Flash Area interview with:
ANGELA STANFORD
Q. Day two better than day one?
ANGELA STANFORD: Yes. Not so much striking the ball, but I held
it together and mentally it was much better today. Could have gone south
quick.
Q. How helpful was it to come into this tournament off a victory?
ANGELA STANFORD: My confidence was up. Considering I haven't made
a cut here until now, I needed that boost. So it's really helped me
in my short game especially.
Q. Talk a little bit about how if you get in the wrong spot
on this course it can just kill you. Because it seems like every player
almost has gotten at least a double on one hole in their round.
ANGELA STANFORD: I haven't yet, so don't do that. I think that
that was the one thing that I learned in the practice round. We -- I
like to look for the bad spots in my practice rounds. A lot of people
would think that that's negative. But I'm trying to find out where,
if I miss it, I need to find the best place to miss it. My instructor
has stressed that from the beginning. So I'm not real sure what those
spots are you're talking about, I hope I don't find them. But if I put
myself in a bad spot I just try to get out quick.
Q. What did you like about what you did mentally today as opposed
to yesterday?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I think we started on number 10. I'm trying
to think what hole. Number 13 I kind of sensed from the beginning I
wasn't striking it very well and when I'm tired I really start missing
it right. It could go both ways. And I think I caught it faster than
I have in the past. I chipped in on 14. So that was a big boost. That
was for par. I chipped in for par.
Q. How far?
ANGELA STANFORD: It was only like 20 or 25 feet. It was directly
kind of behind the pin. But I think the fact that I caught that I was
kind of tired and really paid attention to that and that really helped.
Q. How do you prepare for this tournament? What does it mean
to not only make the cut here for the first time but to be right up
there at the top?
ANGELA STANFORD: It's really neat. I always thought my first cut
here would be right on the line, right on the number. But I'm glad it's
this and I'm just excited about the weekend. I've never played a weekend
at an Open so I'm thrilled. I can't wait.
Q. How much tougher is the course -- is the course playing tougher
today than it was yesterday?
ANGELA STANFORD: I think it is. I think it's tougher today. I think
they have put the pins in certain places that you can get in trouble
quick. You've just got to find the fat part of the green or the best
place to putt from and do that. So I think some of the pin placements
were tricky today.
Q. You're in second right now, how does that feel to be in second
place in the U.S. Open?
ANGELA STANFORD: I'm in second? I don't really have words for that
right now. I had no idea. Thank you.
Q. Will you spend time on your game this afternoon or sleeping?
ANGELA STANFORD: Probably sleeping. We may go hit a few balls,
just to make sure I knew what was going on early, just to kind of make
sure I have that ready to go for tomorrow. But I think I'm going to
get some rest this afternoon and have a good time tonight with my family
and friends and come back tomorrow.
Q. In the past you said you prepared too hard maybe. How does
this compare?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I found out there that I was tired. And
I think that mentally it would be best for me to go home and get some
sleep. If I stand out here and bang balls I just think it's going to
wear me down and wear me out. And I'm -- I feel like I'm one of those
players that I need to crave it, I need to want to be here. And if I
stay here the rest of the afternoon, regardless of if it's the Open
or not, I'm not going to be as excited. So I need a break from it and
I'll be excited coming back.
Q. Why is it so hard to process that you're in second? Is it
because of the margin that you're behind or just what?
ANGELA STANFORD: That's quite a bit of it. When there's a player
that's running away from you, it's hard to think about where you fall
in the field because you're still chasing that one person. And she's
a good ways out in front of you. But I guess also because I saw so many
other names in front of me, I think I was in fourth or fifth with a
couple holes left. So I guess I'm just shocked that I'm where I am.
Q. McKay has five feet for a triple on the last hole.
ANGELA STANFORD: I'm happy to be standing here in front of you
guys.
(Laughter.)
Q. Off the course, you mean?
ANGELA STANFORD: Say it again?
Q. And off the course?
ANGELA STANFORD: Oh, yeah, I'm thrilled to be off the course right
now. Happy to be right here.
Q. People that are from outside of Oregon are always talking
about the rain in Oregon and we have got perfect weather. Is it a surprise
for everybody, do you think, that the weather has been so great?
ANGELA STANFORD: You know every time I've been here it's been perfect.
So when I hear rain, I think, okay, I have never seen it. And my parents
coming up, they have never been here and you hear northwest, rain, and
they're like, this is perfect.
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