John Mallinger - 2/10/07 John Bush: Thanks for joining us, John. 4 under par 68 today at Poppy Hills, and currently just one shot behind our leader. Get some comments on your day, if we can. John Mallinger: Today was good. I played really solid, I was playing tough coming in with the rain and wind, stayed patient out there. Today was probably one of my better ball striking rounds, even though I made a couple bogeys, I went around the golf course exactly how I pictured it and that's the main goal for me was just going through process of what I thought of the golf course last night and how I prepared for it and how to execute. John Bush: We will go right into questions, guys. Questioner: John, what's your experience with Phil, have you guys ever met? And you know, obviously there is a huge awareness of him in San Diego for any kid in golf growing up. Were you a fan or were you just an observer of his? John Mallinger: Just an observer. I don't know Phil, I have never met him before. I just know he is from San Diego and we are going to be in the final round together, in the final group? Questioner: Yes. John Mallinger: I don't know him that well. So it will be fun to watch someone like that. But I just have to pretty much keep doing what I'm doing and go along my business. I can't really control what he is doing. Questioner: I mean, just having grown up where you did, how much awareness have you had of Phil through the years? You know, we make a big deal out of him, of course, but as a golfer. John Mallinger: I just know all of his golf stuff, I don't know none of his personal stuff or anything like that. But obviously he is a world class player and so it should be fun. I'm looking forward to it. Questioner: So certainly it doesn't sound like you are going to be star struck tomorrow. John Mallinger: Probably not. When you see those guys every day in the locker room, I think I'll be fine with it. Questioner: Does it make it easier for tomorrow? John Mallinger: Yes, I think so. It would be a little easier maybe if I knew him, but I don't think it's too big of a deal. Questioner: You said you kind of pictured your way around the golf course and how you were going to attack it. But had you factored in the weather? What effect did that have specifically? John Mallinger: A little bit. I mean, I just. Kind.. I'm a visual player, I like to visualize my shots. And each hole I have a plan of, a visualization of how I'm going to play that hole. Today was really... I executed really well. And even though I made a couple bogeys, I made a lot of birdies, that's what helped. Questioner: What do you expect of Pebble, Pebble of the three courses can be most affected by the elements. If this picks up tomorrow how much do you think that will influence the day? John Mallinger: Probably a lot. We already saw some of it on Thursday, I got a pretty good piece of the wind coming in, and so I don't know if it will get much worse than that, maybe some rain, but the whole day plays like that it's definitely even par will be a good score. Questioner: Are you building a sense of pride or sense of excitement as this has gone on? Being the leader the first day till now you have been in here every day. What's the sense... John Mallinger: It's nice. It's nice being in here. I don't mind it. I mean, I couldn't really expect more, final group, 18 holes with Phil Mickelson at Pebble Beach. I mean, that's kind of... you kind of dream of stuff like that. But that's what we work for, that's what we prepare for. And I'm looking forward to it. I talked to my golf coach last night and he is just like, you know what? You've got to keep your foot on the pedal, because these guys are good. That's kind of the motto I have had all week and I'm going to stick with it tomorrow. Questioner: You have had success here in the state amateurs. John Mallinger: I got to the semi finals, I think it was maybe '98, somewhere around there. So I've played the golf course a lot, I like it, I think it sets up well for me. There is definitely some birdie holes in the rounds and maybe toward the end it should be pretty exciting. Questioner: Have you ever been nervous playing with anyone before? John Mallinger: Of course. Who doesn't get nervous? I mean, it's a good nervous, though, I mean you are excited to play, that's why we work, that's why we have ten-hour days out on the range, that's why we work out, that's why we do our stuff. I mean, so the way I look at it is kind of like going into a test or something, if you are not prepared for it you are probably going to be nervous, but if you are prepared you are still going to have some nervousness, but I think it's good