U.S SENIOR WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 30, 2021

Ellen Port

Brooklawn Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Ellen Port, 3-under 69. When you came here this week you said you had a little bit of a different approach than the last two years. Talk us through that.

ELLEN PORT: Oh, I don't know about that. You know, the last two years, really the last few years I feel like I've kind of in competitions really kind of struggled with consistency and finding the bottom of my swing, but just kind of grinding my way through it with not a very good game.

I knew it would serve me well when I did start playing better. So I've had a lot of practice with mental toughness and fighting through, trying to score. And then when my swing is in a little better place coming into this it was just starting to peak and trend that way, and you never know it if it's going to all come together.

I knew it was at some point; I didn't know if it would be this week. That gave me a real peace.

All my years of grinding and having to play through not having some great ball striking and putting issues has served me well.

Q. Where would you evaluate your game and your confidence right now?

ELLEN PORT: Yeah, I am shocked, to be honest with you, that I stayed in the present as much as I did and kept things simple. I have a lot of thoughts go through my mind normally in a given hour, so I just tried to really -- I trained and I trusted, and that's really the two Ts I'll put on my golf ball.

I've trained the best I could at this juncture, and now it's time to trust it.

Q. You're going to be in contention heading into a major weekend.

ELLEN PORT: Uh-huh.

Q. Talk us through that.

ELLEN PORT: So many people are just probably dying right you now because they believe in me more than -- sorry. Not supposed to cry because you sound really bad.

Q. It's okay. What's the game plan heading into tomorrow?

ELLEN PORT: I don't care. I love to cry. The older I get it's like if you can't have some emotion...

So was what the question?

Q. You were talking about the people that believe in you.

ELLEN PORT: Yeah, and the game plan is to go and play the game that we love.

Q. Talk us through your USGA career and what this championship means for people like you now having a chance to play?

ELLEN PORT: Old amateurs. (Laughter.) Yeah, it's great. I mean, anything that has "Open" in it. These gals that I'm playing with are so good. I'm not going to pretend to be in their league, but it's super fun that an amateur can still play in an Open, because that's what happened here years ago probably in this area.

So I'm really crying in here. I'm so sorry. But...

Q. Don't apologize. I think you're with us. We're all hoping that was not Big Mama's last round in a USGA Championship. Put into words for us that didn't get to play with her what was that like the last two days?

ELLEN PORT: Oh, gosh, I am fortunate enough to have played a few rounds with Joanne, and I told people yesterday, it was the best group I could have had, because they were just competitors and both fighting to come back with living life and stuff.

The last one we were sitting talking after she finished and she was like, I think I figured something out, and so I knew she would be back for another one. I thought, This could be her last one. She says, I think I figured something out on the last few holes.

So it's a thrill to play with her. Her standards are high. Never will comment on other people's game. There were a couple times I was like, Dang, she outdrove me on a couple holes. She was great and Carol was great.

Q. Well, I hope we see you playing here when you're 82 as well.

ELLEN PORT: Thanks.