Interviews

Transcripts of pre-tournament interviews with Ernie Els, Shiv Kapur and Jyoti Randhawa

SHENTON GOMEZ: Jyoti, thank you for coming to this press conference. You must be quite pleased to be back here after winning two years in a row on this course.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: Yeah, I mean, definitely. This is a good golf course. It's been lucky for me on the last few years.

So coming back to the golf course here, it does bring back a little high and you know when you play on a golf course and you know you can perform, it's good to be back and get your confidence up.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: Well, I had a good two months' break in the winter and then I went to the Far East and played three tournaments there.

You know, it was good that I went there and played there. I was a little out of sorts, so playing there has got me back into the groove of tournament pressure and tournament golf. So coming into the week, you feel good about playing in India.

SHENTON GOMEZ: And what are your thoughts on the course this week, how is it laid out.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: Frankly I'm not very impressed with the way the course is right now. I guess the severe winter has hit most of the grass in the greens and the rough. I have never seen Delhi Golf Club look this yellow. It's always green; it's always lush; it's always very picturesque. But unfortunately we've been very unlucky with the weather, and the thing that's most damaging are the greens.

The greens are good. My regards to the greenskeeper, he has done a great job of it. He's done his best that he could. But you know, there's still a lot of improvement. I wish this tournament was a month later. It would be in good shape.

But, you know, saying that, it's the same for everybody. The only thing that I feel is that Delhi Golf Club is not in it's best condition for the pros to come and play it, so I'm quite sure a few of them might be complaining.

SHENTON GOMEZ: Still, you must be excited to be back playing in front of your home crowd.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: Yeah, any time you play at Delhi Golf Club, and any time you play in Delhi, it's very special. People come out and cheer you, and you know, it's good that people follow you and it's great for Indian golf and it's great for me. It's great that we have this kind of golf tournament, and the first time a European Tour event is happening at Delhi Golf Club, so that says a lot.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: I think the Indian field is very strong. This golf course, it's one golf course that requires local knowledge, especially on the greens. But this is a European Tour event and the world‑class players are here. You know, it's not that difficult for one to understand the golf course once you play on it.

But definitely, it's a very Indian field and the Indians are doing well in India and abroad. That's a very good chance of an Indian doing well and probably winning the golf tournament.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: Well, I think my chances are pretty fair. Golf is nobody's game; it's sometimes here, sometimes there. I really want to do the best that I can, you know, try and not think about the golf tournament, not try and think how big the event is or what they are playing here.

You know, if I can just go back and play my game and bring the best that I can, so I'm quite sure I'll be right up there.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: Ernie Els winning majors, it's great to have him here. You know he's a great ambassador of golf. Ernie and Tiger have really lifted this game up in the world. So any one of those guys coming here and playing golf in the country, it says so much more what golf is doing in this country and how golf is developing in the country.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: Well, the players seem to like it, because it's their first time here. I've played this golf course when it was ‑‑ when it's been in it's greatest condition. It's great right now. I'm not saying it's not good.

But you know, the rough is dead, basically. There's no rough around the greens. The greens are, you know, quick, but they are not as true as they can be, because I've played this golf course in immaculate conditions, and you know, if Ernie is very happy with the golf course, I'm great that he is.

But having won tournaments here and having played golf here, I don't think that it can do much better. It's 50 per cent of what it can be. You know if it's good for the guys, it's great for us.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: I think the changes have been pretty good. They make you think; it's not just pick‑up‑a‑driver‑and‑hit anymore. It's even more precise. So the only thing I didn't like was that the fairways being too far back on No. 8, with that green you really can't hit a 3‑iron. Most guys might be hitting 2‑iron into that hole. But other than that, I think it's great. The bunkers are very well placed and it's a great job done otherwise.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: I think if somebody goes out and wins this golf tournament, it would be the greatest achievement for Indian golf having won a European Tour event in India.

So this tournament, coming into Delhi Golf Club, and beating the best field, it's going to be great for Indian golf, sure.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: I'm playing this week and next week in Indonesia and then I come back and play two more weeks in India, Johnnie Walker. Basically I'm going to try to play as many tournaments as I can on The European Tour, and take it from there.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: I think it's going to be fairly ‑‑ anything between 14‑ and 18‑under would win the golf tournament.

JYOTI RANDHAWA: Yes, I think it was in a local event, I think I shot a 22‑under.

