IBEN TINNING
Second consecutive day you’ve broken 70, how is it possible for you to be this competitive this quickly? IBEN TINNING: I don’t know. It must be talent.
It must be talent. Now you told us yesterday you were not going to be chicken, and you were going to go for flags you don’t normally go for. Is it liberating playing like that? IBEN TINNING: In a way it is. Obviously I’m not going for everything. I’m not trying to play stupid golf. But I’m trying to really attack the holes I should attack on.
Is it a different mind set, you standing up there saying, I’m going to go for this pin that perhaps I normally wouldn’t do? IBEN TINNING: Yeah, and still this morning, when I went out to play, I had my stomach I was really nervous the first few holes. And it was funny and I said to my husband, I said, “Well, this is actually what I’m going to miss.” So I’ve just got to enjoy it, even though it was a bit terrifying.
To win your last event on the day that you retire would be a fairy tale. Do you believe in fairy tales? IBEN TINNING: I do, in a way, yeah. I’m actually a little bit of a romantic. Probably doesn’t look like that, but I am.
I heard on the television that you’re going to do a psychotherapy course when you finish here; is that right, four years? IBEN TINNING: Yeah, that’s sort of my plan if I can get it, because I haven’t been in school for like 16 years. So I’ll see if I can get in and do the four years, that would be great.
A degree sort of thing? IBEN TINNING: A diploma, yeah.
And you want to help youngsters like Monica and Lisa? IBEN TINNING: For now, I would like that. And I think, you know, when I hopefully get that diploma, I want to do more it doesn’t have to be athletes.
Because you’ve been inspired; you have a psychotherapist, a mental coach. IBEN TINNING: Yeah.
And what have you learned form him? IBEN TINNING: Oh, God, Bjarne Lellek.
And what have you learned from him? IBEN TINNING: Oh, my God, I learned so much, I can’t start to explain. But he definitely taught me to look more positive at things and think things through before you actually react on it. It’s hard to say what I really learned, I learned a lot.
About the round, the highs and lows today, the best birdies? IBEN TINNING: Well, I was happy in the end that I finished off birdie, par, par, instead of those bogeys coming in, so that was pretty nice. I had a good a little bit of a surprising birdie on 16, and I had a great par on 15, as well.
How long were the putts? IBEN TINNING: Well, 15 and 16, they weren’t more than 3 1/2 metres or something like that, so they were not extreme but still they were very good to hole. And I did that today, my putter was really nice to me today. My coach is here today, James Petts. He’s really Lee Anne Pace’s, but I borrow him once in a while, and he helped me out with my wedge game today. So that was really nice. I had a few of those I normally hit, a few within a metre or two metres, and I haven’t had that for two days so I was a little bit disappointed with that. But I helped me out and now I’m good.
He was on the range with you? IBEN TINNING: Yeah, he was here this morning.
It was that kind of day where the leaderboard kept moving. Were you noticing the leaderboard? IBEN TINNING: I wasn’t really. I’m actually surprised the scores are not any lower to be honest. And you know, I’m definitely playing some of the best golf I can. I really played lovely today and this was definitely my best day out there.
How do you think your mind set will be tomorrow morning when you know it’s your last day? IBEN TINNING: Well, I’m going to speak to by Bjarne, so we’ll see tomorrow.
And that’s the thing, obviously it’s a weekend where you’re thinking about retiring, but now you almost have to switch your gears to winning. What’s going through your head? IBEN TINNING: I wasn’t really prepared for this, but you know, I’ve got nothing to lose really, have I. So it’s just going out there and trying to do my best and if I get nervous, I get nervous; or if the adrenaline rush is too much, it’s too much. I just have to try and control it.
Has that mind set helped you play well these two days? IBEN TINNING: Yeah, and I also have a very good breathing technique (indicating deep breathing). That helped a lot, especially in the beginning. That was good. But it was funny to be so nervous in the beginning. I’m like, what are you doing, you’re 36, you’re retiring and you’re like jumping.
When you look back at your career, what do you think would be the highlight, and any regrets that you have? IBEN TINNING: Oh, regrets, probably to meet my sports psychologist a bit before would that been nice. A few years before I actually met him would be great. That’s one of the regrets that I didn’t find good enough, a sports psychologist. And the highlight is definitely the Solheim Cup Barsebäck. That’s still one of my great memories.
Your last victory was when? IBEN TINNING: Many years ago.
And I asked you this the other day, early in the round, it’s hard to contemplate winning this, but now you’re going into the final day in the lead, or quite possibly in the lead. Again, what would it mean to end your career with a victory? IBEN TINNING: It would be great. I’ve been waiting for a career win for, what, six years, and I think it’s about time, and that’s probably one of my left chances. I might play one or two next year, but I’ll see what it is. I’ve just got to stick to my game plan in my pocket and that’s it.
Now getting back to the round, you mentioned on 15 how you saved par, what was the key there? Was it a big putt? IBEN TINNING: I hit it on the right side of the green and I had a really, really quick chip, and it just released and I had like a three meter putt. Actually when I stood over it, I didn’t really believe it was going to go in. So when I saw it rolled in, just this was just a bonus day.
You also talked about a birdie on 16 didn’t expect? IBEN TINNING: Yeah, I actually walked all the way up and then it rolled in. I thought it was going to be short.
