Tuesday, 10th July
Jesper Parnevik
I worked really hard before the US Open and practised probably as hard as I have done, but I didn’t get it going and after that I had a few weeks off in Sweden seeing family and friends. I had four kids now and they love coming back to Sweden for the summer time to see their grandparents. I had a great time. I was pretty far away from golf. I haven’t watched any. I don’t know how it finished. How did the Swedes do? No good?
This course?
I think I finished third one year. I love the course. I love the place. It’s a great event and to see it reach the level now with this purse I think it will be a huge event in the future. I have missed the Scottish Open. That was my first victory on the European Tour in 1993 and I am really happy to have that title back again, because it used to be one of the bigger events in Europe and I’m happy to see it back again. This course is as good as any we play around the world and I heard they re-did the greens so it can take this type of weather these days.
What difference did winning the Scottish Open make to you?
It made a huge difference. I played with Payne Stewart on the last day and although I had a big lead it was my first win and I remember not sleeping all night. I even had a seven shot lead and I kind of had the sense that I had already won but I hadn’t done it yet and all I could be was go out there and make a fool of myself pretty much. It was an unsettling feeling. I got off to a great start and made a few birdies. Payne Stewart played great and he was a true gentleman to play with. He applauded me onto the 18th green and my first win and playing with Payne Stewart meant a great deal. That was pretty much when I decided to try the US Tour School that Fall and I got my card and played pretty much in the US since.
Did that give you belief that you were capable of playing at that level?
Yes, probably the closest I came before that was in a seven hole play-off with Seve and I didn’t pull it off then. The first win is very important. You just see what happened to Sergio this year. I mean, I’ve been telling him that since he came to the US Tour that it could be tough to live up to expectations the second year after the great start he made. It came true. He struggled a bit and he put himself under pressure. Then he got this win in the US and he’s reached the level he should be at.
Are you now relying on a wild card or do you think you can qualify?
I still think I can qualify. Good finishes this next two weeks and I could make the team no problem. Me and Sergio had so much fun last time even though under the circumstances it was awkward in the end. We really did have a great time together at the Ryder Cup and we would like to play together again. We play a lot of our practice rounds together, beating up pretty badly on Vijay for example.
Do you sense a new maturity about him now?
Of definitely, and not only that I think his game has really moved up to a new level. I think, back then, he had weeks where he could play great shots and pull shots off and so on, but it was still too big of a difference between him and Tiger back then. There was no way he could compete with him every week. But now, I played with him a lot the last couple of months and he’s really playing well. You know, as well as I’ve ever seen him play. He is Number One in driving in the US Tour and hitting it that far and that straight is a big advantage for him.
We became good friends way back. I think he phoned IMG with a request to play with me as an amateur in a practice round for the Lancome Trophy. We didn’t get together, but he came up to me just before the Ryder Cup last time and asked if we could play some practice rounds before the event. We went up early and the chemistry was there. We’ve been good friends together ever since. We play a lot of our practice rounds together and big money games and we’ve been pretty successful this year.
Have you spoken to Sam Torrance?
No, the only time I really talked to him was after I won the Honda Classic and he congratulated me. He said he didn’t expect me to change my whole schedule to try to qualify but he said he would very much appreciate if I played well in the majors. But I saw some headlines saying that he promised me a wild card but that’s just not true. He hasn’t anything to that extent and I don’t expect him to either. There are too many guys outside, although it looks a lot better with Colin playing well again – not big shock to me. Looks like he’s back to form. Same thing with Darren. But the player I’ve been impressed with is Bernhard Langer. He’s played great on the US Tour this year and he is definitely a guy we need on the team this year with his experience. That was pretty much what we were missing last year – experience. We had Colin and guys like that, but we didn’t have the guys like Bernhard who can go out there and keep everybody calm and get the things done.
Two cards still a problem?
I always thought it was a problem. It’s a tough situation now with more and more players on the US Tour now. Jimenez, Olazabal, Sergio and myself and a few other guys. We’ve been lucky in the past, I think, that the last few weeks the right players have won tournaments and qualified. But I can see one year when it won’t happen and I don’t know if we – I shouldn’t have to say get beat badly for them to change the rules – but that’s something that could happen which is a shame because I think we should turn up with our best team every year. The situation now with everybody playing worldwide, it’s really hard to do. I would almost be in favour of four picks and go over to what the International Team in the Presidents Cup do, where they take the first eight guys of the World Ranking then four wild cards. It would make it a lot easier for everybody I would say because Sam has been pulling his hair out all year now. A lot of sleepless nights. But it’s looking better.
Your schedule in Europe?
Scandinavian Masters for sure and I’ve been contemplating the BMW in Germany, but I’m not sure yet.
How about the US Team?
I mean, they always had a really strong team on paper, I would say. They are dominating the world of golf right now, apart from Sergio who’s been playing great. Tiger, Mickelson and Love have pretty much dominated all year but it seems when the Ryder Cups come around we pull ourselves to a new level and play to 110 per cent of our ability and that’s kept us winning or close to winning the last few times.
Were the Americans shocked by Retief Goosen’s win?
I would say so. I pretty much knew who he was. American golf is very different that way. They don’t know much about golf in the rest of the world if they don’t play in the United States. It was the same thing when Frank Nobilo. He came over and did well in the majors and they never heard of him even though he was a very recognised player over here. Same thing with Retief. I am sure none of the common golfers would know who he is. But that’s the way golf is in the United States. If you ask anyone, you know, Tiger is the only thing they have on their minds.
