You like to cook. What's your signature dish?
I love to bake, actually. I love to bake cookies. But as far as dinners, probably just a good steak and special potatoes, or I make really good homemade chili.
You trade recipes on Tour?
Absolutely. Annika Sorenstam and I are real good friends, and a lot of times we rent a house and we're always sharing recipes. Same thing with Cristie Kerr. She's one of my good friends on Tour, and we're always talking about different recipes. Or one night she'll cook, one night I'll cook.
Is there any trash talking on the LPGA Tour?
A little bit. Just fun stuff. Not anything that you wouldn't [hear when you] go out and play with your friends. Everybody on Tour is really, really close.
You've done commercials with some pretty interesting guys — John Daly, George Lopez, Alice Cooper. I'm sure you have to have at least one funny story.
I have a great story about John Daly. I've played in a lot of charity events with him. I see him on the second hole or third hole, and he's playing barefoot. And I asked him, 'What are you doing? Why don't you have any shoes on?' And he said he had given them away to some fan on the first hole. I said, 'J.D., how could you give away your shoes?' And he said somebody really wanted them. That's just the type of person he is. He's such a giving person.
I saw on your show Butch was giving you some advice and he was talking about Tiger. Have you learned a lot about Tiger from working with Butch?
I've learned about all of the players he's worked with. From Tiger, to now Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Greg Norman. He and his father and his brothers have worked with some of the best players of all time. So I enjoy stealing tips from every single one of them.
Have you played with Tiger?
I have. I played golf with him one time. I was incredibly intimidated. He hits the ball an absolute mile. He's just an incredible player. It was fun to watch.
Did you beat him?
Heck no! No chance! (Laughs)
Was it hard to always hear the Anna Kournikova comparisons?
No, not at all.
I'm sure you had to be happy about moving on from that part of your life.
Well the best part of this whole scenario was the fact that I won an event. This has been a dream for me to win an event since I was a little girl. To be able to accomplish a goal, or a dream, supersedes anything.
The No. 1 player in women's golf has been an international player for a number of years. What do you think it would mean if an American were No. 1?
That's a good point. I've never even thought about that. You're right, our No. 1 players have been international players, and maybe that will motivate a couple of the Americans to go after that title, too.
Is that your goal, to be No. 1?
Absolutely.
• Video: Highlights of Natalie's GOLF.com interview
• Swing Sequence: A hitch in her giddyup
• Gallery: Her career in photos
• Sneak Peek: Natalie's 2008 calendar
I love to bake, actually. I love to bake cookies. But as far as dinners, probably just a good steak and special potatoes, or I make really good homemade chili.
You trade recipes on Tour?
Absolutely. Annika Sorenstam and I are real good friends, and a lot of times we rent a house and we're always sharing recipes. Same thing with Cristie Kerr. She's one of my good friends on Tour, and we're always talking about different recipes. Or one night she'll cook, one night I'll cook.
Is there any trash talking on the LPGA Tour?
A little bit. Just fun stuff. Not anything that you wouldn't [hear when you] go out and play with your friends. Everybody on Tour is really, really close.
You've done commercials with some pretty interesting guys — John Daly, George Lopez, Alice Cooper. I'm sure you have to have at least one funny story.
I have a great story about John Daly. I've played in a lot of charity events with him. I see him on the second hole or third hole, and he's playing barefoot. And I asked him, 'What are you doing? Why don't you have any shoes on?' And he said he had given them away to some fan on the first hole. I said, 'J.D., how could you give away your shoes?' And he said somebody really wanted them. That's just the type of person he is. He's such a giving person.
I saw on your show Butch was giving you some advice and he was talking about Tiger. Have you learned a lot about Tiger from working with Butch?
I've learned about all of the players he's worked with. From Tiger, to now Phil Mickelson, Adam Scott, Greg Norman. He and his father and his brothers have worked with some of the best players of all time. So I enjoy stealing tips from every single one of them.
Have you played with Tiger?
I have. I played golf with him one time. I was incredibly intimidated. He hits the ball an absolute mile. He's just an incredible player. It was fun to watch.
Did you beat him?
Heck no! No chance! (Laughs)
Was it hard to always hear the Anna Kournikova comparisons?
No, not at all.
I'm sure you had to be happy about moving on from that part of your life.
Well the best part of this whole scenario was the fact that I won an event. This has been a dream for me to win an event since I was a little girl. To be able to accomplish a goal, or a dream, supersedes anything.
The No. 1 player in women's golf has been an international player for a number of years. What do you think it would mean if an American were No. 1?
That's a good point. I've never even thought about that. You're right, our No. 1 players have been international players, and maybe that will motivate a couple of the Americans to go after that title, too.
Is that your goal, to be No. 1?
Absolutely.
• Video: Highlights of Natalie's GOLF.com interview
• Swing Sequence: A hitch in her giddyup
• Gallery: Her career in photos
• Sneak Peek: Natalie's 2008 calendar
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