U.S SENIOR WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

August 25, 2023

Trish Johnson

Waverley Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Two bogeys and then two birdies and pars the rest of the day. Can you walk me through the round?

TRISH JOHNSON: Yeah. Very steady start. Hit some pretty decent shots early on. Just probably had three or four what would have been birdie chances, apart from the fact that the pins were so ludicrous. There was no chance -- I'd have a 10-foot birdie putt but it had six feet of break on it straight downhill. So hit a lot of good shots in, and there were some funky pins out there today.

Really had no chance of making birdies even though I hit really good shots in. It was a bit on the back foot today. It was not easy.

Then hit a really good iron shot into I think it's 14 maybe to about four feet. Made birdie there, and a really good iron shot into the next and had uphill birdie putts rather than downhill birdie putts.

Last couple of holes, unfortunate, only had 6-iron into 17, but that pin there is ludicrous. It's a kosher pin. It's just 49 on or something, so I've got a putt of about 100 feet, so the chances of two-putting are remote.

Then 18 is a little bit disappointing. Hit a really good drive down 18. Should have hit 4-wood instead of 5-wood, left myself an impossible chip.

But especially towards the end, it was good. Back nine was a lot better than the front nine. Hit the ball really well. Putted pretty good. Yeah, I think that's a pretty decent score.

I said at the start of the week, anything around level par is pretty good around these greens because they're psycho greens. They really are.

Q. So the pins today were a little bit more challenging than yesterday?

TRISH JOHNSON: Yeah. Some of them were ludicrous, yeah.

Q. The course overall, how did it compare this morning to yesterday afternoon?

TRISH JOHNSON: Well, it's difficult because it's obviously a lot softer, especially with the rain, as well. But that might have made it easier, in all honesty. Shots into pins that are almost impossible to get near, when it's bouncy it's going to be even harder. So this afternoon, especially if it gets a bit windy, as well...

The condition of the course is absolutely amazing, just beautiful. But the greens are something else. They really are.

Q. Would you say that players who played in the morning yesterday and have the afternoon today, do you think it'll be more challenging, less challenging?

TRISH JOHNSON: I think it'll be harder this afternoon, yeah. The morning tee time is easier.

Q. How has your experience this week been with the championship overall?

TRISH JOHNSON: It's great, yeah. Like I say, everybody is very friendly, good golf course. Weather is nice, pleasant. Yeah, it's been very good. I just want to play even better.

Q. Is this your first time playing this championship?

TRISH JOHNSON: No, I've played from the start.

Q. How do you feel your play has been the first few days this week compared to your other first showings?

TRISH JOHNSON: Well, I've finished second and third, so I'm still trying to win it basically. I'm probably going to be somewhere around fifth going into the weekend. If I don't win, I'll be disappointed, but if somebody plays better than me -- I've got to play very well this weekend. Obviously Catriona at 3-under, she's a top player.

Q. What do you think it'll take out of you to be able to make that push?

TRISH JOHNSON: Just play better, simple as. Hit it closer, hole more putts, keep hitting it solidly. But yeah, just shoot lower, simple as that.

Q. Who's on the bag for you this week?

TRISH JOHNSON: Beth Allen. She's a mate of mine that played on Tour. She's won the European Order of Merit 2016, so she's a really good player herself.

Q. How has the experience been on the course?

TRISH JOHNSON: Yeah, great, really good. She knows I can get a bit temperamental now and again so just let me go with it. But she's very good, yeah. We're enjoying it.