Close encounters...

Okay, these may be the two best stories of my week at the Open!

I was loading up my truck, getting ready to check out of my hotel Sunday morning. Threw the last few things into the truck, and headed back inside to turn in my room key. As I'm going in the door, who should come out but Katherine Hull!! Omigosh, she's one of my absolute favorites on the LPGA tour!! I'm saying hello before I even realize who she is, and it comes out, "Hello..... Katherine?!?" She was flying low, in a half-trot, as a car is waiting outside for her, so all she said was, "Hey, how's it goin'?" and if you can imagine that in an Aussie accent...!

Too cool -- I can't believe we were in the same hotel all week, and that's the only time I saw her!! She definitely wasn't hanging out in the pool or hot tub...

Here she is, signing autographs between holes in the practice rounds...

I really got interested in her after she won the Canadian Open last summer. They were interviewing her after the win, asking her how she had handled the pressure, what was she thinking about, did she watch the leaderboard, etc., etc. Her response follows:

Q. You finished second in the Canadian Open in 2005, and now for your best finish ever, in the 2008 edition of the Canadian Open, how do you feel about this great comeback today, and how does it feel to jump from 50th place on the Money List to 15?

KATHERINE HULL: The good news just keeps coming. It's like Christmas. I am ecstatic. I mean, dream come true. Really, I mean this is probably not going to sink in until tonight or tomorrow. I was thinking this year it would be that I broke through and made a win.Obviously today I was what, six shots back? I didn't really think too much it. I was just going out there and trying to play the best I could. I honestly didn't expect to win at all, but that's the way golf goes.Four rounds and 72 holes anything can happen. You got to be patient. Fortunately for me I was able to close it out.
Q. The other day when you set or tied what had been the course record, you talked about being able to distract yourself between shots so that you didn't over think yourself on the golf course. Were you able to maintain that kind of an attitude today, or did you get caught up in what was going on around you?
KATHERINE HULL: From the start today I was in between shots just reading scripture and quoting scripture. Actually didn't look at a leaderboard until the 16th hole, and I wasn't intentionally looking at it. When I went to tap in my putt I caught a glance and saw that I was first. I think it was a two shot lead at the time.I mean, I got a little excited, but I kind of told myself that I still had two holes to go and just to continue doing what I was doing and stay in the process.You know, I tried to do today what worked on Friday and it turned out.
Q. Does your strong religious background as a Christian help you a lot playing golf, and especially today? For example, you were six strokes behind?
KATHERINE HULL: Oh, yeah, definitely today. But I give credit to God for having the ability to play. You know we have all got different gifts. It's up to us to work hard at them. But yeah, I mean, it's all by the grace of God that I'm here.(The Gospel) John's kind of verses the other day helped me get back on track. Spiritual life fluctuates. It's been like a roller coaster for me, especially this past year. It's nice to kind of figure out what I need to do and kind of, I guess, reap the harvest and blessings.
Q.When you started today, did you think there was any chance at all of overtaking Yani with her fourstroke lead in the tournament, and six over you?
KATHERINE HULL: Being a Christian I would have to say that with God anything is possible. But then again, I wasn't thinking about being the one at the end of the day hoisting the trophy. I try to stay so focused on my game plan and just doing what I've done the last couple days.Yeah, I mean, you don't expect it, but there's always that possibility.
Q. There were some Australians off to the right side of 18th fairway as you walked up. Did you hear them or others cheering for you? And was it after you saw the scoreboard that you started to think about the possibility of winning?
KATHERINE HULL: Well, actually, one of the Bible versus I was quoting . . . I'm going to have to double check on it actually . . . I try memorize a lot out there . . . But I want to say First Corinthians 9:24 through 27. And then Galatians 6:4 through 5. I think I made mention to that one the other day.But I'm pretty sure the Corinthians one I made reference to, there's a lot of people in a race and only one person that wins, so run to win. That one I've just been trying to quote the last three days.I would hope all of us are out here are playing to win. It's not like we want to finish second or 20th. But, yeah, I don't know what to say. I'm like so overwhelmed right now. Yeah, it's a dream come true . . . It's what we work so hard for.

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Cool, huh??

So then, after my day was done, I headed out, drove about an hour to where I picked up the Pennsylvania Turnpike. I pulled in to an Arby's to change into comfy clothes and grab a bite before I got on the turnpike. I changed clothes, placed my order, and while I'm waiting, in the door comes Stacy Lewis! There was hardly a soul in this Arby's, so I figured, why not? So we chatted for a minute or two... I wasn't sure if she'd made the cut, but she said, yes she did, and I asked her where to next. She said they had this week off. Then I asked if she was expecting to play in the Solheim Cup next month, to which she replied, Only if she is a captain's pick (the first 10 ladies in the points standings get automatic berths, and then there are two captain's picks)... And then our orders came, and I wished her the best of luck and headed out!

Stacy is a relative newcomer to the LPGA tour, I think last year was her rookie year. She played fabulously in the Open last summer -- she had the lead going into the final day of play, but couldn't sustain it. This year she made the cut, but was never in the leaders, finished tied for 48th place.

Still, it was cool to bump into 2 players in the same day, and totally away from the course...!

Stacy Lewis