Was that a chip or a putt? IBEN TINNING: A putt.
Your putter was working for you. IBEN TINNING: Yeah, my putter has been very nice all week. My wedge and driver and putter has been my best weapons today.
MELISSA REID
Saturday is known as moving day, how pleased with your move? MELISSA REID: Yeah, I was really pleased. 68 is the best I’ve shot around here. So all in all quite happy, and it was a good finish to finish with a couple of birdies.
You made five birdies on each of your three rounds, the previous two you had made too many bogeys and today you eliminated that; what was the key to that? MELISSA REID: I hit it really well on the range this morning. I kind of got my rhythm this morning. And I was actually a little bit unlucky on 9. I thought I hit a good shot on sand but unfortunately went in the water. I didn’t put myself in any trouble and I just played really, really solid today.
Despite being third in the Order of Merit you’re disappointed with your year and you had some opportunities and had not taken them. How much would winning tomorrow change how you feel about this year? MELISSA REID: Yeah, it would be a nice little Christmas present, wouldn’t it, to win this week. But there’s 18 more holes. There’s a long way to go. But I’ve put myself now in a good position so we’ll see if I’m in the final group, or second final group; so I know what’s going to be happening in front of me. Yeah, another 68 tomorrow would be really nice.
ANNA NORDQVIST
How do you summarise your round today? ANNA NORDQVIST: I fought hard today. I didn’t hit my irons very well, but hung in there with a good short game. Made a couple easy mistakes coming in, but it is what it is. Had a good chance for birdie on 18 but I didn’t make it. But I’m only one shot out and I look forward to tomorrow.
What did you struggle with, if anything? ANNA NORDQVIST: I just didn’t hit my irons very well today. Driver was good and most of my wedges was pretty good. But just couldn’t get my irons going.
You were talking coming in? ANNA NORDQVIST: I hit it a little bit thin and made bogey from nowhere. I thought I hit a good putt on 18.
And how do you feel coming into tomorrow? As you said, you’re in pretty good position. ANNA NORDQVIST: Yeah, absolutely, I have nothing to lose, just going to go out there fire at it.
Have you had a chance to go head to head with Melissa or Tinning? Have you had a situation on Sunday where you’ve played with them? ANNA NORDQVIST: No, I never played with them on a Sunday. I think they are going to be in the leading group. So it’s always nice to come from behind.
LYDIA HALL
Still up there with a chance to win tomorrow. LYDIA HALL: Yeah, it was a bit disappointing but I hung in there the back nine. Struggled on the front nine. A couple of mistakes here and there on putting. I struggled with the pace today. But yeah, I’m glad I’m still in the same position I was in yesterday. So I haven’t dropped any shots, and hopefully I can have a good day tomorrow and see what happens really.
This is like a bit out of the blue in a way. I know you’ve worked hard; what in particular have you been working on? LYDIA HALL: I’ve been working really, really hard with my coach, John Peters, on power, and he’s also caddying this week. And also, John Bruno who, is personal trainer, been doing loads of golf specific strength work with him, and a nutritionist also, and doing some NLP work with my personal trainer, as well. Been doing that for the last 10, 11 weeks. Yeah, everything’s been helping obviously, so just been working hard.
Have you put much distance on your drives? LYDIA HALL: Yeah, added at least ten, ten yards to my drive, and my other clubs, as well.
That’s because of the training you’ve been doing? LYDIA HALL: Yeah, the strength work I’ve been doing and the positions that John has got me in, as well. I’m a lot more connected in my arms and in a better position at the top and using my lower body. Whereas, I was in a position at the top during the season and I was stuck, I couldn’t use my lower body. So we have altered a few things and made the swing a lot stronger and now I have my lower body to help me get more distance.
Ten yards in ten weeks? LYDIA HALL: Yeah, definitely.
You were saying that you were a little bit disappointed, you came into the lead, but you said your round it seemed like it almost to be honest at the midpoint I was thinking, we can write her off but next thing I look up you’re back in it. It sounded like an up and down round a little bit. LYDIA HALL: It was a little up and down. I had a fairly solid start, good drive, good second shot in the first, and then I pushed it into the water on the second, and cost me double bogey. Then I hung in there for a couple of holes and I made another bogey, and 3 putted 9 with pace. And then I kind of from the 9th and 10th, kind of got my head back on and focused, and just focused on myself and one shot at a time.
Obviously you’re up against someone who is 16th ranked player, won an the LPGA Tour; you’ve got a dangerous veteran who has won five tournaments. What’s your mind set going in, you haven’t even had a Top 5 finish, so how do you do you give yourself a chance? LYDIA HALL: Absolutely. I’m just concentrating on myself. Nobody else I can’t control what anybody else can do out there, only what I’m doing. So, yeah, there’s huge names on the leaderboard, and I’m just concentrating on myself, one shot at a time. We’ll see what happens. Anything can happen.
What do you think for you after these few rounds, are some are the things you’ve done right and some of the things you’re not happy with; what’s the key to victory tomorrow? LYDIA HALL: Just got to get the pace right a bit better on the greens. Just a few more drives on the fairways, as well. I lost that a little bit, as well, today, but got it back towards the back nine. Yeah, it’s just basically the greens in regulations, the same old boring golf and just hole a few more putts.
