U.S. GIRLS' JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

July 17, 2021

Bailey Davis

Columbia Country Club

Press Conference

Q. Bailey, maybe just start there. The outpouring of support you got all week, but especially today in the championship match, describe what that was like.

BAILEY DAVIS: It was amazing having so many people out here. A lot of friends and family and family friends, teachers, coaches, so many people came out to watch me this week, and I am beyond blessed to have them out here.

I was 6-down at one point and they were like, You got this. I was 5-down, five holes to play and they were like, You can do this, Bailey.

So that meant a lot to me to know they were out here supporting me and they know I could have possibly won.

Q. What are you going to take away from this as your best memories from this week?

BAILEY DAVIS: This entire week has been unbelievable. I kind of surprised myself getting to this point, but at the same time, I knew what I was capable of, and it feels amazing to have reached that and been able to play to my potential this week.

I played a great match today, but Rose just played better. We just take from this experience and learn for the next.

Q. When you see Rose come out after the three-hour break and hit the flagstick, you must have to laugh and say, She's amazing.

BAILEY DAVIS: Yeah, what are you going to do about it? Can't do anything about it. It would've been amazing if she holed out.

Yeah, then I knew that she was going to make birdie from that because she makes everything.

So I tried to ram my putt in, but even birdie wouldn't have won it for me. So there is nothing you can do about it at this point. Like I said, she played amazing.

Q. You smile a lot on the course which is fun to watch. Is that how you play always or just this week?

BAILEY DAVIS: I think when I usually play without the cameras and the media and everybody I'm pretty calm and composed. I smile occasionally, but when I hit a bad shot I don't really get down on myself.

But with everybody out here and cheering me on, the smile has come out a lot.

Q. How was the experience playing in front of a big gallery and on national TV? What can that do for your confidence in the future?

BAILEY DAVIS: It's my first time and I thought yesterday having the cameras out here I would be nervous and I wouldn't be hitting the shots I wanted to. I think I embraced it and I think I played a little better because of it, so I think that's a big positive heading into my future.

Q. You said something along the lines earlier this week of wanting to be able to show girls that look like you what's possible. You go to the final. You did that this week. Are you able to kind of reflect on that? Still too soon?

BAILEY DAVIS: Based on the response from social media I think I have touched a few girls this week. My social media has been insane, and I'm going to try to respond to as many people as I can later tonight. Even the girls at the course have come up to me. They've been so nervous to talk to me, but I don't want anyone to feel that way. I'm so welcoming, so -- I would love to talk to anybody.

The girls there, they get so shy, but I love taking pictures with them. Signing autographs for them. I love it all.

Q. Thoughts on being exempt into the U.S. Women's Am at Westchester?

BAILEY DAVIS: I was pretty bummed that I didn't qualify because I think I shot 76 in my qualifier and didn't qualify. But I'm so excited to play in the Women's Am. It's going to be my first Women's Am, so hopefully make the cut there.

Q. You said you were shocked about how far you were able to go this week and kind of surprised yourself a little bit. Does that change your expectations going into your freshman year at Tennessee?

BAILEY DAVIS: It really does. You know, I know what I'm capable of doing. I've always known what I'm capable of doing, but this week I really proved it to myself and I proved it to everyone else that's been watching.

So heading into the Am, it's -- try to win that now, you know. So I do have a lot higher expectations for myself heading into college.

Q. Did you talk to anyone last night to help prepare yourself for the match today?

BAILEY DAVIS: I talked to my coach and parents last night. My coach actually came to see me at my hotel because I was freaking out after my match. After my match yesterday I started crying. Like I was so overwhelmed just from the response from the media and everybody here at the course.

It was good tears, but at the same time, I was very overwhelmed. So he came and talked to me and said, You're good. You belong here. You deserve to be here.

So this morning I didn't think about the fact that I was playing Rose. I just thought about the fact that I'm good and I can go out there and perform.

Q. Three hours on a break. Did you talk a lot? Fun conversations? More serious? What was it like in the van for the majority of that time?

BAILEY DAVIS: We talked. It wasn't very serious. We were just playful. We were like, Man, wish we could have finished. Her and I, I think we have become friends now, and it was a fun match. She's amazing. Like I said. So I'm excited for that future friendship.

Q. What's it like going up against someone like Rose where you know the margin for error is fairly slim when you're out there? What was that experience like today?

BAILEY DAVIS: I looked at her scorecard before this and I saw she had made a few bogeys, but not many. I knew coming into this -- I was able to get away with pars and let my opponents make bogey and then I would be able to win my match.

I knew coming into this I would have to make some birdies. At the beginning of the match I was matching her with the birdies and I felt really good. Then doing that the entire match gets pretty tiring. I knew I could not make many mistakes. I think I did a pretty good job of that. I was able to limit my mistakes, but obviously not enough.

Q. Is that part of her strategy knowing her opponent is going to get tired facing that stuff all the time?

BAILEY DAVIS: That may be. She's a very consistent player and she -- I think she made two bogeys out of 32 holes, so I think that is part of her strategy, knowing she can stay that consistent the entire time.