SHENTON GOMEZ: Jyoti, thank you very much for coming in and good luck this week.

SHENTON GOMEZ: Firstly, thanks, Shiv, for taking time off to attend this press conference. You must be glad to be competing on home soil again.

SHIV KAPUR: Yeah, it's nice. I had to skip the Indian Open last year because I was trying to get my playing rights in Europe and I love playing in Delhi Golf Club. I've obviously grown up here. It's home for me, and any time I get a chance to play against the best players in the world on my home track, it's really exciting.

SHENTON GOMEZ: You are the course record‑holder with 10‑under par last year; you must be feeling pretty at home and relaxed.

SHIV KAPUR: If I can get anywhere near that, I'll be pretty happy. With all of the changes they have made to the course, I think the course record is intact. So I'm glad they made those changes so I can have that title for a while.

No, the course is playing good, in good condition; in spite of all the weather and all of the stuff we heard about how bad it's going to be. It's a bit of a pleasant surprise. The greens are rolling well and we are getting good lies on the fairways, so can't really complain about course conditions.

So it's always nice to have played well before on a course you've played well and coming in with confidence. And it's a track I've played before, all my life. And I know if I get off to a bad start, I know there's birdies to be made out there if I get off to a good start I still know how to hold it together. That's always a plus.

SHENTON GOMEZ: How different is the course playing this time around, and what is the key for a low round, do you think?

SHIV KAPUR: Well, the keys on this golf course are always the same. You have to be a pretty straight driver of the ball. Guys have to know how to back off and just discipline yourself to hit lots of fairways. I think that's the key. It's a very penal golf course off the tee, but once you do that part right, I think you've done the hard work.

I think with the sort of inclement weather, cold weather and bit of rain forecast and all that, that's not usual for Delhi, that's the only thing, but the golf course by itself, basically you've just got to keep it pretty straight off the tee.

SHIV KAPUR: I think it's very strong. We've all seen how Joyti plays on this golf course, if I was a betting man I would bet on Joyti. And Jeev has found some form, and Joyti's got probably the best record at Delhi Golf Club of anybody, and obviously the list goes on. So I really won't be surprised if there's an Indian winner. A lot of the Indians are playing well and in good form.

The advantage we have over here is we play for 12 months of the year, and nobody has really had much of an off‑season and everybody is in the swing of things. For a lot of the European guys, they are coming out of the off‑season and this is one of first few events they are trying to get into form. So from the Indian and Asian point of view, we have a bit of an advantage there.

SHIV KAPUR: I'm feeling pretty good about my game. I found some form over the last couple of weeks. I played quite good for probably 90 per cent of the tournament last week in Dubai. I'm happy with the way I'm swinging.

You know, usually you need to come into a course like this with a bit of confidence. If you're spraying it off the tee, it's not usually a fun course to play, but I'm feeling pretty good about my game.

SHIV KAPUR: Well, I said this earlier, as well, if I like my chances to beat Ernie Els, it's probably here on my home course and not anywhere else. So if I've got a chance of beating

the best players in the world, I'd like to do on a course I've played a thousand times.

So obviously there's a bit of home advantage there, but at the same time comes a bit of added expectation and pressure. But it's a good pressure and positive pressure that you're playing in front of people you want to do well and for all of the members of the clubs, all their friends and everybody who is around but at the same time.

I know every sort of blade of grass on this golf course. I think as long as I keep my head on my shoulders and just concentrate on what I need to do, I should be all right.

SHIV KAPUR: It's one of the big ones. It's obviously nice when it's at home. I'll probably be able to answer that better once the week starts. But you know, you never know. There's always expectations. I won't say it's the biggest week but it's probably one of the important weeks.

SHIV KAPUR: Well, I worked quite a bit in the off‑season on my game. When we spoke, I think that was Singapore you are referring to, I was playing pretty good. I was driving the ball pretty straight at that point. My short game was sort of see‑sawing and I was having good and bad day with the putter.

But I worked pretty hard with my short game during the season and that's held me in good stead over the last couple of weeks. My putter seems to be working; hopefully it stays that way, but that's really the area that I've been paying a lot of attention to.

SHIV KAPUR: No, I don't, actually. I approve of a couple of the changes, but some of the bunkers that have been put in, I'm not really excited about. I think the main character and the main hazard on the golf course is the bushes. And when you put bunkers like that in, you take the driver and the 3‑wood out of a lot of the holes, especially the sixth hole for one where you have a couple of bunkers added which I don't think was required. That's one.

