Kenny Perry Discusses the Metaphorical Golf Death That Is Bethpage
June 16, 2009 – 9:00 am by Will Brinson
Kenny Perry’s still chasing that big major win after his mini-collapse at Augusta and his next stop is Bethpage Black in New York for this year’s US Open. Obviously, if you know anything about golf, you know that Bethpage is a total nightmare for everyone involved.
Which is why Mike and Mike (One’s a chunky ex-jock! One’s a metrosexual! Hilarity ensues!) got Kenny on the phone to talk about the state of Bethpage, what it takes to win the US Open and how he’ll use his Masters experience to perform this week.
On how Bethpage is playing:
“Well, you know when I played here in 2002, I didn’t even remember a birdie hole. You know, it’s 7400 yards long, the 7th hole is a 525 par-4, I couldn’t even get home in two — I hit driver/3-wood and you know the rough — they’ve actually softened the rough up a little since 2002. [The celebrities in the Break 100 Challenge] did break 100 which tells me I think our scores will be better; Tiger won in ‘02 with 3-under I think and the next was even. So I think the scores this year are going to be a little bit better.”
On how to win:
“The key’s going to be driving in the fairway. For one, you gotta hit the fairway and obviously … you’ve got to be a good long-iron player and you’ve got to be a great chipper and putter because you’re not going to hit everyone of these greens … But the greens right now are very soft and very receptive — they’re holding everything you throw at it and when you chip the balls really not running away from you like a normal US Open.”
On walking in at even par right now:
“I would, I’ll head back to Franklin, Kentucky and sit there and watch it.”
On using his Masters experience at Bethapage:
“I think so — I used the same thing in the ‘96 PGA when I lost the playoff to Mark Brooks at Valhalla in my home state of Kentucky — very similar, I lost in the playoff. I’m getting better, I’m drawing on it and I just don’t need to look too far ahead. After I hit that shot at 16 in Augusta, I thought “Man, I’ve won the Masters!” That’s the first thought that hit my head, and the next thing you know, I got sucker-punched and hit some poor shots coming in and I lost the tournament. You know, for 70 holes I was in control and had a game plan and everything was going my way and I just got a little caught up, a little ahead of myself and I hit one poor chip on 17 and a drive about eight yards further than I normally do on 18 and it went up in the fairway bunker and cost me.”
Listen to Kenny Perry on ESPN Radio with Mike and Mike
Tags: Golf, Kenny Perry, Masters, Mike and Mike, PGA Tour, US Open
