Press conference - Scott Dunlap

JULIUS MASON: Scott Dunlap with a first round 6-under, 66 today.

Scott, congratulations on a terrific round. If you wouldn't mind, some opening comments then we will go to Q&A.

SCOTT DUNLAP: Yeah, it was -- needless to say, couldn't have planned it any better.

Kind of interesting, I spent all last week sitting on a couch battling a cold; haven't played in three weeks and still actually struggling with my physical conference. So really wasn't sure what too expect out there.

But chipped in at No. 2 for an eagle and that kind of set the tone. Hit a lot of good iron shots after that, and just one bogey on the card; so, can't complain.

JULIUS MASON: Thank you. Let's go over your card.

SCOTT DUNLAP: Eagled 2.

4-iron, right bunker at 3; didn't get up-and-down.

Wedged it to about five feet at the 4th from 60 yards.

7-iron to about six feet at 5th.

Holed a bomb at number 9, 8-iron to the back of the green, about a 35-footer.

Chipped to a foot at 10, and pretty routine right through -- couple of decent up-and-downs up until then.

And then splashed a bunker shot out about three feet at 18. There you have it.

Scott Dunlap just misses a birdie on 17. Allsport.

Q. Talk about some of the saves you made today, and even -- it is not really a save, but the birdie on 9 when you were in the deep rough, every time you put yourself in trouble, it seemed like you hit a good shot?

SCOTT DUNLAP: That is usually how you end up shooting 6-under. Every time the round looks like it could go one way or the other, it usually goes the right way. That was one of them. Hit an iffy tee shot, bad shot. There is good hay over there on 9. Looked like it was going to be bad. It didn't quite make it. I had -- lie was good enough to make it on the green. I had no idea what the putt was going to do from back there. I was trying to make 4. Lo and behold it went in.

Then on the back nine, yeah, I did kind of brush over there, but got the up-and-down out of the bunker at 12; it was a tough shot.

Holed about a 20-footer for par at No. 15, I think it was. And our group was a little bit behind, and we are all kind of hurrying a little bit at the time. That was nice to make that one.

Q. When you come into a tournament with the physical situation and uncertain, how big a deal it is when you chip in on the second hole? What goes on after that in your mind?

SCOTT DUNLAP: Well, I am too tired to get excited. That is probably -- they always say, be aware of the sick golfer, the sick athlete or whatever.

But I felt calm enough the start of the day, and invariably, if you are worried about just getting around, you can't get too upset or nervous or worried about your round. Today just was positive all day and it was nice.

Q. If I remember correctly, you got off to a good start at the Open at Congressional. Can you talk little bit about that, and is there such a thing as learning from that kind of experience as it applies to the next three days?

SCOTT DUNLAP: Yeah, there so much that -- this is a major. The golf courses are always a little harder, the scoring is it not as low.

Yeah, that round at Congressional, I remember I had outside chance of maybe shooting something ridiculously low. 7-under for the day through 14, to do that in a major championship, you kind of carry that forward. And if you get it going like you did today, maybe you are not afraid to go ahead and shoot a really low score.

Q. All things being equal, and looking at your round today, if the weather stays the same, which are the holes that are going to challenge you or the rest of the field for the next three days?

SCOTT DUNLAP: As I said out there little while ago, I think this is one of the best driving golf courses I have seen Nicklaus do. This week, the guy that keeps the ball in the fairway -- some of those these shots on the back nine are pretty narrow, and with some danger around the greens.

So kind of like 13 and 15 and 16 are really good tee shot holes. Come Sunday, I think the guy that puts the ball in play and maybe makes a birdie or two on those holes is the guy that will come out on top.

Q. Will you describe the course conditions and -- how the course is playing?

SCOTT DUNLAP: The golf course is in perfect shape. There is no wind out there. And for awhile, I was 5-under; next best score I saw up there was 2(-under). I knew I was having a good round, but I was kind of wondering, "Where is everybody?"

And maybe I was underrating my performance of the day, but the golf course is obviously holding up pretty well, because there is not a breath of wind. Hit it in the rough; it is going to be nasty.

And the greens are firming out. The greens are perfect. Apparently, there was a maybe a little lack of coverage in 1996 but they are mint right now.

Q. Could you talk about this course as a venue for a major championship? And this year where the majors have been at Augusta and Pebble Beach and St. Andrews. All of a sudden Valhalla has kind of taken a beating, but is this a legitimate venue for a major championship?

SCOTT DUNLAP: Yeah, for sure. I mean, what it lacks that the other three have is history. And if you are only going to choose major championship sites on that, or if that is going to be a major criteria, then you are never going to play a place like Valhalla.

But if you can get beyond that and then judge a golf course on its merits, then you will come to a place like here and you will find that, yeah, it is definitely good enough to play a major.

Q. Asking you about 15, what did you hit into 15, and did you just come over the top there? The one where you made the long putt for par?

SCOTT DUNLAP: Yeah, I had 144 yards, but the wind was helping; so it was kind of stretching a 9-iron, and my caddie even kind of threw in there: "Yeah, keep it left of the pin." Which I am thinking, well, maybe he doesn't think I am going to get it there.

So gave it a good, extra rip and came over it and rode the wind, and I didn't need to swing as hard as I did. That was a really tough shot coming up and over. Gave it too much gas. Put it right off the green and do what I did; hit it a little too easy and just staying on top of the hill. I knew I was going to be doing well for 4; hoping to hit it 20 feet.