14, they have gone back to a par 5 so I think that's a smart decision. You don't really want to have a par 4 where you could potentially be coming into a green that's ten feet wide.

The 8th hole, again that bunker takes the driver out of play. I think if you encourage people to hit a driver on this golf course, you're going to see more birdies and doubles and triples, as well. You want to see that risk/reward and I think they have taken a bit of that risk/reward out by adding these bunkers.

If I was to set up the golf course, I would shave the rough completely, have it hard and fast so the ball runs into the bushes and take out these bunkers and let people have a rip with their driver, and then you'll see some big numbers, as well.

SHIV KAPUR: Yeah, one, as well, correct. I think all they have done is move the tee back so it doesn't really change the width of the fairway.

I think if you are going to put a back‑right pin position, you need to have the tee up on No. 10 because otherwise it's an inaccessible hole. You can't come into with a 5‑iron and try to stop it at that flag. This is not a U.S. Open‑style golf course, so you can't do that.

No. 1, slipped my mind, that bunker is pretty much in the No. 1 position where you want to hit it off the tee. You never put bunkers in a place where you want the ball to end up. If you hit a bad shot, you should end up in a bunker, or if it's bad planning. On a par 5 to have a bunker at 280 yards off the tee, I just don't see the sense in that.

18th I agree with, because 18 becomes a very wide driving area. You want to encourage people to go down the right side, because if you leak it slightly right, you'll go in the bush. That bunker makes sense because it makes you strategize a bit. And it is the last hole of the tournament, you want a bit of excitement. Whether it be the first or sixth or even eighth hole, I just don't see the point of putting bunkers there.

SHIV KAPUR: Across the world, this is one of my favourites, several reasons, this is home for my and the golf course I've grown up here. It's the kind of golf course you can play every day and not get bored of.

A lot of courses you play ‑‑ the character of this course with the trees, you seem to be hitting a different shot and different lie every day, which you don't get on the new courses. So this is one of my favourite courses the world over.

Q. Thanks, as always for coming in to join us and welcome to the Emaar-MGF Indian Masters. You are renowned as a world player, Ernie, and this is another venue to add to your C.V. Give us your thoughts on being to India for the first time.

A. I'm really excited to be here. Just played the course, the full 18 holes, and I think it's a wonderful golf course, old-fashioned course. We've really got to shape the ball around the golf course and really think about the shots that you want to use.

A. We haven’t got anything signed or sealed but we have the wine coming in to India now and that is nice, it was my first visit to India last year to set that up, but we are talking to people and we will see what we can get going here.

Q. Didn’t quite get the win last weekend but there must have been a few positives to come out of last week for you?

A. Yes although it was disappointing to say the least. The second shot on the 18th, the wind must have been really gusting because it came up way short but it was a disappointing final nine holes there and I think the tenth, 11th and 12th probably cost me the tournament there, missing a few key putts. Losing to the World’s Number One is no disgrace but it doesn’t make it better. I had a chance and I probably should have won but I didn’t but I feel my game will be good this year. I have done a lot of work and for my first event of the year to come that close is good, and obviously bad too, but I think I will have more chances like that in the future.

A. No I am still pretty hard on myself. The one I messed up last year in South Africa too was really bad. I could have laid up there but made a bad decision on the second shot there and paid the penalty. But last week was my first event after a long break but still not winning there when I felt I should have won was tough to take. But it was the first event of the year – I can’t kill myself over it.

Q. Did you expect what you found on the golf course, have you played anything like before?

A. I have played a lot of courses around the world obviously and this course for some reason reminds me a little of South Africa. The vegetation and some of the trees are very similar to what we have in South Africa. The lay-out is very old style and design which I really like and I enjoy the course. You never play two holes which are similar and you never really see any other holes out there when you are playing which I like too. You have to put your ball in play and while, with technology, the course will be playing a little bit shorter than you would have liked it to play, you have to put the ball in play. The greens are very well designed too and it is well bunkered. It is a true old style golf course which I really enjoy.

A. Today I hit a couple more because I am trying out a new driver but I will be hitting a lot of three woods and three irons and maybe some five woods from tees. I am using the new square driver today and I hit it really nicely on the back nine.

A. Well I was playing with the Honda man today so I was playing for a Honda I suppose!! But we halved it on the last hole so I’ll take the back wheel!!

