	products recent interviews FastScripts archive about ASAP Sports

Our Clients:

Browse by Sport

Find us on

Subscribe to RSS

Click to go to
Asaptext.com

View our
e-Brochure

U.S. SENIOR WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

September 21, 2016

Ellen Port

Nashville, Tennessee

Q. Well, on your 55th birthday you get to the championship match for a chance to go for your seventh USGA championship.
ELLEN PORT: Yes. That's special.

Q. If you win tomorrow, you're in company with Carol (ph) and Joanne Gunderson. Carol would be the only other person that would be ahead of you.
ELLEN PORT: Uh-huh.

Q. Thoughts on just having that chance to go for...
ELLEN PORT: Well, that's not my thoughts right now. It's finding how to hit a wedge the right distance on these greens is what I'm really thinking about.

I'm not really going to think about -- even entertain that question. Next question? (Laughter.)

Q. You won today. I guess you made a big putt on 15. May have been the turning point.
ELLEN PORT: Yeah, 15 was big. That squared the match. She made a great shot on 14 out of the rough, you know, when she had a very hard shot. We both kind of had moments.

Yeah, but that was nice because I kind of gave one away on 10 with a wedge in my hand from 110 yards. I was still trying not to think about that.

That was big. It was a huge, breaking putt. I really rolled it close a lot all day. I felt like I had the reads right and I was just off with the speed a little. It was really nice to see one go in.

Q. You were down I think early, weren't you?
ELLEN PORT: Yeah. I don't even remember, to be honest with you. I think I lost -- I lost the 2nd hole off the bat. She got up and down; I didn't.

Then 3 was actually an interesting hole. I decided the best thing to do was to aim for the bunker, because I've played that hole terribly. I finally got a par on that hole when it looked like I was out of the hole because I pulled a drive and I had mud on my ball and didn't have a shot.

It was kind of that kind of match. When one of us looked like we were out -- she's a fighter, I'm a fighter, so it was a really good match.

Q. Right. You've only played her once before and she beat you in the '09 Mid.
ELLEN PORT: Yeah. Yeah, and I know I didn't play very well when we played last time. I still haven't really hit the ball -- not really played -- my A-Game hasn't shown up. I've had moments just been kind of inconsistent. I put the ball in play pretty well but I haven't been as sharp with a lot of my iron play, which is usually what's really good.

But my putting has been decent. Haven't made a lot of unforced errors. But I've got room to improve.

Q. You've won every match. The bottom line you is don't have to shoot 65 to win a match.
ELLEN PORT: Yeah, no. I mean, I kind of balance it out. I think I've been pretty consistently mediocre. (Laughter.)

I mean, but when you get to match play, you just have to never give up and be very patient. Like I said, Laura is a competitor and she played really well. I am really disappointed that it ended with the little lip out. I really didn't want to hit that hybrid on the next hole either, so I don't think either one...

Q. You've played so many USGA championships.
ELLEN PORT: Uh-huh.

Q. Does experience at some point take over for you?
ELLEN PORT: Well, I think it does. I think the fact that I know that I've won, I think I remember when I wondered if I could do it.

But it's just that kind of experience factor comes as never give up and give in. Make shots and fight through it.

So I think just the match play mentality, I seem to be very good at that. I think that that has served me well over the years. I love competing. I think it's kind of amateur golf at its best.

Hopefully I have a little experience to draw on, but that doesn't win matches. You still have to hit the golf shots. I'm really not 100% happy the way I'm hitting it.

Q. You're also familiar with the arena, the pressure, what goes through your head.
ELLEN PORT: Yes, yes.

Q. Dealing with your mind. You get to this level and you're thinking about a chance to win, not many players put themselves in this position.
ELLEN PORT: Yes, exactly. Exactly. And not to ever think that you're -- one thing I never think I am out of a hole. Laura played 17. Missed the green and off that tight lie put it beautifully up there.

So I think just really expecting -- I know everybody in here is really good players -- that they're going to hit great shots and that I have to just try to outlast them and, you know, make good decisions.

I mean, in between clubs a lot today so it was a little frustrating, but this is a tough golf course. You hit a shot short and sometimes it runs and sometimes it sits.

So it's a very challenging golf course.

Q. Fun nine questions with you. Favorite club?
ELLEN PORT: Before this tournament or after this tournament?

Q. Favorite club in the bag?
ELLEN PORT: My putter.

Q. Most memorable golf experience?
ELLEN PORT: All my Curtis Cups, national championships.

Q. Who influenced you the most?
ELLEN PORT: My husband.

Q. Who would round out your dream foursome, you and three others?
ELLEN PORT: My son, my husband, and my daughter.

Q. Okay. That's okay. What's on your golf bucket list?
ELLEN PORT: Pebble Beach.

Q. Playing it?
ELLEN PORT: Uh-huh.

Q. Ever played it?
ELLEN PORT: Uh-huh, and Augusta.

Q. Okay. Played Augusta?
ELLEN PORT: Uh-uh.

Q. What's on your nongolf bucket list?
ELLEN PORT: D3 national championship for Washington University.

Q. What's the latest book you've read?
ELLEN PORT: No, that should be my bucket list. That's really what I want.

What is what.

Q. Latest book you've read?
ELLEN PORT: Organize Your Tomorrow Today.

Q. Who wrote that?
ELLEN PORT: Jason Selk. I love you Jason Selk.

Q. Favorite movie?
ELLEN PORT: Oh, It's a Wonderful Life and -- it's a tie -- Sound of Music.

Q. Most embarrassing moment you've ever had on or off the golf course?
ELLEN PORT: Most embarrassing moment? I can't even be embarrassed when I top balls anymore because I do that all the time.

Oh, I think it's when I -- I can't remember. I don't know. I don't get embarrassed because I'm just an embarrassment sometimes. Nothing will surprise me. I don't get embarrassed.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

ASAP Sports, Inc. | T: 1.212 385 0297