U.S SENIOR WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

August 1, 2024

Christa Johnson

Fox Chapel Golf Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Christa Johnson, 3-under 68, joins us here in the flash interview area. Tell us about your round. Four birdies, one bogey.

CHRISTA JOHNSON: I played real steady. I hit a lot of greens, and I got it close -- I even got it on the right side of the hole two times, and those were maybe easier putts, and then I made a couple other putts that I wasn't expecting, so it was nice.

Q. You got off to a pretty good start to birdie 11 and 12. Can you talk about those two birdies?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: 11 is one I didn't really expect. You're just trying to get it close, but you do the picture and it goes in the hole. That was fun. Then 12, I hit it pretty close, and it went in. It was an easier putt.

Q. Do you remember what you hit into 11, the par-3?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: 11 I believe was an 8-iron, and 12 was a wedge.

Q. And they were fairly short birdie putts?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: I was 24 feet on 11, and I was six feet on 12.

Q. What part of your game today worked so well, because obviously as of now your round is much lower than the rest of the field?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: I can't answer for the rest of the field. I hit my irons pretty well, and I think I have a pretty good game plan.

Q. Did the course change much --

CHRISTA JOHNSON: Oh, yeah.

Q. -- as the round went along?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: Not so much as the round went along, but between yesterday and today it changed quite a bit, and between Monday and today. It seemed like a faster course today than Monday even.

Q. You've played in all six of these championships. What might you have learned in the first five that's helping you this time around?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: I'm just learning to be more myself. It took me a long time to be myself, and now I'm just more playing my game out here instead of someone else's game or another game that I think I should be playing.

I've done a lot of heart work, and it's made a big difference.

Q. Your husband is on the bag?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: Yes.

Q. And how much does he help you, and what kind of interaction is going on during a round between the two of you?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: He makes sure -- he doesn't play golf. He makes sure I eat, drink, stay hydrated, gives me options, and he's caddied for me for all of these, so he knows for club selection that he's pretty good with club selection and what I'm thinking and what's going on so that we probably have learned to play together better every year.

Q. On the regular tour you won a major --

CHRISTA JOHNSON: I did.

Q. What would it mean to you to win this one?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: This is -- it's a long -- it's just patience. I think I'm in pretty good shape. But it's a marathon, and you've got to stay with the marathon.

I'm taking good supplements, so I'm hopeful. I'm going to get rest and come back out and do my best tomorrow.

Q. The other two birdies, anything special about them?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: I was right below the hole on No. 2, and so I was able to hit a -- I just laid up and hit a mid wedge in. I don't know where the other birdie is right now. I'm sorry.

Q. 15?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: That also I was right below the hole. That's funny, I put two-putt there.

Q. You had a par save from the bunker on the last hole. How big was that?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: That was awesome.

Q. Then you left yourself a testy putt?

CHRISTA JOHNSON: I did leave myself a little tester there. It was 12 feet, and I did the picture, and it went in.