A. Eh…no! I don’t think I’d get any insurance at all if I drove on these roads on a motorcycle!

Q. The Majors are obviously your focus this year but is Asia in your plans at all?

A. My schedule this year is designed purely to get the best out of my game and I am really looking forward to a couple of weeks off after this – go back to London for a week and then to South Africa and then I will be in Florida and America right through the US Masters so I will be playing quite a bit of golf in the US and it will be the same around the other Majors out there. I might be playing out there towards the end of the year though, obviously Singapore and maybe one more, so who knows, maybe I’ll come back for the Indian Open, we’ll see.

Q. Are you prepared for the noise that will be here this week for people who are not used to golf and not used to seeing such big stars as yourself here?

A. Well I think compared to the cricketers we are pretty small here but it was quite nice with the people out there today and yesterday taking pictures and saying how glad they were to see us here in the flesh so it was nice to see their excitement. They seem very golf knowledgable and I am sure we are in for a good week. I hear they are opening up the gates so I am sure we will have a lot of people here and it is always nice to play in front of a lot of people.

Q. We have the Race to Dubai, the Desert Swing, the three Tours out here talking about joining forces, do you ever envisage a time you would not play at all on the US PGA Tour and instead play a something like a world tour?

A. Well you can talk about a World Tour but The European Tour is pretty much a world tour. I think they have done a good job, done their homework through the years and made good relationships with other Tours and other countries and I think they have the basis of that now. Obviously if you get the purses up you will get the players to come and play there as well and it is becoming bigger. If you look at China and Asia and this region here and the Middle East, you can already play a full schedule without going to the US if you want to. But I still feel like I want to play against the best players in the world and I think they the majority of the best players in the world still play on that Tour.

Q. Can you compare China and India in golfing terms from what you’ve seen so far?

A. They have a couple more tournaments in China and a lot more golf courses but India is right on the heels of China and growing at a very rapid pace. I feel that the Indian golfers at the moment are at a better level than the Chinese players. If you look at Jeev who has won in Japan and on The European Tour and Jyoti, Shiv doing well and Arjun playing on the US Tour, they have all broken through. But India need to start building more courses and have an infrastructure for the game and then hopefully you will be off to the races. You do play a lot of ball sports here like hockey and cricket and tennis and so the ball sense is there for the youngsters so for them to pick up golf it might be easier than it is for the youngsters in China.

A. Well if we had the fog we had this morning there is no way we could play so hopefully that will lift for tomorrow morning. But apart from that, conditions are perfect for golf, a good temperature and not much breeze, not too cold, so we should have good scoring.

A new generation professional who is playing both the professional tour and teaching at Mumbai

Was introduced to the game of golf in November 1998. As a family of 4, we all started learning this sport together at the BPGC. Being members of the club, i considered it as an adventure to try out a new sport.

Apart from winning the team event in the Singapore Amateur event (along with Irina, for Inida), my best golfing moment has been scoring a 3over par at the DGC. It is my favorite golf course

The INGA has made an excellent effort to try and make a uniform style of teaching for all the professionals in India. But the most important criteria for an indiviual to be a good teacher, is to have a PASSION for golf. It is only then will he / she have the patience and mind frame to help others learn the game.

golf is getting to new heights in india. over the past 5 years there are many more avenues opening up, as compared to before. i am a playing & teaching professional and will always try to do my best in any decision i take.

favourite cuisine- nothnig can beat my mom's homemade dishes !! being a total foodie (right from indian/thai/lebanese/chinese)

a number of private company have now indulged into making this sport part of their cooperate & social events. althoght this has bought about more awareness of the game, it would be a better option for these private companies to sponsor various golf clinics / camps. to start with ne need to raise the number of people involved in this sport, right from juniors/seniors/ladies.

Hard work, mental toughness, patience. Always try and give it your best shot !!

August 24: In this final segment of Head to Head, we pit Malaysia’s Iain Steel against compatriot Danny Chia in a series of light-hearted questions.

Read about how they spend time on the bus en route to the golf course, what they fear the most while playing and their thoughts after making a triple bogey.

Chia: I normally show up about an hour and 20 minutes before my tee time. I’ll hit some short wedges and then move on the mid-irons, fairway woods and driver. I only hit the even numbered clubs, which is my routine. I will then head to the chipping green and hit some putts.

