One of four 2009 major champions competing this week in the Sony Open, Stewart Cink sat down with Ohio's Golf writer John Stampe to discuss the year ahead.

PGA Tour star Stewart Cink reached his potential last July by winning the Open Championship and breaking many golf fans' hearts, staging a stellar come-from-behind victory against 59 year-old hall of famer Tom Watson. An electrifying birdie putt on the Open Championship’s final hole, coupled with a poorly timed bogey by Watson on the same hole, led to Cink winning a four hole playoff against the mentally exhausted former five time Open Champion.  Cink met with Ohio’s Golf on Tuesday afternoon at the Sony Open in Hawaii to discuss his win at Turnberry and how it’s changed his life, along with his perspective on who he likes to make the U.S. Ryder Cup team from the state of Ohio .

OG: Stewart, How has your life changed over the last six months?

SC: Winning the British Open really didn’t change my life that much because I had been out here 13 years already and I was able to take care of a lot of the demands right away. I took care of most of the media requests within a couple of days after the event which allowed my life to stay pretty much the same. The best part of winning the British, of course the money is great, but that didn’t change me, the best part is reaping all the benefits of it without any drastic changes to my life.

OG: You have had a number of strong years in a row. Most people probably don’t realize that you actually won more money the previous season. Now that you have won the Open, there must be another major that you covet more now?

SC: You would think that … but it’s really not the case. I do look at the weaker tournaments that I played in last year and think I played more sporadically, even though I won a major. Looking at those weaker tournaments helps me make my goals and figure out how I need to get better. There are areas where the better players tend to play better. How do you play on the par fives? Can you get up and down consistently from inside fifty yards? There are key points that I want to improve upon. I feel that having the experience of winning the Open will improve my chances a lot this year if I am in contention in a major this year.

OG: Did you and Zach Johnson have any discussions about the recent Iowa vs. Georgia Tech bowl game?

SC: Yeah, we did (laughs). I’ll just say that I have to keep the hat that I had gotten him to wear when Georgia Tech won the game.

OG: So, we are hoping to see you at both Muirfield Village and Firestone. Are you playing?

SC: Yes.

OG: They are both great courses. Which one do you prefer?

SC: They are both great courses. I really like Firestone having won there and also being in contention there a lot. But Muirfield is terrific. Memorial has been a great tournament for me, but I just haven’t won it. If I have to choose, I would pick Memorial due to the uniqueness of the course and the fact that is Jack’s home.

OG: How do you think you would have fared if you had held the Open Championship lead the entire way, but bogeyed the 18^th hole and then found yourself tied with Tom Watson who had just birdied the final hole?

SC: Well, because I wasn’t the one that did that, I felt like I had the advantage. So I guess the answer is that I definitely would have felt like I was at a disadvantage. It would have been hard to be up for a four hole playoff after you felt like you had just given the tournament away.

OG: To wrap up, I’m interested in your thoughts on the current crop of Ohioans. Between Jason Dufner, Joe Oglivie and Ben Curtis who do you like to have the best chance to make the Ryder Cup squad? You have played on the team with Ben previously, but who has the best chance this year?

SC: Well, the one that seems to be playing the best is Dufner. He had a great season and played well during the playoffs. He seems to be coming into his own out here. I would not be surprised to see him win a tournament and make the team. A win during the actual year of the Ryder Cup is big towards making the team. With the experience he gained last year and peaking at the right time, I’d say Jason has the best chance of sneaking onto the team.

OG: You have been great in the Accenture Match Play event the last two years. But when you have to play in a team match play event -who do you look forward to playing with? Who is a blast to be paired with?

SC: I think for me I like to get paired with the rookies. I like to be the leader of the pair and also like to be a leader for the entire team. Sometimes I think a lot of recent experience in the Ryder Cup can be a bad thing because we have lost a lot. But, I really do enjoy getting paired with the players that are inexperienced, because it forces me into the position to lead them.

OG: Stewart, thanks we really appreciate your time.

SC: Okay. Thank you.