Vijay's Press Conference Highlights

VIJAY SINGH: Well, I don't remember it being this tough, that's one thing I know. I know that when we played on Sunday, it rained in the morning, and the greens were very receptive, and we could actually play our shots. Honestly speaking, I think this is the hardest U.S. golf course I've played from tee to green and around the greens. It's going to be one hell of a test. I don't really remember that many holes, playing here in '99, but I do remember one thing that this is the rough this year is a lot more harder than it was last time I played here.

Q. What's the concern among the players, especially if it doesn't rain; you could have a repeat of last year, and the course could get away from the USGA?

VIJAY SINGH: I spoke to Tom Meeks yesterday and the day before, and I had a few words with him. But he said he likes the golf course just the way it is right now, and I told him it's great, I like it the way it is. If you just left it the way it is, that's the way it should be played. It's tough, it's hard, it's going to get firmer. They're watering the greens in between right now, also. I'm a little concerned if it doesn't rain we all thought it was going to rain this week. If it doesn't rain, you can't stop the ball on the greens. I've been hitting wedges and it's not spinning back. It's taking one big hop and stopping. If it gets any firmer I don't think the greens are going to get as fast as Shinnecock, but it's going to get as firm, and the roll offs are a lot harder than Shinnecock was. I think it's a tougher setup than Shinnecock.

Q. It seems like a lot of what will happen to the golf course will depend on if it rains or doesn't rain. Wouldn't you think it would make more sense to kind of err on the side of caution, rather than let maybe water as needed and if it ends up raining more, you just end up with a softer golf course; is that such a bad thing?

VIJAY SINGH: I don't think so. That's why we got away with it; last time we played on Sunday in the morning. The golf course played difficult, but it was very fair. Right now if you go out there, if you're not careful you can make bogeys on every hole with the good shots. Off the tee it's a very demanding golf course, and then you have to hit your approaches to the green which is even more demanding. They are watering it, Tom Meeks said they're going to try to leave it as it is right now, but that never happens. I agree with you, they should keep watering it and not let nature take its course. But they have the means to maintain whatever it is right now. But this is U.S. Open, so we just have to deal with it.

Q. David Fay has said this week that he wants the course to play tough but fair. What in your opinion makes it too tough or unfair? Secondly, if all the golfers play the same course, like last year, why is there so much complaining or belly aching about the course conditions, if everybody is playing the same course?

VIJAY SINGH: I just hope David Fay knows what is fair and what is difficult, you know. It's fine, being on the outside and talking about it. But we are the ones that are playing it. I'm all for having a fair and a tough golf course, but impossible, I don't think I don't think I enjoy playing it. We still have to go out and play the best we can and enjoy what we're doing. Last year I did not enjoy that.