AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

August 9, 2023

Georgia Hall

Press Conference

ED HODGE: Delighted to be joined by Georgia Hall our 2018 Champion, that was at Royal Lytham of course, a venue you'll be going back to soon in a few years' time.

Your thoughts on that news recently?

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, obviously extremely delighted to go back there. I really didn't know whether we would be so obviously -- obviously very fond memories of winning there, and look forward to going back there and playing at home again in a few years' time.

ED HODGE: Looking ahead to this week, how much have you been out there practising, and what's the challenge that the field face this week?

GEORGIA HALL: To be honest, I haven't played much before this week, this course. I played a couple holes down south. I played it once maybe five years ago. I didn't remember much about it. I think the setup is fantastic. The condition is great, and it's playing quite soft.

And obviously the heather, the tee shots are the most important. You can't get in that heather because it's really tough to get out. So I think if you hit straight drives, you have got a chance of scoring your way around here.

ED HODGE: Is the strategy, tee shot the key?

GEORGIA HALL: For sure, yeah. There are a bunkers out there that are a bit linksy that you need to avoid, otherwise you're just kind of chipping out.

Q. You didn't play The Scottish Open last week to prioritise for this event, so what was your preparation like last week?

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, I was sad, obviously, to miss The Scottish Open. It's the first one I've missed. If I played it, it would have been nine in a row for me, nine events.

So I just came off the back of four, and obviously was at home last week, which was needed. You know, this is the biggest event of the year for me personally for various reasons, but I just worked on things that I wanted to improve last week and get a lot of energy.

For this week, I know it's a busy week and I have a lot of support around me this week, which is really great for me to have those people cheering on. Even today in the Pro-Am, I couldn't believe the amount of people out there, so just very excited to get going tomorrow.

Q. This is your fifth year coming back as a champion, does that kind of pressure drop off or is it the same every year?

GEORGIA HALL: I think expectation for sure, but it gives me that extra bit of confidence going into this week knowing that I've won, and that I managed to get it done going down the stretch. You know, major championships are a lot different to normal events. It has that extra pressure, anyway.

But I really love playing at home and having home crowd cheering me on. I really enjoy it out there and I'm really happy when I'm out there playing golf.

So I mean, for sure, this is the most exciting event for me, even though it's a busy one, it's great to be a part of.

Q. And you're going to be playing alongside Celine Boutier, and she's the in-form golfer coming into this week. Does that raise your level, playing someone that's playing well?

GEORGIA HALL: I've actually played quite a lot with Celine this year at various other tournaments. She beat me in a playoff earlier in the year.

But she's such a great, and she's also my Solheim partner, so I know her game a lot. She's just a really calm, chill person, and we get on really well, so obviously it's great to play with her and Atthaya. Hopefully we'll have a big crowd behind us.

Q. Martin Slumbers was talking about wanting a crowd of 250,000 very shortly in the women's game. Can you see that happening?

GEORGIA HALL: Firstly, I completely agree with him about having those amount of crowds here. I think it would be amazing to have. I certainly would love that, and I know that all the players would, as well.

I think it's definitely possible. We get to play world-class golf courses every year at this event, and that's what we should be doing.

You know, I think that people are going to be pleasantly surprised at the amount of crowds here this week, especially the area we are in, and hopefully the home favourites and a lot of the players from England and Great Britain are going to have a lot of backing behind us, and I think on the weekend, for sure, we are going to get a lot.

Q. Since you started, what do you make in the way women's golf's has sort of come on before?

GEORGIA HALL: A massive difference. When I turned pro, this event, for example, it just keeps getting better every year. What AIG and the R&A have done to elevate the women's game has been phenomenal, and it raises the bar for other tournaments and for other majors.

You know, what they do to help the women's golf, the R&A by inspiring the next generation and helping as an R&A ambassador, helping inspire the younger kids out there, and be a part of that since I won in 2018, it's just been a real great achievement for me and honor for me to be their ambassador.

And also with AIG just announcing till 2030 I think is amazing, and I know we have some great golf courses coming up. St Andrews next year, as well, so just a lot forward to for the future.

Q. What kind of questions do you get asked by the little girls that you meet when you're serving in your ambassadorial role?

GEORGIA HALL: Sometimes random questions which I like. Mostly just how I took up the game. I think that parents are such a big role in their child's future, obviously and I know mine were. And just, you know, little tips on golf that I can try and give them.

But I think a lot of kids take it very seriously, very young, and I think it's so important just to enjoy the game and get out and have fun.

Q. What do you remember for parents bringing up young golfers? What's important?

GEORGIA HALL: I think just top find people their age. I mean, I didn't name any other girls my age when I took up the game when I was 7 years old and I was with my dad quite a lot and that was great.

But I think I would have loved to have played with other, especially girls my age. I was in a lot of groups and I was the only girl in the group.

So I think it's really important just for the parents to try and find those kids' clubs, and there's more and more even now than when I was 7.

ED HODGE: Given this is a new test this week, the number of players, how do you think that will affect the scoring overall?

GEORGIA HALL: I think we are going to get great weather now. Yesterday was obviously awful. But I think there's definitely a score out there. I've heard that some players have said it's long, and I disagree. I don't think it's long. I think it plays how a major should play. They should be tougher than other events.

It will be interesting to see what they do with the pens because you can tuck them in quite good spots out there, and the greens are running great.

So I think if you hit the fairway, you've got a good chance but I think we'll see how the scoring is on Thursday and Friday, and then if they need to make it hard, I'm sure they will.

ED HODGE: And hopefully a big weekend for English sport if you're up there challenging.

GEORGIA HALL: Fingers crossed.

ED HODGE: The Lionesses play Saturday morning. Do you feel a buzz around English at the moment in general?

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, we are doing great, and I've been following along, as well, the World Cup. It's just so nice to play close to home, as well. I think this AIG Women's Open is going to be the closest it's ever going to be for me personally, so it's just really nice to play near the London area.

ED HODGE: Thanks for your time, everyone. Georgia, thanks for coming in. Have a good week.