U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 1, 2023

Jerry Kelly

SentryWorld

Flash Interview

THE MODERATOR: 3-under 68. Could you talk us through walking up 18 and what that moment was like?

JERRY KELLY: Yeah, talk about energy; that gave us a lot of energy right there. What a great reception. What a great show-up for all the people from Wisconsin and all over. They've been nothing but fantastic.

It definitely sends chills up the back of your spine. It's fun.

Q. I know you guys played together in the last round for this championship in South Bend, but was today a different level? When you walked to the first tee, can you describe what you saw?

JERRY KELLY: Yeah, it was pretty amazing lined that early in the day. That was a lot of people out here. It was a really fun atmosphere.

I think it was easier. I think we've gotten even more comfortable, as many times as we've played in last groups and played to win and things like that. We're doing better at not -- you want the guy to do well. You don't want to see him make bogeys and things like that, but you can't get caught up in it, too.

I think we've both done a better job of -- we're always going to be there after, but we're in the thick of it when we're in it.

Q. I think you guys both birdied the same hole I think four times. What's that dynamic like when he makes one, then you have to make one, when you make one, then he has to make one?

JERRY KELLY: I mean, he gave me the line on that first one, so it was great to top him after that when we finally took the lid off.

Then I made the one in front of him on the next hole. He had a nice short one. But I made the first hiccup on the next hole, and it kind of put me in neutral for a while. He kind of kept on going.

Then I made a couple birdies, and he had that one misstep or two in there.

It's a tough golf course. It can catch you any time. That tit for tat thing is really fun when it's he and I, and the last hole was great. I knew he was making it after I did that.

Q. You guys are obviously the big storyline, but how tough is Bernhard going to be tomorrow?

JERRY KELLY: You know he's going to be tough. He's smelling 46 right now.

I think he's over that. I'm tied and I'm getting my next one. Now he's looking at a USGA championship, I think he's past that focus. I really do. I think he's going to come on strong.

I don't see him letting up.

I think there's a score out there. If you can get to that front side and just keep going on the back, I think it's there.

But the front side is tough to get under par. It really is. Just see if I can turn at under and try to step on the gas a little bit.

Q. As the week has evolved, do you see anything about this golf course that tells you it won't be decided down the stretch or someplace on the back nine tomorrow?

JERRY KELLY: You know, 9 is that one outlier. The other ones, if you strike it well, you can make birdies. That's a hole where you can strike it well and still get caught.

If you don't strike it well, any hole can be tough.

So it's out there, both in terms of birdies, and it's out there in terms of keep your concentration. No matter how easy the hole may seem, it can still bite you.

It's a USGA championship; you're definitely in it all 18 holes, every shot.

Q. You were tied for first in fairways hit today and second in putting. Which one of those areas of your game would you say was most important today?

JERRY KELLY: The putting continues to be. I feel very good. I like the speed that I'm hitting it at, picking the lines pretty well. But my first job is to get the ball in the fairway to be able to use the putter for birdies.

Still tomorrow that's going to be my A No. 1 job: Just get the ball in the fairway anyway I can, use my iron shots, and then I can use the putter.

Q. You mentioned a couple times how fun it was today. How special was today, and how do you sleep tonight?

JERRY KELLY: It's really special. Just being with one of my best friends out there in this kind of atmosphere at this level is pretty cool to do. Both shooting the same score, both in it still. We just had a lot of fun.

I think Eric and Nicki had a great time. All four of us really enjoyed the company, and we played well.

I'll have no problem sleeping. I'm tired. But I'll be ready to go tomorrow.