U.S SENIOR WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

August 27, 2022

Laura Davies

NCR Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Laura, 5-under. What a turnaround. What was different today?

LAURA DAVIES: Well, I had a bit of acupuncture on the old calf this morning, and although it's still painful walking, it took the pain off the swing so I could get through it again. Yesterday I just really was struggling to get through the ball.

I've got to thank the physios and all the guys in there for really helping me. Like I said, walking is miserable and I get very tired, but I was swinging really well. In fact, if anything, I got stronger coming in. My ball-striking even got better the last few holes and I nearly -- when I made eagle on 16, it was very nearly -- I think it nearly went in. From where it landed to where it was, it must have been very close.

Yeah, just really pleased.

Q. To go from where you were yesterday and now you're in contention heading into Sunday, you've been in this position before, but how does it feel this year?

LAURA DAVIES: Well, it will be a bit nerve-racking tomorrow, obviously, because I've not been in this position probably since I won it. I've played in a few other events where I've had chances, but yeah, it'll be nerve-racking but fun.

We're not trying to prove anything out here. We're just trying to win a very important trophy, but you can't be too down on yourself because none of us play that much anymore, and it is difficult to be in contention to win because you still have all the same fears and all the same -- you want to win so badly, but you haven't really got the game to back it up. I won't be hard on myself whatever happens tomorrow. I'm just trying to play well, and that would please me if I play well.

Q. Can you tell us about the eagle details, club and everything?

LAURA DAVIES: Yeah, it was a really good drive. I've hit it on the right half of that fairway every day, and it cuts you out a little bit. There's a tree on the corner, but I got it down the left today had a 6-iron in from 181 and couldn't hit a full one because I was on a slight downslope, and hit just a really good 6-iron that never left the pin. Like I said, from where it landed and where it ended up, I think it must have been very close to actually rolling in.

Q. Was there a point before the championship started that you think you might not be able to play?

LAURA DAVIES: No, I knew that -- I had this six weeks marked out all year where I was going to play, and as it turns out, I had to withdraw from three of them. I played actually quite well at the British Open, so whatever happened this week I was going to get around.

I was a bit down on yesterday because it was really very painful, and most days I think I'm going to pull the pin on it because I'm not playing again now until six, seven more weeks, so if I did more damage, then so be it.

Q. Are you concerned about tomorrow, feeling well enough?

LAURA DAVIES: You know, it's just, like I said, I'll probably have the acupuncture again in the morning if they're still there. I think they are. Hopefully it won't hurt to swing. The walking is miserable, but you can deal with that. It's just when you start trying to hit a shot and you're getting that really sharp grab in the back of your calf and you can't get through it. It's difficult.

Q. I have to ask, Liverpool obviously went 9-0, tied the Premier League record. Do you believe in good omens?

LAURA DAVIES: Absolutely, yeah. If Liverpool ever lose on a Saturday morning or a Sunday, it's normally going to be a bad day for me. So when they went 9-0, I was hoping it was going to be good. 5-under is almost a dream round, really, considering everything and how hard this course is and how difficult the greens are. Not to have a bogey, that's a really nice thing for me.

Q. Playing as much as you do on the LPGA, to be in contention out here, obviously does it kind of call back to your heyday?

LAURA DAVIES: Well, yeah. I'm playing against the same people I used to play against 25 years ago, and the feelings are the same. It doesn't matter if it's an LPGA event, a European Tour event or a Seniors event. The feelings are exactly the same. I can assure you it would feel no different if I was in contention on the LPGA. The job would probably be 10 times harder because instead of being one of the longer hitters, I'd be waving to Nelly about 50 yards up the fairway and definitely Lexi. So that's slightly different. But the feelings and the being a bit scared on the first tee tomorrow for all the ones in contention, it will be the same for all of us.