Wegmans LPGA
Locust Hill Country Club
Pittsford, N.Y.
June 22, 2008

Final-round interviews: Eun-Hee Ji | Suzann Pettersen

Final-round notes

Ji holds off Pettersen at Wegmans LPGA to become season's fourth Rolex First-Time Winner.
PITTSFORD, N.Y., June 22, 2008 – South Korean Eun-Hee Ji (70-71-64-67=272, -16) became the fourth Rolex First-Time Winner of the 2008 LPGA Tour season at the Wegmans LPGA as she held off Rolex Rankings' number three and five-time Tour winner Suzann Pettesen (70-65-67-72=272, -14) by two strokes. In addition to a winner's check of $300,000, the 22-year-old became the fifth player to make the Wegmans LPGA her first LPGA Tour victory, and also became the seventh player in the history of the event to win at Locust Hill Country Club in her first attempt.

“I'm a fly in the sky. I cannot describe what I feel right now,” Ji said via translator. “Last year, Suzann beat me (at the Hana Bank ▪ KOLON Championship) and today I beat Suzann. I was just trying to put pressure on her, and I feel comfortable coming from behind rather than leading the tournament. It's indescribable.”

Pettersen entered Sunday's final round with a three stroke lead over Ji, Inbee Park (68-68-69-74=279, -9) and Morgan Pressel (69-65-71-75=280, -8), but Pressel fell out of contention with four bogeys in her first six holes, leaving Pettersen, Ji and Park to fight it out while playing in the final group. Ji caught Pettersen after four holes, as she began the day with a birdie and carded back-to-back subpars on three and four while Pettersen bogeyed two and then birdied four. Pettersen regained her one-stroke lead on the fifth hole when Ji bogeyed, and she climbed to a two-stroke lead by adding a birdie on eight. Ji and Pettersen traded birdies on the 10th and 11th holes, respectively, and then did the same with a pair of bogeys on holes 12 and 13. While Pettersen carded her bogey on 13 as a result of two-putting from 15 feet on the par-4, 386-yard hole, Ji collected her fifth birdie of the day to climb back within one stroke.

After the duo parred the 14th hole, Ji took over the top spot on the leaderboard with a birdie as Pettersen missed a three-foot putt to save par. Ji held onto her one-shot lead through the next two holes, where the pair made pars on 16 and each carded birdies on 17, and Ji secured her first career victory on the LPGA Tour by two strokes with a par on the final hole and a bogey by Pettersen.

“Today I played a lot of good shots, but it feels like I just got outraced a little bit,” Pettersen said. “Overall, it's been a great week. It's been a great lead up for the next week (U.S. Women's Open). I'm disappointed, but at the same time, I can't let myself down at the moment. I just got to try to stay where I am and next time, try to finish it off.”

2006 Wegmans LPGA champion Jeong Jang (68-71-69-68=276, -12) and six-time Tour winner Hee-Won Han (69-74-64-69=276, -12) rounded out the top-three positions on the leaderboard with a tie for third place.

Ji kicks off second half of LPGA Playoffs 2008 with victory at Wegmans LPGA. In addition to adding her first LPGA Tour win to her accolades that already included four international victories, South Korean Eun-Hee Ji also became the first player to secure an automatic entry into the season-ending ADT Championship via LPGA Playoffs 2008.

“The LPGA is the biggest stage in the world for female golfers, but the ADT Championship is an even bigger stage,” Ji said. “I am very, very excited to play in the ADT Championship.”

The second half of the LPGA Playoffs 2008 kicked off at the Wegmans LPGA, which qualified as a Winner Event by boasting a purse of $2 million. Ji will join the 15 other LPGA players who qualified for the ADT Championship during the first half of the LPGA Playoffs 2008. LPGA Tour rookie Yani Tseng, South Korea's Seon Hwa Lee, Rolex Rankings' number one Lorena Ochoa and Sweden's Annika Sorenstam secured their spots in the ADT Championship field by winning one of the four first-half automatic qualifiers this season. Paula Creamer, Jeong Jang, Song-Hee Kim, Karrie Webb, Suzann Pettersen, rookie Na Yeon Choi, Maria Hjorth, Karen Stupples, Jee Young Lee, Inbee Park and Laura Diaz all qualified for the ADT Championship by placing in the top 11 spots on the ADT Points list during the first half of the LPGA season.

