RUSH: Here’s Neil in Overland Park, Kansas. You’re next on the EIB Network. I appreciate your patience, too.
CALLER: Well, Rush, it’s great to talk to our leader. I saw your picture in Golf Digest, and I was wondering, do you use the interlocking grip, or do you prefer Vardon?
RUSH: Do I prefer Vardon?
CALLER: Yeah.
RUSH: No. (laughs) The Vardon grip. (laughs) Overlapping.
CALLER: Very good.
RUSH: Now, wait a second, I didn’t know the issue was out. Is this the one with me on the interview on the back page, the back of the magazine?
CALLER: Yes, sir, full page, good picture.
RUSH: I know the picture is good. The guy came in here and took the pictures. This is about a week, maybe ten days before the US Open when they came in here. But I didn’t know that the magazine was out. I am a subscriber, so I guess I’ll get it at home sometime soon.
CALLER: It was great, really great.
RUSH: What about the interview? The picture is a picture. We all know I look good. What about the interview? How did that read to you?
CALLER: It went pretty good. I think he could have asked you better questions on other courses you play, but otherwise it was pretty good, I thought. I enjoyed it.
RUSH: Good. I’m glad to hear that because it was a lot of fun doing it, and they liked it. I don’t want to put them on a spot here, but they liked it so much they were thinking about doing a two-parter.
CALLER: Yeah?
RUSH: Did they allude to part two coming out next issue?
CALLER: They didn’t.
RUSH: Well, they must have changed their mind.
CALLER: I would ask you one more question.
RUSH: Yeah, yeah.
CALLER: Which one is tougher, Winged Foot or Augusta?
RUSH: Which is tougher? Ugh. Well, I’m an 18. It’s hard to say. (sigh) They’re both just as tough. It depends. You know, if you play Winged Foot when it’s ready for the Open, it’s impossible, because of the rough, and the fairways are narrow — and Augusta does not have… They got one cut. They don’t even call it rough. You’re not even allowed to call it rough at Augusta. It’s the first cut. I think for people, the greens at Augusta… Look, they’re both so difficult that it’s impossible to make a distinction. The way to look at this is, it’s great to play both of them. It’s just a fabulous experience to play both of those courses, and they’re a great challenge, and it’s an honor to be able to play at both of them. But I guess… I don’t know. (sigh) I’ve played Winged Foot a lot more, so I know it a little bit better, and I have scored better at Winged Foot than I ever have at Augusta but I’ve not played that many times at Augusta. I’d have to say that I don’t want to say, because they’re just as tough. At my level of play, any golf course is tough. None of them are easy.