Q. 6-under at this point, knowing that this fellow, Tiger Woods, is breathing down your neck, how do you sleep on that? How do you deal with that?

SCOTT DUNLAP: I mean, it is Day 1. I mean, he has won the last two majors by 23 shots. I mean, if he is going to do it, he is going to do it. There is no stopping him.

All I can do is come out tomorrow and hopefully do a whole lot better than I did Friday at the British Open. Play another good round and take it from there.

Q. You have played all over the world, and any particular reason for bouncing around, or was it incapability of getting your card on the American Tour?

SCOTT DUNLAP: Well, the latter for sure. But, yeah, because I didn't get my card until I was 31 years old, but you know, you have got to make decisions and go someplace.

As an American you can stay and try and play the BUY.COM, which is was the Nike Tour back then, or go overseas. Looking back I wouldn't trade where I have been and what I have done for the world. I mean, the main -- it is main reason why I am now sitting here, going overseas, playing in South Africa against world-class competition. I think was the main reason why I was able to at least elevate my game to where I was good enough to finally come out here. I don't know that I would have been able to do it staying in the States, playing mini-tours or coming off the Nike Tour.

Q. It's been mentioned that the other golf courses where the majors have been held, they all have holes you kind of dread before you get there. Is there a hole here that you think that way before you play it?

SCOTT DUNLAP: I don't think so. The golf course is just consistently difficult. Yeah, it is kind of funny, you say -- I don't think there are whole lot of terrifying holes. If you don't drive the wall in the fairway on 13 then you have a shot there out of a fairway bunker; out of the rough is going to be pretty dicey. But it is just the kind of golf course where you start driving the ball in the rough, making bogeys, start shortsiding a pin, make some bogeys, it will nickel-and-dime you to death. Probably thought you played all right and shot 75 or something.

Yeah, I don't think it is like the other ones that maybe there is two or three little terrorists out there waiting for you.

Q. Are you the kind of player that when you come into a new city, you like to get out and tour and see what it has to offer and do things or do you just kind of stay in wherever it is you are, staying and just watch the TV? What do you do when you come into a new city, a major championship like this, away from the golf course?

SCOTT DUNLAP: Well, I'd like to get out and see more, but invariably, it takes so much out of you. I think that is the part of professional golf most people don't understand. It takes so much time and energy end of the day, going home, having dinner watching a little bit of TV and going to bed is really all that is left on the docket. So I don't really get out and see much.

Q. Having traveled as much as you have do you have any just fun nightmare interesting travel stories to share with us?

SCOTT DUNLAP: Nothing in particular. I mean, it is just -- I just think back first time went back to South Africa, I was just so intimidated by things and didn't -- I only wanted to know where the golf course was, the hotel, and now I am anxious to go places. I just think the whole experience is something everyone should do, and I think a lot of the American players that haven't gone overseas that much have really deprived themselves of a key part of their golfing experience.

Q. You have played the South African Tour, Canadian

Tour, European Tour, U.S. tour, South American Tour. You have won there, at least three of these places: Won in Canada, won two or three times in South America; you won in South Africa. When it comes to Sunday and you are still up there, is this going to be sort of experience that will stand you in good stead, or really with the experience of playing here on the Tour, in the sense of giving you the hardness to be able to compete?

SCOTT DUNLAP: I think both things will play into that. I mean, like I said, I think my overseas experience led me to being where I am at on the PGA TOUR, but we all know I have not won on the PGA TOUR yet. That would be the next thing to do. Having won overseas is a good start. Also playing good and competing out here and the PGA is a major and that is a whole different thing as well. But hey, you never know when your first one is going to be. Jeff Sluman's first one was the PGA so why not mine.

Q. We read where you have a special interest in politics. First is that true and if so, have you been watching the conventions?

SCOTT DUNLAP: Yeah, I spent more time a couple of weeks ago than I am this week taking note -- yeah, like I say, politics is one of many things I will give you my two cents worth and usually it is worth about that much.

Q. (Inaudible)

SCOTT DUNLAP: I will be voting Republican this year.

Q. You mentioned your illness earlier. To what extent were you sick and how do you feel now? Did it ever threaten this tournament for you?

SCOTT DUNLAP: No, it is just a tickle in my throat that makes me cough. Invariably that happens at night when you are trying to sleep, so I mean, what ends up happening is I haven't felt rested because I wake up in the night coughing my head off every now and then. But, no, there was never any threat, just -- but last week I was really feeling tired so I didn't actually go out and hit balls until Thursday. Spent Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday literally doing nothing. Just not the kind of preparation you want leading in, but it was all right.

Q. Why are you voting Republican this year and what does that say about you and your values?

SCOTT DUNLAP: Well, my vote this year would not be that -- unlike any other year and I don't know that it says anything about my values. It is just kind of where I stand politically and I am pretty consistent when it comes to --

JULIUS MASON: With questions like that, aren't you anxious to see what the headlines are going to be tomorrow?

SCOTT DUNLAP: Sure, why not. Getting into a national debate.

Q. Let me get you in a little bit more trouble on this. You said you spent more time a few weeks ago watching politics than you are paying attention to it this week. Is that because this week is the Democratic convention or the PGA Championship is getting in the way?

SCOTT DUNLAP: Well, I don't have any tee times at 8 o'clock at night when I could be watching the Democratic convention so you can figure that one out.

JULIUS MASON: Scott Dunlap, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much.

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