give it every chance. I probably wasn’t giving it every chance when I was slightly heavier than I am now.”
Q Do you have a gym at home?
A
“I do indeed. I have a personal trainer who comes round and helps me out and that accelerates the process because you can lose weight and strength as well and it’s important that I don’t lose strength. I’ve decided to do this and I do feel better for me. When I put my mind to something I usually achieve it. You eat properly and sensibly and you exercise and it’s amazing how, initially, the weight falls off. It’s more difficult now but it’s more strength now and more a lifestyle change and I feel better for it. It’s good that people notice. It makes me feel better about myself and my self-esteem rises because of that. It gives me confidence. I’ve had the same guy (personal trainer) off and on for a number of years. I’ve just decided to do it more full-time from now on and get up early in the morning. We get up early in the morning and it’s working well. I’m enjoying it. I get up at 7 o’clock and do it for an hour most days.”
Q Is this because of Tiger?
A
“No, all I can do is control myself and can’t do anything about anyone else. I just feel I’ve got about six years left as I say. If I’m in the top ten in the world in six years time I’ll be very happy. The only way of doing that is to help yourself and you don’t have to be overweight if you don’t want to be. I got to the stage where I don’t want to be anymore. I consider myself fit but I want to get fitter. I’m not starting from a base point of zero. I was fit enough. I was proving that. I could do my job quite ably but at the same time I’d like to be fitter, not just for golf but for self-esteem and confidence as well.”
Q Are you glad the James situation is resolved?
A
“I think it had to be resolved one way or another and I’m glad it has for the sake of Sam Torrance more than anything. I think Sam was caught in the middle of all this and I felt for him as well. I’m glad it’s been resolved before we start qualifying next month and it’s important that we have some consistency and stability within that and I’m glad for Sam that it has been resolved. As I said in Sweden I feel quite sad for Mark James. He was an excellent captain and I feel sorry for him. He was superb, because it wasn’t easy.”
Q You had migraines last week?
A
“Yes I didn’t feel well last week but I’m okay now. I get them occasionally but I’m better now. It wasn’t caused by the weight loss. Nothing to do with it. It was just one of these weeks which didn’t work. Unfortunately you have these things. I am fortunate that I had a very poor week and I finished 15th! I mean, that’s great. I like to say that. Wait until it gets good again. It just didn’t happen. I hit some destructive shots left which went into water hazards and I didn’t hole the putts necessary and you end up 15th. One of these things. Yes, it is unusual to find me down there and hopefully this week you won’t find me there at all.”
Q Worried about losing part of your game by losing weight?
A
“No, I’ve done this before. I am doing it very professionally and under supervision and there’s no problem that way. I don’t feel it, or fear it. It’s not just the weight I want to lose. I want to feel good about myself. Weight is just a number. I want to feel good about myself and it you’re confident going out on the first tee you are usually halfway to achieving your goal. That’s where I want to be. I want to feel more confident on the first tee about performing in public.”
Q Have you decided on a policy, to play or not play before majors?
A
“I like to play. I don’t want to sit around thinking about it and I think I’ve done that over the last few years and it seems to be okay. I know I haven’t won once so you’ll think: what’s he doing? But I would rather play before a major than sitting around thinking about it. To get competition mainly. Loch Lomond was great for me to finish third, although St.Andrews didn’t work out for me. But to have the tiredness factor of winning removed, I was pleased to be going into St.Andrews playing okay. Basically it just didn’t happen at St.Andrews. The acclimatisation factor for next week (US PGA) is okay. I can handle that.”
Q How far ahead is tiger?
A
“I think a statistic was put together saying that Ernie, now the No.2, if he wins the next seven majors he still can’t catch him. That’s a fairly long way ahead. I think you’ll find Tiger Woods No.1 in the world for the next five to ten years. That’s the area we’re looking at. He’s a long way ahead. Of course he is.”
Q Are you worried about being fourth in the Order of Merit?
A
“When I won in 1993 I was about 20th at this time. It doesn’t affect me. I think by now I’ve nothing to prove in Order of Merit races in Europe. I think that’s been done and dusted. If I won one of the next two tournaments I’m No.1 again so I’m not thinking about that. If I don’t win the Order of Merit this year then I’ll come back and try to win it next year which would mean a lot more to come back having lost it and won it again. It’s more of an international tour we’re on now and it’s not the same European Order of merit as such but I’m still ambitious to retain any title I’ve held for so long. If I don’t win it I won’t lose sleep over it I can assure me. I’ve had a sense of pride since 1993. It’s been a wonderful time and if it does come to an end I’d be the first to congratulate them because I know how hard it is. I wanted to get five – six and seven were a bonus. It might never happen again and someone to get to eight will take a while I’ve nothing to prove. I haven’t lost yet.”