for you. If you don't have that you might not have that drive. Questioner: Do you remember the first time you were ever really nervous because of someone who you were playing with? Can you tell us, do you remember who that was? If you can't, make up something really good. John Mallinger: I was really nervous playing with my brother, I don't know. I don't know. I don't get extremely nervous as far as other players. I think I put a lot of pressure on myself, I think that's probably where the nervousness will come from. But as far as other players, that's something that I just... I work on a lot as I cannot control anything they do, all I have to do is work on my game. Tomorrow is going to be huge for me because Phil is going to be hitting it 40 yards by me. But everyone has their strengths, everyone has their weaknesses, and I think if I just keep the ball on the fairway and I get to touch the ball a lot, then I can hopefully keep up. Questioner: I was just curious if there was anything like from a junior day or amateur day where you let someone affect you and you learned your lesson from that day? John Mallinger: Not that I can think of. Questioner: You just grew up that way? I will leave this alone now. Questioner: John, when you hit the first bogey, what was going through your mind, this was a mistake, I'm going to move on, or was there a sense of concern? John Mallinger: I think I added up the holes afterwards, how many did I win? I think it was 50. I kind of looked back and took that as a positive. I just missed a little putt and I hit a good putt right where I wanted to, just kind of squared off, the greens were kind of getting bumpy toward the end. Made some good birdies coming in, I'm excited. Questioner: It wasn't that big a deal. John Mallinger: Not really, I birdied the next hole, so. Questioner: How nervous were you at Q School, is that something you can lean on tomorrow, something you learned from? John Mallinger: Definitely. That's definitely something I look back on. That's probably the most nervous I've been, was on 17, tee box trying to hit the island green. I didn't know the exact number but I knew I was within the number. And that green just shrinks as soon as you get on the tee box. It's a different feeling, so. John Bush: Take us through real quick, John, starting with the birdie on No. 10. John Mallinger: Oh, first hole. Drove it down the middle and then I hit a 2 iron on the green to about 20 feet and two putted. John Bush: 11. John Mallinger: I hit a smooth four in there, hit a good shot about 12 feet left, made it up the hill. John Bush: 15, par 3. John Mallinger: What was 15? Questioner: Tee box, flag? Putt in there somewhere. Questioner: 15 and 17 are both par 3s, 15 would have been the longer. John Mallinger: Oh, yeah. I chipped in. I hit an... I hit a 4 iron, missed the green to the right and chipped in. First chip actually all year, I think. John Bush: How far? John Mallinger: Probably about 40 feet. John Bush: No. 2, par 3. John Mallinger: No. 2, probably my best shot, big high 7 iron to a couple inches. John Bush: Bogey on No. 6. John Mallinger: I hit it just right off the green and I putted to about three feet and missed it. John Bush: No. 7. John Mallinger: 7, I drove down the middle and I hit a little chip 6 iron back from the wind to about 2 feet John Bush: Bogey on 8. John Mallinger: Drove it down the middle and came... kind of came off a little bit, short right, did it up and down. John Bush: 9. John Mallinger: Just on the right side and hit 3 wood in and chipped it up and made the putt. John Bush: How far was the putt? John Mallinger: Three feet. Questioner: Since you don't know or haven't met Phil, any chance you have known or met Kevin Sutherland? John Mallinger: I did meet Kevin this week, actually for the first time. Really nice guy. Questioner: He will be with you, too. John Mallinger: He will? Questioner: Yes. John Mallinger: I don't know how the pairings work, I don't know if he was with amateurs, how does that work? I think it's just one, two pros and two amateurs, so I don't think I will be with two other pros. So I may not be in the final group. John Bush: We will see what Sutherland does on the last hole. If he goes to 14 he would be in the last group. Questioner: Does it matter to you? John Mallinger: Not really. It would be fun to be in the final group. Questioner: Didn't you play the final group a couple times last year. John Mallinger: Second to last, I played the final group Saturday, but not Sunday. Questioner: Never on Sunday. John Mallinger: No, couple back. John Bush: Anything else? All right. John, play well tomorrow. John Mallinger: Thank you.