Players can qualify for the ADT Championship via three ways: winning a designated Winner Event; earning enough ADT Points in either the first half or second half of the season; or earning one of two wildcards. In each half of the season, there are 15 spots available. The first spots are awarded to winners of Winner Events, while the remaining spots in each half will are awarded to the ADT Points qualifiers who are not otherwise qualified. The final two spots in the 32-player field are given to two wildcards, who are the top two players from the LPGA Official Money List following the Lorena Ochoa Invitational Presented by Banamex and Corona who are not otherwise qualified.

The 2008 ADT Championship will offer a $1,550,000 purse with a $1 million first-place paycheck. For the third straight year, this represents the largest first-place prize in the history of women's golf. The season-ending ADT Championship will again be contested at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Fla., Nov. 20-23, 2008.

Tseng maintains solid lead in Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year race. Following her first LPGA Tour and major championship victory at the McDonald's LPGA Championship Presented by Coca-Cola, Yani Tseng collected her ninth top-20 finish of the year with a tie for 16th at the Wegmans LPGA, which added 38 points to her lead in the Louise Suggs Rolex Rookie of the Year. Tseng (821 points) entered the week with a 113-point lead over Na-Yeon Choi, but has increased her lead to 151 points through 12 events. Choi remains in second place with 670 points, while Momoko Ueda maintained her third-place standing with 278. (Neither Choi or Ueda competed in the Wegmans LPGA) Louise Friberg, who became the first Rolex First-Time Winner of the 2008 LPGA Tour rookie class with her win at the MasterCard Classic Honoring Alejo Peralta Presented by Nextel ranks fourth with 262 points, while Hee Young Park is in fifth with 246 points.

Ochoa becomes fastest to $2 million in season earnings. With her tie for sixth place at the Wegmans LPGA, Rolex Rankings' number one Lorena Ochoa became the fastest player to reach $2 million ($2,009,426) in single-season earnings in LPGA Tour history. Annika Sorenstam previously held the record, earning $2 million in 15 events in 2004. Ochoa reached the mark in 11 events this season. The 26-year-old already holds the records for fastest player to reach $1 million in single-season earnings (5 events) and first and fastest to reach $3 and $4 million in a season (2007).

Ochoa fired a final-round 3-under-par 69 to finish in a tie for sixth at 9-under-par (72-70-68-69=279) for the week. With her $54,899 paycheck, Ochoa also moved past LPGA Tour and World Golf Halls of Famer Juli Inkster into third on the LPGA Official Career Money List with $12,443,642.

Ji earns a stay at Canyon Ranch. With her victory at the Wegmans LPGA, Eun-Hee Ji earned an all-inclusive stay for two at a Canyon Ranch resort. In a combined effort to promote health and overall well-being among Tour players, Canyon Ranch will provide every winner of an LPGA event with one all-inclusive stay at one of Canyon Ranch's two destination resorts.

Kang records first ace on LPGA Tour. Soo-Yun Kang recorded her first hole-in-one on the LPGA Tour during Thursday's first round of the Wegmans LPGA, as she struck her 9-wood from 165 yards on the seventh hole of Locust Hill CC for the ace. The hole-in-one is the first recorded on hole seven in Rochester tournament history. There have been 12 other aces in tournament competition, with the last coming in 2004, when Christina Kim and Suzann Pettersen made one on hole 15.

WD. Beth Bader and Diana D'Alessio both withdrew during Friday's second round of competition at the Wegmans LPGA.

Final-round interviews: Eun-Hee Ji | Suzann Pettersen

Eun-Hee Ji, 70-71-64-67=272 (-16)
Hole 1, 386-yard par 4: birdie – 6-iron to 13 feet
Hole 3, 359-yard par 4: birdie – 9-iron to 6 feet
Hole 4, 514-yard par 5: birdie – 7-iron to 6 feet
Hole 5, 161-yard par 3: bogey – 7-iron mis-club, missed 7 foot par putt
Hole 10, 383-yard par 4: birdie – 8-iron to 13 feet
Hole 12, 361-yard par 4: bogey – driver in left rough
Hole 13, 386-yard par 4: birdie – 6-iron to 30 feet
Hole 15, 150-yard par 3: birdie – 8-iron to 6 feet
Hole 17, 468-yard par 5: birdie – 58 degree wedge to 10 feet

MIKE SCANLAN: Eun Hee Ji, congratulations on becoming a Rolex First-Time Winner today at the Wegmans LPGA. If you would tell us how you feel right now.
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) I'm like a fly in the sky. I cannot describe what I feel right now.

MIKE SCANLAN: Can you tell us how you feel you played today to beat Suzann Pettersen who had the lead at the start of the day?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) Last year Suzann beat me and today I beat Suzann. So now I have a confidence about Suzann Pettersen.

