U.S SENIOR WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

August 24, 2022

Suzi Spotleson

NCR Country Club (South Course)

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Suzi Spotleson. Suzi, what does it mean to play a Senior Women's Open here in your home state.

SUZI SPOTLESON: Well, to play it in any state is the epitome of probably my competitive golfing career, amateur golfing career, let's get that clear.

But to have it just a few hours away from Dayton, I've almost got to pinch myself. I can't believe I'm here but I'm happy to be here.

Q. Have you played NCR in the past?

SUZI SPOTLESON: I played NCR at the USGA state teams in I want to say 2014, is that when it was?

Q. Yeah.

SUZI SPOTLESON: But certainly I probably played that about several hundred yards shorter than I'm going to play it this week.

Q. What's been your experience with the course so far in your practice rounds?

SUZI SPOTLESON: Tough, the course is tough. You've got to golf your ball out here. It's long, but if you get to the greens, I think the challenge starts there. There's slopes and undulations and false fronts, so you've really got to make sure your approach shots are in the right place and really focus on your putting speed and the breaks in the green.

Q. What does practice look like for you these days? How did you prepare for an event of this magnitude?

SUZI SPOTLESON: (Laughing) So I still work full-time, so practice is often morning, lunch hour, after work or whenever I can sneak out. I'm probably only playing about two 18-hole rounds a week, but I've been able to mix that in with some competitive events this summer, so maybe less practice, more playing competitive events.

Q. Where do you feel your game is right now?

SUZI SPOTLESON: Well, who knows. I hope it's good enough to have a solid showing here. I've really had some good success hitting my driver pretty straight and making solid contact with my irons, and my putting has been as good as it's ever been right now.

So let's hope that all comes together.

Q. One thing that makes the Senior Women's Open unique is the competitiveness but also the camaraderie. Talk about the experience for you so far this week off the course?

SUZI SPOTLESON: Yeah, it's so cool. It's like old home week for the pros. I'm watching them all reconnect with each other. But for me there's enough amateurs here that we've run into each other at whether it's the Senior Am or the North-South or even state tournaments, so just to see those guys again, we're all kind of having the same experience together.

So it's just been a lot of fun. Everybody is in a good mood, at least during the practice rounds. So it's really been a dream come true.

Q. I wondered, what's it like to see JoAnne Carner here who's been like a legend for you?

SUZI SPOTLESON: Well, I'll tell you, I stood right back there and watched you guys interview her about 40 minutes ago because I want to see JoAnne Carner no matter what she's doing, whether she's eating lunch, whether she's giving an interview, whether she's out on the golf course. That's an absolute legend in the game. There's just nobody around like her, and I want to hear every word she's saying every time she talks.