U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 1, 2023

Steve Stricker

SentryWorld

Flash Interview

THE MODERATOR: Steve Stricker, 3-under 68. Can you just walk us through your round and this progression you've had through the championship.

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah, it was an opportunity to have a really special round today, really. Made the turn 3-under. Played really solid. Good couple up-and-downs to start the round, then played really solid.

At 11 and 13, I had a nice birdie opportunity at 11, didn't make it, and then actually drove it there every day so far, hit it down the right side. Today I pulled it a little bit. Still didn't think I'd get it in the water. I didn't, but making a bogey there kind of derailed my round.

But overall really solid. Three-putted 15. Had some other opportunities in there, and finally cashed in at 18.

It was a good day. We had a lot of fun.

The crowds were great. Right in there heading into tomorrow.

Q. Could you describe what you saw as you walked to the first tee today, around the tee box, out along the hole, and how that made you feel, and then compare it to the way you and Jerry felt coming up 18?

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah, I didn't really know what to expect coming here this week. I heard the ticket sales were down, but quite the opposite. They've really come out to support, and I've heard from other players that they've really enjoyed their time here. The people are so friendly.

The setup that we have here is incredible, from staying right here at the hotel to our facilities inside the tennis center. It's just really nice. They did a really nice job here this year.

Yeah, to walk up there on No. 1, to have all those people there is pretty special for us. Like I said earlier this week, we don't get this kind of support like this very often. It's really a special week for Jerry and myself.

On top of it, we're right in there with an opportunity to win. Add some excitement and interest for tomorrow, too.

Q. I asked the same question to Jerry. You guys obviously are the storyline here, but how tough is Bernhard Langer going to be tomorrow?

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah. He's at 6? Yeah, he's going to be tough. There's a reason why he's won so many times out here on the Champions Tour and on the regular tours and the European tours throughout his career, worldwide. He's a world-class player, Hall of Famer. Yeah, he's going to be difficult.

Obviously he's playing well. He's keeping the ball in the fairway, obviously, and he looks determined, just looking at him.

It's going to be a challenge. Somebody is going to have to go out and try to catch him tomorrow and put some pressure on him, and hopefully I can do that.

Q. You made birdie on top of each other four times out there today, and you had the last laugh on 18. How good did that one in particular feel, and what does it say in a U.S. Senior Open you were able to do that four times?

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah, I hadn't gotten some putts to drop towards the end of the round. Had some opportunities there at 16 and 17. Three-putted 15. It was good to finally get one in.

Jerry beat me to it really because I was thinking if I could make that putt, and I knew I was first off on that tee sheet today so I would have been in the last group tomorrow, but Jerry beat me to it.

Then I'm like, well, I've got to try to top him and get it in there, and finally made one. It was a good way to finish for us.

Again, the support on 18 and throughout the whole day was pretty special.

Q. Did you say anything to Jerry when you sunk that?

STEVE STRICKER: No. We just had a good laugh. After he made his, he's like, come on, make it. Do it, make it. He gave me some encouragement there before I putted. That was nice of him.

But we had a good day. It was a special day for us. Like I said, the support is really cool.

We've got our hands full with Bernhard, but we have that opportunity tomorrow.

Q. You mentioned a couple times how special it was. How do you decompress? You've been through this before, but how do you sleep tonight and get ready for a big day tomorrow?

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah, you said it. Just got to rest. I feel good about my game and what I did today. I really haven't totaled up fairways and greens and all that kind of stuff, but felt like I did some really good things today better than the other couple of days.

Yeah, get some rest, have a dinner and probably belt's ice cream again. Anybody have any Belts' ice cream? Everybody is raising their hand. We'll do that again probably and get ready for tomorrow.

Q. I can't help but notice that you and Jerry during the post interviews are using "we," "us," left and right. How much are you rooting each other on and hoping for each other's success?

STEVE STRICKER: Yeah, very much so. We always have. If somebody wins a tournament, usually the other guy is there to congratulate him at the end in some shape or form. We've played so much golf together over the years, all the way back to junior days right here at century world and team competitions together. He's a special guy to us and our family, so we're always rooting for each other, and we're driving each other, too.

If somebody does something and wins a tournament or whatever, I can tell the next week that guy has got his head down trying to win another tournament for himself. We keep driving each other, and that's part of the fun of it, too.