AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

August 13, 2023

Charlotte Heath

Mixed Zone

.

Q. Smyth Salver winner. How does that sound?

CHARLOTTE HEATH: Pretty good. Definitely kind of not what I expected at the start of the week but very happy with it.

Q. 10 amateurs at the start of the week, a fantastic achievement to come out on top.

CHARLOTTE HEATH: Yeah, I'm definitely happy with that. For me and Julia to make the cut was something really special.

Q. And you had some early troubles with bogeys but you called back.

CHARLOTTE HEATH: Yeah, I clawed back well, but good birdie on 14 and 16. Got in some big trouble off the tee on 18, so I was pretty unlucky, the wind just didn't touch my drive but that's okay.

Q. Were you looking at scoreboards?

CHARLOTTE HEATH: I was trying to but it wasn't like showing anything but on 18, Alice's caddie was like, "You don't have to worry." So that was really good of him.

Q. Did that help playing with Alice, someone you know quite well?

CHARLOTTE HEATH: It was really nice to play with Alice. I was in the girls' team; she was in the women's, so I never got to spend much time with her. But her mum was our manager so spent a lot of time with the family as a whole, so it was nice to play with a familiar face.

Q. This week in general, in front of the crowds, did you feel as though you were getting cheered on by many fans?

CHARLOTTE HEATH: Yeah, I heard my name being shouted which is not something I'm used to, but it's a really nice feeling. I think it's really nice playing in England as well, having like the home crowd. I felt a lot of support out there.

Q. Rose Zhang won this last year. Some pretty impressive names on that.

CHARLOTTE HEATH: Yeah, there's some incredible names on the Smyth Salver.

Q. Nice to follow?

CHARLOTTE HEATH: Yeah, hopefully.

Q. And what's next for you?

CHARLOTTE HEATH: I'm going to Q-School, Stage 1, two weeks' time, and then after that, just back to the regular college season. I fly out to America tomorrow, so it's a quick turnaround.

Q. What's the biggest learning experience you take from this week?

CHARLOTTE HEATH: There's so many, honestly. I think the pros just play so smart and kind of take risk out of play, and I think sometimes as an amateur you don't really think about that because if you come fourth or 10th it really doesn't matter that much whereas if you're playing for money, there's a big difference in that. I think that's something to definitely follow going forwards.

Q. The volunteer on 15 said you hit it closest of anybody.

CHARLOTTE HEATH: I hit my drive like 300 yesterday yards, so that helps. I only had like 80 to the pin.

Q. Huge congratulations on winning the Smyth Salver.

CHARLOTTE HEATH: I'm very happy. It's not something I expected start of the week so certainly a bonus.

Q. And what are your key takeaways from this championship?

CHARLOTTE HEATH: So many things. I've learned so much from the pros, how they play compared to amateurs. I think they play a lot smarter and more sensible. Definitely know when to take risks and when to hold back, and I think that's something I can really take forward. There was a lot going on out there.

Q. What are your plans after this?

CHARLOTTE HEATH: Packing, I guess, going to America so many, so have to sort out my suitcases.