MIKE SCANLAN: With your win you get into $1 million ADT Championship and the chance to win $1 million. Can you tell us how you feel about being in that tournament?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) LPGA is the biggest stage for female golfers in the world but ADT playoff is the bigger stage for female golfers and I am very, very excited to play in ADT Championship.

Q. So you started the day three shots behind, ask her what her confidence level was knowing that she is playing against the third ranked player and she is spotting her a 3 shot lead?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) Actually I feel comfortable for coming behind rather than leading the tournament, so, yes.

Q. How important was it to get off to a good start, too, she had it tied after three holes because she made the two birdies, how important was the fast start for her?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) I thought if I chase her like this, I thought Suzann would feel pressure. I kind of thought about that too.

Q. All day long I asked Suzann this, it seemed like Eun hee was a bulldog all day, she was relentless chasing her, she fell behind by 3, is that part of the way her personality is?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) I don't know about bulldog. (laughter)

Q. Is it in your personality to never quit though?
THE INTERPRETER: I'm like that. I was just trying to put pressure on Suzann, that was it.

Q. Just on the 13th hole was the first 2 hot swing, one at 13 and one at 15, describe both of those two shot swings that got you back in and got you in the lead, too?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) Suzann 3 putted. I hit the fairway on both holes. And I hit the green, so I feel very comfortable and confident. And I was not a leader so I didn't have any pressure. Suzann was the leader when she was in trouble. So I didn't get any pressure from those holes, so I just played my game.

Q. How pleased are you to get your first win after only being out here a year and a half on Tour?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) I was a non-exempt player last year, so I didn't play many games. I got full card for this year. So this year I have more chance to play the round, tournaments, but in the beginning of the year, in the first half of the year, my games were not so good. So this tournament was really a big kind of change for me. I didn't have a good game until the very last tournament. But this tournament I had very good shots and very good games.

Q. Did you know you had taken the lead at 15?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) Yes. Yes, I was aware.

Q. Now does the pressure switch when you were in the lead?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) I was starting to feel nervous.

Q. At 18 you drove it in the rough and so did Suzann and she had a really good lie, just talk about, did she feel lucky that her ball was sitting up?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) Throughout this tournament I was feeling lucky and for the rough shot I felt lucky. But not only for that hole but throughout the tournament I felt very lucky.

Q. The last two rounds were just remarkable with the 8 under and the 5 under today, was there any difference between the first two rounds and the last two rounds as far as comfort or anything like that?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) The eagle on the first hole of the third round really changed the rhythm of the game.

Q. Congratulations on winning here in Rochester. Have you had a chance to enjoy the City at all while you were here and what have you enjoyed about Rochester?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) She went to Dinosaur Barbeque, very nice barbecue.

Q. How did it feel to celebrate on 18 with your friends dousing you with champagne?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) It's my first winning ceremony. It's indescribable.

Q. Did you feel that you had lost your chance after No. 12 when you were 3 down again?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) I got a little bit disappointed and then my birdie on the next hole, on the 13th hole gave me confidence.

Q. Can you talk about the birdie putt you had on 13, that was a long downhill putt, what was that putt like? How long was that putt would you say?
EUN-HEE JI: (via translator) I knew it was a very difficult lie. It was a right to left downhill. It was a long putt. I was aiming to put the ball near the hole, not into the hole. But the ball followed the line that I saw and went into the cup.

MIKE SCANLAN: How far was that putt?
EUN HEE JI: About 30 (feet).

Suzann Pettersen, 70-65-67-72=274 (-14)
Hole 2, 337-yard par 4: bogey – two putt from 15 feet
Hole 4, 514-yard par 5: birdie – wedge from 50 yards to 20 feet
Hole 8, 460-yard par 5: birdie – short of the green in two, up-and-down to four feet
Hole 11, 489-yard par 5: birdie – short of the green in two, chip to 15 feet
Hole 13, 386-yard par 4: bogey – missed green from bunker, two putt from 15 feet
Hole 15, 150-yard par 3: bogey – three putt from 30 feet
Hole 17, 468-yard par 5: birdie – up-and-down to 12 feet

ASHLEY CUSHMAN: Suzann, thanks for coming in and joining us today. I'm sure you are a little bit disappointed with the round, but you still gave a valiant effort. Four great rounds all together. Can you just talk about your performance this week and the round today?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: No, I mean like today I played a lot of good shots. It feels like I just got outraced a little bit. I knew my birdie putt on 17 was kind of a clutch putt to keep the momentum going. 18 is a tough tee shot and a tough pin, so I want to give myself a chance. But a few mistakes on the back 9. But overall it's been a great week. It's been a great lead up for the next week. Of course, I'm disappointed, but at the same time I can't let myself down at the moment. I just got to try to stay where I am and next time try to finish it off.

