Oklahoma State University Athletics
Cowboy Golf Meets The Media
May 26, 2011 | Cowboy Golf
May 26, 2011
OSU Head Coach Mike McGraw
On where the team ranks among the best all-time at OSU
“Our record isn't as good as three or four that I've seen. The '77 team was amazing. They lost two tournaments and finished runner-up in those two events. The '84-'85 team won 10 times. Alan Bratton's senior year they won nine times. So we haven't achieved what those three teams have achieved for sure, but I'm real proud of the way that our kids have kind of pulled together for a common cause this year. It's pretty obvious what they want to do and what they want to accomplish. We have basically the same goals every year. This year we have maybe a little higher motivation factor based upon our last two years, so they're ready. They've prepared the right way. We'll see how they do during the week, but they've definitely prepared the right way.”
On how the rough will affect the tournament
“I think it's pretty good. It's pretty sticky right now and it's tough. It's going to place a premium on the fairway because the fairways are going to nick down and be really, really tight and it's going to be a huge advantage to be in the fairway this week. You're going to advance a ball from 180 or 90 yards onto the green. It's not going to happen. It didn't happen in '03. We actually had a lot of moisture in '02-'03 so it was even a little bit thicker then, but it's pretty thick right now. To enable you to take a five iron out of the rough and knock it onto the green you just won't do it. Now the fairways are generous. They're wide. If you've been out on these fairways they are not that narrow. Once you get of that rye grass you've got pretty much death. I wouldn't go there if I were you. You might survive finding your golf ball, but you might get killed by a snake or a tick or something will get you. It's pretty rough out there.”
On if the stars are aligning for a championship
“Do the stars have anything to do with it? I don't think luck has anything to do with it. I think that the team has prepared very well. I think that they've tried to prepare physically, but then more importantly have tried to prepare themselves mentally to be in the right frame of mind to play well. That is what you try to do. You try to be in the best mental position you can at all times. That golf course is going to beat some people up and it's going to beat some Cowboys up too. When you least expect it it's going to put you back on your heels, but I think they've done a good job of preparing for that. I don't know if the stars are all aligned, but I sure hope so. It would be nice.”
On how the course will play differently in match play
“You can swing freer from the tee because if you happen to knock one off line or get out there, it will just be one hole lost, not four strokes or three strokes. If you drive it in the fairway – the guy that hits it just four feet in – you've got some mental advantage on him right away. You're just playing that one guy, so you've just got to go out and whoop that one guy. It's an advantage I think if you can play to the fairway. It'll be a different match play course.”
On if he hopes Oklahoma weather will play to OSU's advantage
“Coach Holder and I prayed for wind back in '03 and we got calm four straight days, so I won't do any praying on the wind. I'll stay away from that, but it would be nice to have some wind. I think it would be good just to get everybody's attention and make you know you're alive. You're in Oklahoma.”
Senior Kevin Tway
On being the first to win a regional three times
“I just take it like another tournament each time and I played pretty well. It was just good to get that win.”
On what enables him to win that tournament
“I don't think there's anything different about that tournament. Just kind of coincidence I guess.
On how he feels heading into nationals
“I feel like my game is trending in the right way. We've been getting a lot of practice done on the course and I feel like we're getting used to it, so that's good.”
On if playing at home provides an advantage
“I think it definitely does. We've played the course in all different types of wind and all different kinds of conditions. We're really looking forward to the tournament.
On how he feels heading into his last tournament
“It doesn't get much better than this playing in front of the home crowd in my last tournament before I turn professional. It's really exciting for me.”
Junior Morgan Hoffmann
On preparing and going into NCAA Championship
“I've been trying to get ready for the tournament and working on getting healthy. My back has been an issue but I've had a lot of treatment on it and it feels good. I've had stem and ultrasonic waves and a lot of strengthening because the left side has been a little weaker.”
On how Oklahoma State and Karsten Creek has helped prepare him for the PGA
“Playing out here (Karsten) every day, it's one of the hardest in the country, even in terms of PGA. It prepares you so well for any course you'll play all over the world.”
On the competition for this year's NCAA Championship
“There's a bunch of great teams this year. It's a good course and it's going to be a great test for everybody.”
On the rough at Karsten Creek
“It's a lot higher than it's been in the past. They over-seeded it twice, and then about four days ago they fertilized it before all of the rain. It's going to be thick and long. You're really going to need to drive it into the fairway.”
On Coach Mike McGraw
“Coach McGraw is one of the greatest people I have ever met. He cares about everyone like we are his sons. I've never met anyone more on top of everything in a person's life.”
Junior Peter Uihlein
On leadership roles for the team
“We're all different in our own ways; we don't really have a main leader on the team. We all try to do our own thing and lead by example instead of being more vocal. We all do different things to try to improve our games and some of that will rub off on different people.”
On teammate Kevin Tway
“Kevin has always been a great player, I kind of just feel like he's been a little under the radar. He's played great this year; he's actually been our most solid guy. He's stepped up and he's played great, and that's no surprise. He's had a great year and it's been exciting to see him play well. He may not be getting the notoriety but there's no question he's been of the top players this year.”