Steel: I’ll do about 10 minutes of stretching in the locker room. And then I’ll go to the range and start with my wedges and then go up to the eight iron, five iron. If I’m hitting those well, I’ll hit my three iron and hit half a dozen balls with my driver.

Chia: If I’ve had a good round, I’ll have some lunch and then practice. If I’ve shot a bad round, then I’ll go straight to the practice range and skip lunch.

Steel: If it’s the morning, I’ll normally go in, have some lunch and a breather. Then I’ll go out and chip and putt.

It takes 45 minutes to get from hotel to golf course. How do you kill the time in the bus?

Steel: I’ll try to get a comfortable seat and recline the chair and take a quick nap.

Steel: I’ll stick to my same routine, which is to go to the putting green and hit some chips and putts.

Steel: If it was something unforeseeable, like just plain bad luck that day, then I’ll go straight back to the hotel.

You have two putts from 10 feet for par to win a title. Do you go for glory with a birdie?

What do you think of when you’re faced with a downhill 5-foot putt?
Chia: Try to lag it into the hole.

Chia: Previously, I would take my driver out and give it a good whack to get my anger out. But these days, I’ll try to focus hard at the next shot at hand.

Steel: I want to say routine and keep to my game plan but I think I’ll certainly swing it a bit harder to get the frustration out.

There's water on the right and OB on the left. How do you approach this tee shot to a par four 480 yard hole and being in position for a top-five finish?

Chia: I’ll hit a fade in there with a club which I’m comfortable with for that round.

Steel: Just pin point a tiny speck in a distance and focus that as a target and not think of what is on either side.

Will you speak to your playing partners if you're in contention on the back nine on Sunday?

Chia: For sure. If I keep talking, it helps me to relax. If I’m quiet, I’ll get tense.

Steel: I will try to break the ice and see what they like. But I wouldn’t want to get in their way or them in my way.

If you are drawn to play with Tiger Woods, how do you think you'll react playing with him?

Steel: I did play with him in 1993 in a college event. He was pretty relaxed but I was pretty nervous.

You're playing in the Pro-am and one of your amateurs can't hit the ball. What do you do?

Chia: I’ll try to give them a few basic tips to get them going. That’s part of our job.

Steel: I just try to get them to relax by telling them some jokes and swing hard in case you miss it.

In this latest segment of Head to Head, we talk to colourful American Bryan Saltus and Brad Kennedy of Australia.

See how they pit against each other in a series of quick questions including how they warm up, what they fear the most on the golf course and their thoughts on various other challenges.

Saltus: I chip and putt first and then I'll get sweaty at the range right before I tee off.

Kennedy: I usually take an hour, just go through my bag on the range. I'll probably hit some lob wedges and then hit a nine iron, seven iron and a few longer irons. Then a few three woods and a couple of drivers. Then head for some chipping and putting.

Saltus: It depends on how I play. If things were bad, I'll go and practice with the clubs that cost me the most that day. But 90% of the time I don't usually practice after golf.

Kennedy: Generally, I don't like to practice after a round. A lot of practice for me is done by reflecting on what happened during the day.

It takes 45 minutes to get from the hotel to golf course. How do you kill the time in the bus?

Kennedy: Normally sit and chat with a few other guys. I also listen to some music.

Kennedy: Hopefully, all the clubs are still in the bag! Then I'll reflect on what went on that day. If it was a morning round, I would probably head to the range for a bit.

You have two putts from 10 feet for par to win a title. Do you go for glory with a birdie?

Saltus: I'm a good lag putter and I normally don't go for any putts. If it goes in, it goes in.

Kennedy: One guy told me that you always putt to make it, so I'll probably be aiming to make that first putt.

Kennedy: The most important thing for me is the line, working on exactly the line that I want to hit it on. Speed is never going to be a problem as it will always get to the hole.

Kennedy: Obviously, you'll be heated at the next tee but the biggest thing for me is to try and focus even harder on the next tee shot.

There's water on the right and OB on the left. How do you approach this tee shot to a par four 480 yard hole and being in position for a top-five finish?

Kennedy: Depending on how I'm playing, the most important thing is to take the rubbish out of your head and focus on where you want the ball to end up and focus on the pre-shot routine.

Will you speak to your playing partners if you're in contention on the back nine on Sunday?

Saltus: Oh yeah, I just can't shut up out there. I only hope that I don't bother anyone while we are playign.

