U.S SENIOR WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

August 23, 2023

Jill McGill

Waverley Country Club

Quick Quotes

THE MODERATOR: We're going to welcome our defending champion, Jill. You were here a few weeks back. Talk about your practice round and your first look at the course.

JILL McGILL: Well, on media day, it was great to see Waverley. It certainly has a lot of personality to it, especially when you get up to the green complexes. There are spots on the golf course that definitely -- or on the greens specifically that you will be at an advantage if you can hit those spots.

There's a few greens out here that my sister and I, Shelly, who's caddying for me this week, have already discussed. I don't care where the pin is. This is where I want to hit the green every day.

Q. For you, what kind of competitive golf have you played, if any, from last year's Senior Women's Open?

JILL McGILL: I mean, I really ramped it up this summer with four tournaments, I think, so I felt like I was back on Tour. I played a little bit more golf because I had a few more opportunities, like at Pebble Beach, which was fabulous.

Really I haven't played a tremendous amount more, just life is still happening. The seven- and 11-year-old are very demanding. But it's been great. It's really been a great year.

Q. I know you still play tennis, which does contribute to your success in golf. Talk about that.

JILL McGILL: Tennis for me is great. It's a stress reliever. It's a way to get in physical activity, stay in shape, stay competitive, and I'm able to approach it from a different point of view where there's not as much attachment to the results.

When I can bring that over from tennis to golf, that's where I'm successful.

Q. Last year was a family affair. You still have a sister on the bag. Will we see the rest of the family this week?

JILL McGILL: Last year the deal was if I was in the top 10 going into the weekend they were going to fly up, and when I told my husband, hey, I'm in the top 10 and he hung up on me, I was like, what is happening, and they were already on their way to the airport. Hopefully they'll be able to come up on this weekend.

My daughter is starting middle school, which has been an emotional beat-down for me this week. It's very traumatic. We'll see how that works out.

Q. I just want to put a bow on your year. Hopefully you get to keep that trophy. But the year with the trophy, year as a champion, what has it meant to you?

JILL McGILL: Well, having the trophy in the house was great. When we sent it back, it was very sad. The house seems very empty. As a matter of fact, I was in the locker room and I walked by and did a double take because the case was there that I had sent back, and I got a little sad.

I would love to take it home again this year so we can decorate the house properly, and I'm looking forward to just going out there and giving it my best.