Q. Were you surprised by the way she was relentless all day long? She is young, hasn't won out here, she was a bulldog all day?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Well, there are a lot of bull dogs out here. I mean, like I've said, there is so many good young players. They are fearless. They have nothing to lose. They just stay in there and they are good players.

Q. It seemed like the turning point was the tee shot at 13, you were up 3 at that point, ended up being a 2 shot swing there, would you agree things started to turn at that point maybe?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I mean that was one bad tee shot from my side. That was pretty much my first one all week. I had kind of a show out there. You better hit it wide over there, it opens up. I had a chance to make my par and I 3 putted on the par 3 and she made a birdie.

Q. That was a two shot?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yes, that's a two shot swing. I had a chance on 16. And I just had a horrible lie on 18 in the rough there. I don't know. I just try to get something up there and hopefully would hit the green. Well, on this course you got to hit fairways. Especially how the course is set up.

Q. Were you thinking on 17 that that's an eagle hole, like maybe to go for that? What was your thinking coming up on 17?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Well, if you hit the fairway you get there in two easily. I was a bit in between clubs so with the wind not enough helping, I decided to kind of ease down a little on one of the hybrids. It came exactly how I wanted, just too far left for that shot. I tried to cut it in so it would come down softer. I had a good lie in the bunker. That was very makeable. A little bit disappointing to leave it short, but I got my birdie.

Like I said, kind of being where I was on the rough on 18, especially with the lie I had, and I was done. It was for me to just make a par or hopefully chip it in from the front.
But it's been a good week and I'm looking forward to next week, keep doing what I'm doing, and see my coach and grind out a little better, but it's been a good week for me.

Q. It was kind of the breaks for the game, she was in the rough on 18, she drew a pretty good lie over there?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: It looked like she teed it up compared to mine. I wish it was my ball when I went passed it.

Q. You said you came in with your expectations not too high, you started the day with a 3 shot lead, were you thinking differently this is my tournament to win or lose with a 3 shot lead?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: There is so much golf to be played out there. I mean, I don't really think of the lead. I go out there and I have my plan and I know what's birdie holes. Some of these pins out here today, like some of the pars out here, are good. There is some tucked pins and easy to make mistakes. What can I say? Yes, I'm disappointed, but at the same time being so close and not coming here because I felt I wasn't competitive or feeling good with my game. I think I proved myself wrong.

Q. Do you like where you are at right now in your game? You had a strong season last year with a few wins? You haven't won this year. Do you feel like you are playing as well as you did last year?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: You just have to keep knocking on that door, hopefully it will open.

Q. How important was it to you today, this week to just feel comfortable with your game getting in tune for next week?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Pretty big. I made some changes Monday morning before I got on the plane in Orlando, and I felt now it might be worth going. I felt like I found something I could play with. And I don't know, it's a great lead up for next week. I'm in good shape.

Q. What was your mindset coming off that bogey? How were you feeling? What were you trying to accomplish on the next hole coming up?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Which hole?

Q. 13.
SUZANN PETTERSEN: 13, it's just a wide drive. I usually don't hit my drivers that wide. Like I said, I had a good lie. I had a shot there, a little high slide 8 iron. I just didn't slide it enough. I had a fairly good bunker shot. I could have got my par. I just didn't execute that putt. That's what you got to do here.

People are going to make mistakes, but who can kind of execute out of the trouble. I don't know, I think I shot par today. It's not a fantastic score, but at the same time I didn't do too many mistakes and I tried to be aggressive where I could be aggressive. I don't think it would have changed much.

Q. What did you hit at 15, the par 3 there?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: I tried to hit a hard 9.

Q. You just pulled it a little bit?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yes, it wasn't the best swing, a little over protected there. I would rather hit a hard 9 that gets there instead of try to ease on the 8, and all of a sudden the wind gets it, and you are over the green. Some good shots. Some not so good shots. What can I say?

Q. 8 iron at 18 out of the rough?
SUZANN PETTERSEN: Yes, I only had 120 to the green, 140 to the pin, but with the lie I had, it actually came out pretty good. If I had a decent lie I could have hit a solid 9 iron if it would have been sitting up nicely. I guess I have to go to the gym and do some more abs.