POST Would you make them take and pass a
test?
DP Maybe an open book, which would make
them familiar with where to find things.
POST What’s your favorite memory as a player?
DP The first Kraft I think was fabulous
because I didn’t have to take the dive. I
won a playoff.
POST Do you think you will ever be a Solheim
Cup captain?
DP I don’t think it matters if I’d want to do it
or not. I don’t think it will ever happen.
I firmly believe it will never happen and
I’ve made peace and come to terms with
that.
“I firmly believe it (Solheim
Cup captaincy) will never
happen and I’ve made peace
with that.”— Dottie Pepper
POST Because ...
DP The microphone being left open at the
Solheim Cup in Sweden in 2008 (Editor’s
note: Pepper made graphically unflattering remarks about the American team,
which was playing poorly. She thought her
TV microphone was off.)
POST I was at the second Kraft (victory) and I
remember because you did take the dive
into the pond and were wearing a white
terry cloth robe in the media room.
DP Yes, (laughs) that was all because Donna
Andrews had worn worn a white shirt and
(soaking wet after the dive) that wasn’t
too cool (more laughs). But anyway, my
favorite moment was winning at
Stratton Mountain in ‘95. It was the one
and only time my family saw me win a
golf tournament professionally. I’m the
kid of very young parents and they were
always working. But this was only an
hour and a half from home and we had
tons of family and friends that were there
and it was battle between (Pat) Bradley
and her Boston gang and my gang, who
was just a little bit closer, and it was a
blast to be involved in it. But to come out
on top when everybody was there, for the
only time, that was pretty cool.
POST A lot of people believe you as captain
would be to a U.S. Solheim Cup team
what Paul Azinger was as captain to
the 2008 U.S. Ryder Cup team. You say
you’ve come to terms with it. Was that
tough to deal with?
DP I don’t know if it was tough to deal with.
What happened, happened. We’re living in a very politically correct culture.
There are players that still won’t speak
to me. So if that’s not gonna happen,
I don’t see myself being a very good
captain or a very effective captain. And
that matters more. If you’re going to be
a captain, you better be a darn good one
because it’s an important job. But I honestly believe that will never happen. And
I’m fine with it. It doesn’t change the
great years I had on Tour and it certainly
doesn’t change the great thing I’ve got
going right now doing Plan B. I couldn’t
ask for a life to be much better. I really
couldn’t ... other than maybe if my dog
was about five years younger, I would be
very happy. l
