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Chat Reel: Michelle McGann
Posted: Thursday February 17, 2000 07:52 PM
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Michelle McGann's advice for beginners: Don't take golf too seriously. Harry How/Allsport |
CNNSI Host: Welcome to today's LPGA chat with Michelle McGann. Hi Michelle, thanks for joining us.
Michelle McGann: Thanks for having me.
From Ken: With so many young players on the tour these days, do you offer any advice to the Grace Parks of the tour on how to handle life in the LPGA?
Michelle McGann: I think the biggest thing is to learn how to pace yourself.
You get out here and you get excited and you want to play a lot of tournaments, and you have to be careful that you don't get run down.
Everyone's body is different, so you have to determine how many weeks you can play at a time, and take it from there.
From Guest: You've had a lot of success in playoffs, what's your secret?
Michelle McGann: I don't know. I guess the biggest thing is that you're so focused, you've played so well to get to that point, you don't want to give up.
You play your hardest.
I've had great luck in the playoffs and have had success in all of them.
From Guest: What was the biggest adjustment you had to make when you joined the tour as an 18-year-old?
Michelle McGann: You really couldn't do a whole lot on your own... you couldn't rent a car...
That was my first credit card, that year.
I was chatting with a young player recently about what it's like to be young on the tour, going to new cities and new courses all the time...
It's all a learning experience, and I saw it my first year in college. By my fourth year, it got easier and easier.
From Guest: Do you regret not playing golf in college? Have you gone back to get your degree?
Michelle McGann: No, this is my eleventh year on tour. I don't regret it at all.
Everyone's situation is different and the main thing is to do what's best for you.
Fortunately I was successful and got exempt status my first year.
It definitely is a learning experience...
I've been too busy playing to go back to get my degree, but I think I've learned about as much traveling around the country -- life experience is something you can't go to college for.
From Guest: What advice to you have for women just starting to learn to play?
Michelle McGann: First thing is to enjoy it... it's a great sport to be out in the fresh air...
Don't take it too seriously if you're a beginner... you're not going to have huge success overnight.
That's the most frustrating thing of golf... it's not a team sport and it's all you.
You should also get someone to teach you the basics and keep going from there.
From Guest: Golf is one of the oldest womem's sports, but seems to be left in the shadow by the popularity of the WTA and WNBA. What needs to be done to get the LPGA back on top?
Michelle McGann: I think that we're moving in the right direction...
We're a lot more visible on TV now... most events are televised.
Our marketing department is doing a lot to promote the great athletes we have out here.
It's a matter of time.
The WNBA is involved with the NBA and have big marketing tools, while we're by ourselves.
We're doing everything we can day by day to make ourselves more noticable, and our great play is getting a lot of attention.
*Laughs*
From Guest: How important is your caddy? Speaking of caddies, how is your little brother?
Michelle McGann: *Laughs*
Caddy is very important... you have to have someone whom your personality doesn't conflict with.
You need someone you have a good rapport with, whose behind you whether you're good or bad.
That's what golf is all about... gettina way with your bad shots.
I have a couple of different people I've been using.
My brother I get along really well, but he's in school right now and he's got to do what he's got to do to get through that, but I'm sure this summer he'll be out there with me.
From Guest: When will Lorie Kane win? She has been knocking on the door but nobody lets her in.
Michelle McGann: It's a lot of luck out here, too.
When that happens, it'll probably be a domino effect.
She's been very close and solid, and as soon as it happens, watch out.
From Guest: How did you get started in golf?
Michelle McGann: My father played a lot...
My mom was a nurse and patients that came into her office played golf, so I went out with them.
I had a professional who taught me, so I didn't have any bad habits right from the start.
From Guest: The men's game has appeared to increase in popularity because of Tiger Woods. Have you noticed any young Woods-like women on the circuit?
Michelle McGann: There's a lot of new faces this year.
I know Grace Park because we've played together several times.
Tiger's done an amazing thing, though, and Karrie Webb is the only one that's done anything similar to what Tiger has done on the Men's tour. I think that's what makes us unique... that we have a bunch of different talents.
From Guest: Where is you favorite place to play? Least?
Michelle McGann: Of course, all the tournaments I've won are places I look forward to going back to.
I don't think I have any places I really don't like to go to.
We have such a great variety of places throughout the country... Japan... Australia... we have kind of an international flavor.
I can't say that there's any one place that I don't like to go.
From Guest: Who are the players to watch this year?
Michelle McGann: You know, it's hard for me to pick out just a few...
I've really just been trying to get my golf game like it used to be...
There are so many great players, any given week there are 50 or 60 players that could win.
From Guest: What can we expect from this weekend's tournament?
Michelle McGann: I'm sitting in the press room, and it looks like a great field here.
This course gives up a lot of birdies...
Depending on which direction the wind is coming from will dictate how easy or tough the course will play.
If the weather's good, I expect a lot of birdies and anything from 12-15 under to win.
From Guest: Which athletes, both in golf and out of golf, do you most admire?
Michelle McGann: That's a tough question...
There are so many great athletes.
I watched the Espys... had the opportunity last week to play with Wayne Gretzky.
I wish I had been more aware of him when I was growing up.
Having the opportunity to meet him and play with him last week... he's a wonderful man and a great attribute to a professional athlete.
Golfwise, there are so many greats... Lee Trevino, Arnold Palmer... this sport is so full of genuine people.
We're lucky to have a lot of interaction with many PGA Tour players and other athletes.
From Guest: You won the Sara Lee Classic in Nashville. We miss the LPGA and you coming every year. Do you miss the great fans in Nashville?
Michelle McGann: Actually, last year was the last year for the Sara Lee, but we have a new tournament in Franklin, Tenn., so we're really not leaving Nashville.
From Guest: What other sports do you play and/or enjoy watching?
Michelle McGann: I enjoy watching all sports.
We grew up big basketball and football fans, college and pro.
Growing up, I played softball, but I got hit in the eye and had three eye operations, so that was the end of that.
My dad played basketball at Notre Dame, so we grew up with sports in our household.
From Guest: What can be done to get more women's golf on network (not cable) television?
Michelle McGann: Well, write letters to the networks...
Write letters to the LPGA...
Come out and watch us... that's probably the biggest thing.
When one person comes out, hopefully they'll bring someone with them the next time and it'll keep growing from there.
From Guest: There seems to be more women playing golf now. What do you credit to that?
Michelle McGann: I think that golf has grown in general.
I think a lot of business deals are done on the golf course, and corporate women see it as a way to work on business deals.
It's a nice way to go and maybe play with your significant other.
Everyone seems to be very interested in it now, but it's been around forever.
It's something that everyone can partake in, no matter your stature, tall or short. You can just go out and play golf.
From Guest: What changes have you seen in the LPGA over the last 11 years?
Michelle McGann: Well, our purses have increased...
Our galleries have gotten bigger...
Our exposure has increased...
The level of play has gotten better.
When you first came out, maybe 5 or 6 under was all you needed to win tournaments... now it's sometimes 15 or 20 under.
But if I had to go and do it all over again, I wouldn't change what I've done.
CNNSI Host: Thanks for joining us today, Michelle. Good luck this weekend.
Michelle McGann: Thanks!
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