On his win at the 2005 US Open …
I was pretty confident going into that week; I was playing well. I stood on the first tee in the first round and felt comfortable. Three good rounds later and I was four shots behind [third round leader] the Goose - Refief Goosen, a very good friend of mine. Tiger was there as well.
It came down to the last nine holes and it was pretty exciting stuff. I saw it as a wonderful opportunity for me to go out and perform to my best and beat the best players in the world. Tiger had won at Augusta two months before. It was a way to prove to the world I was as good as I felt I was.
In the end it was a lot of fun; I didn’t see Tiger as a threat at all. It was my time to shine. I couldn’t control what he did, so I kept to myself and plodded along. I made a few birdies on the back nine, and I think I only had 11 putts on the final nine holes, which obviously helps a lot [laughs]. I have wonderful memories and to see my name on that trophy alongside all the greats of golf is something I’ll never forget.
On meeting Tiger in the locker-room after the round …
Tiger was obviously disappointed. Our moods were very, very different. But he still came over and said, ‘Congratulations: well done, Michael.’ I replied by saying that winning a major is so tough – how had he done it 10 times? All he said was, ‘a lot of hard work’. I’m sure if we sat down over a few drinks the conversation would be very different.
On surrendering his final-round lead to lose out to John Daly [who beat Constantino Rocca in a play-off] for the 1995 Open Championship at St Andrews …
1995 was my rookie year on the European Tour and I had only turned pro two years previously. I had had no psychology lessons or anything, so I had no chance standing on the first tee in the last round. I was prepared physically but not mentally. You can’t beat experience: it’s a wonderful thing!
In the 10 years between St Andrews and Pinehurst I won 10 times. I had the self belief. But in 1995, if I’m honest, I didn’t think I was going to win. Pinehurst was a lot different. I felt it was my time.
On shooting 65 in the third round at the Open Championship on a day when the average score was 75 to vault into the lead …
It has to be the best round of my career. It was blowing a blustery 25 knots at St Andrews, so to shoot 65 and charge through the field was something else. It wasn’t really thinking about my position [in the tournament] and it was all quite a blur really. I can’t even remember which holes I birdied. I remember I was playing with Australian Brett Ogle and he was looking at me like I wasn’t human. I also remember missing a putt for birdie on the last green and being very disappointed, not realizing that I had still shot 65. Wonderful!
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