Kennedy: I normally like to chat. It's a long time to be out on the golf course and it would be hard being by yourself.

If you are drawn to play with Tiger Woods, how do you think you'll react playing with him?

Saltus: I'll probably be in awe most of the way but hopefully I can make him think this guy has got some talent.

Kennedy: I think I'll react pretty well. I've played with some top players before. It lifts you to the next level knowing that it will be a good day. It'll be a new experience and I'll try to beat him.

You're playing in the Pro-am and one of your amateurs can't hit the ball. What do you do?

Kennedy: I'll try to give him a few pointers to get him around and get him to enjoy the day. Try to get him to get the ball up in the air and enjoy the day. If not, tell him to pick up tennis or something else!

June 22: This week's Head to Head series pits New Zealand's Mahal Pearce against American Clay Devers.

Devers, a two-time winner on the Asian Tour, is one of the liveliest players on the circuit while Pearce is a former New Zealand Open champion who is searching for his winning breakthrough in the region.

Read how both players stack up as they tackle various questions thrown at them.

Pearce: I'll hit every club in the bag with about five to 10 balls, hit some pitch shots, bunker play and spend time on the putting green.

Devers: Spend 20 minutes at the range hitting balls and then chipping and putting for 30 minutes before heading to the first tee.

Pearce: Usually, I'll have some lunch and if I feel alright, I'll hit some balls.

Devers: I'll rest and eat something. I never hit balls after my rounds as the heat in Asia can be very tiring.

It takes 45 minutes to get from hotel to golf course. How do you kill the time in the bus?

Pearce: I'll go home and enjoy it. After a round like that, you don't need to do anything.

Pearce: If I hit it bad that day, I'll definitely get to the range and try to fix the swing.

You have two putts from 10 feet for par to win a title. Do you go for glory with a birdie?

There's water on the right and OB on the left. How do you approach this tee shot to a par four 480 yard hole and being in position for a top-five finish?

Pearce: I'll still take the driver out and give it a good rip. Stick to the routine.

Will you speak to your playing partners if you're in contention on the back nine on Sunday?

Pearce: Yeah, if there's chatting going on, I will. Usually, I don't talk much anyway.

Devers: Always. You're out there having fun. You can't have fun if you don't speak to anyone.

If you are drawn to play with Tiger Woods, how do you think you'll react playing with him?

Devers. It'll be just like playing with anybody else. I'll probably be more motivated.

You're playing in the Pro-am and one of your amateurs can't hit the ball. What do you do?

Pearce: Try to give him a simple tip to get it airborne because if he manages it, he'll be a happy man.

Devers: Just try to help him, especially on the greens as everybody can putt, right?

JUNE 08, 2007 : In the latest segment of Head to Head, Juvic Pagunsan of the Philippines takes on India's Shiv Kapur in a series of light-hearted questions about their approach to the game.

Read about what Pagunsan , last year's Asian Tour Rookie of the Year, and his predecessor Kapur have to say.

Pagunsan : I'll stretch for 20 minutes and spend 30 minutes at the practice range. I'll hit every club in the bag and spend five minutes on the practice green before my tee time.

Kapur : I take about 45 minutes to an hour to warm up. I start at the range using my sand wedge, nine iron, seven iron, four iron, three wood and driver and will then finish with a few pitches with the lob wedge, bunker shots and putting.

Pagunsan : I'll hit some balls and putts and also think about the stuff that went right or wrong during my round.

Kapur : I'll eat first and then hit the range for about an hour to work on my swing. I'll then do 45 minutes of putting before the sun goes down.

It takes 45 minutes to get from hotel to golf course. How do you kill the time in the bus?

Kapur : Most of the time, I listen to my ipod . I used to listen to a lot of hip-hop, then trans and now techno stuff.

Kapur : I'll take my driver out more often at the range and hit a few to take the anger out.

You have two putts from 10 feet for par to win a title. Do you go for glory with a birdie?

Kapur : To hole it so that the last roll drops into the hole. Even if I miss it I'm only six inches short. I always practice that.

There's water on the right and OB on the left. How do you approach this tee shot to a par four 480 yard hole being in position for a top-five finish?

Pagunsan : I'm comfortable hitting my driver, so I'll be shooting for the fairway.

Kapur : If I have a chance to win, I'll be aiming for birdie. If I'm one shot back, I'll take it on. Otherwise I'll play the hole no matter what position I'm in.

Will you speak to your playing partners if you're in contention on the back nine on Sunday?

Pagunsan : Probably in between some holes. We still have to concentrate hard on our own games. You don't want to bother your playing partner as well.

If you are drawn to play with Tiger Woods, how do you think you'll react playing with him?

Pagunsan : Although I'll be the happiest player in the field, I'll also feel very nervous.

Kapur : I'll be nervous. My heart will probably be pumping very hard but I'll look forward to it as I'll learn a lot from it.

You're playing in the Pro-am and one of your amateurs can't hit the ball. What do you do?

Kapur : Most of the time, I'll walk by the side and shake my head! I'm not very patient in pro- ams . I've actually played with a guy who was on the golf course for the first time and it wasn't fun.

Singh: I normally swing with a heavy club, then with a rhythm club and then start with the sand wedge and working upwards. I'll do yoga for 30 minutes in the morning.

Thaworn : I'll start with my sand wedge and move up to my pitching wedge, and seven iron . If I feel good with my driver that week, I won't hit any drivers at the range. Then I'll chip and putt before going to the first tee.

Singh: Depending on the time, I'll normally have lunch and then hit the range. I'll hit some balls and chip and putt as well to finish off.

Thaworn : If I feel like I need to practice, then, I'll go to the range. Otherwise, I'll head home.

It takes 45 minutes to get from hotel to golf course. How do you kill the time in the bus?

Singh: I normally play the golf course mentally, each hole and say positive things to myself.

Singh: Just try to observe the positive vibes from that and remember how I did it. I'll try to tell myself that I've shot a 63 and will try to do it again.

Thaworn : I won't go to the range for sure as others might be thinking I'm showing off!

Singh: Forget about it and hit the range. I'll probably be hitting as many balls as possible.

Thaworn : If that was due to having a poor feel during the day, then I certainly won't practice.

You have two putts from 10 feet for par to win a title. Do you go for glory with a birdie?

There's water on the right and OB on the left. How do you approach this next tee shot to a par-4 480 yard 18th hole and being in position for a top-five finish?

Singh: Obviously, everything will come into your mind. Just try to hit your normal shot and stick with the routine and thought process.

Will you speak to your playing partners if you're in contention on the back nine on Sunday?

If you are drawn to play with Tiger Woods, how do you think you'll react playing with him?

Singh: I've played with him before. I was nervous at the start but I settled down pretty quick. He's a nice guy.

Thaworn : I really wouldn't want to play with him but if it happens that way, the important thing is to maintain my own concentration.

You're playing in the Pro-am and one of your amateurs can't hit the ball at all. What will do you do?

Park: I'll start with the short irons and move up. However, I never hit a driver at the range as I get too tired doing it!

Blyth: I'll stretch for 10 minutes and then spend 45 minutes at the range, hitting my sand wedge, 56 degree wedge, pitching wedge, seven iron, four iron, three wood and driver. I will only hit four balls with the driver at the range. And then hit some chips and putts.

Park: I'll go back to the hotel and relax. Most of the times, I'll take it easy.

Blyth : Usually hit a few balls for an hour to loosen up, stretch and head home.

It takes 45 minutes to get from the hotel to golf course. How do you kill time on the bus?

Blyth : Listen to music. If I'm on my way to the club, it'll be soothing music like Cold Play but if it's on the way home, it'll be the hard stuff!

What's the worst thing that you fear when you're playing?
Park: Just getting unlucky with bad breaks or bad bounces.

You have two putts from 10 feet for par to win a tournament. Do you go for glory?

Park: If that was my third double, I wouldn't care but if it was my first of the day, I'll be furious!

Blyth : When I was younger, I would rip it at the next hole to get the anger out. These days, I just try to hit the next fairway.

There's water on the right and OB on the left at the 18th hole, 480 yard par four and you're in position for a top-five finish. How will you play the tee shot?

Blyth : I would hit whatever club that I've used since the first round. Basically stick to the game plan.

Will you speak to your playing partners if you're in contention on the back nine on Sunday?

Park: Yes. Some people don't speak but I generally like to chit chat. It depends on the mood as well.

You're playing in the Pro-Am and one of your amateurs can't get it off the deck. What will you do ?
Park: Just play golf. I'll try to give me some tips and encourage him.

Blyth : Just have fun with him and make him enjoy the day and not worry about the golf. Try to have a good laugh.