U.S. ADAPTIVE OPEN

July 10, 2023

Abigail Davis

Pinehurst Resort & C.C. (Course No. 6)

Press Conference

Q. Abigail Davis, tied for sixth right now. Can you just walk us through your round a little bit today?

ABIGAIL DAVIS: So the beginning was really rough. I was not expecting to shoot what I shot on the front. I had a lot of mistakes that I was not making yesterday or the day before.

But I did turn it around the last nine.

Q. Is it something that maybe -- are there certain things about the back nine versus the front nine that you find fit your game better?

ABIGAIL DAVIS: So I started on hole No. 1, so I started on the front nine. It is a little quirky. But I think now I know what to hit and how to hit it.

The back nine I finally just -- it just clicked.

Q. Teeing off on the first hole, did you feel any particular emotions, like being here at the Adaptive Open and being here at Pinehurst?

ABIGAIL DAVIS: Yes, I was very excited and nervous because I didn't know what to expect because it's my first year. I did not hit my driver well at all. But I ended up with a birdie on that hole, so I ended well. But I was nervous for sure.

Q. Being your first year, what had you heard about this event leading up to it, and why did you want to participate?

ABIGAIL DAVIS: I didn't hear much from it, actually. I heard from a really good friend of ours, and he really wanted to get into the tournament. Unfortunately he didn't. But he showed me and just told me all about it, and I was like, that's awesome that they have something for adaptive because I used to play college golf, and I just felt like an outsider for sure, and here I feel like I'm at home and I'm in my own element here.

Q. Maybe this is a bit of a simple question, but how important is that, to feel a sense of belonging, something you're obviously so passionate about?

ABIGAIL DAVIS: Very important to me. I love to make influences around the world. I like to prove people wrong. It means a lot to me to be here, and very important to just show everyone like I can do everything that a pro golfer can do, too.

Q. What was your favorite moment from the course today?

ABIGAIL DAVIS: When I got the birdie on the first hole. I was not expecting that at all. Where my driver went, I was not expecting that at all.

I really liked the birdie.

I loved playing with the people I played with, and it was just a great day.

Q. Just the overall community being here, like you said, it was your first time. How welcoming have they been, and how have you felt joining this now group of people playing at the second Adaptive Open?

ABIGAIL DAVIS: I actually was really shocked when I came, because Houston they just stare at you basically. I came here, and everyone came up to me, introduced themselves. Everyone is super sweet here, very open arms, and I was very appreciative of that.

Q. Seeing this last year, what did it make you want to do to come out here and play in this championship?

ABIGAIL DAVIS: My good friend and I were going to come out and play together. He did not make it, sadly, but I looked at the tournament, and I was like, that's like super cool, and I can see other people that also have disabilities, and it just influenced me to want to come here and just influence other people, as well.

Q. How do you think this championship would help to grow the game of golf in a bigger way?

ABIGAIL DAVIS: I think it will definitely help grow golf, especially if a kid has a disability, because they can see, wow, there's opportunities for me out there, and I'm not just playing with the regular golf tour people. I can play with others just like me, and I can feel right at home, as well.

Q. Before you signed up or tried to get into this tournament, what did you think this was going to be like before you got here, and what does it feel like to be here at Pinehurst right now?

ABIGAIL DAVIS: Definitely thought it was going to be totally different.

Q. How so?

ABIGAIL DAVIS: So I was expecting media, but I wasn't expecting this much media. I have been on TV before, so I've been through it, but I was not expecting this much media for sure. But I was really excited to just come and play for the USGA Adaptive.

Q. What did it take for you to get here? Lots of practice, support, perseverance?

ABIGAIL DAVIS: Perseverance for sure. I had a rough time during college, and so I just stuck to it and believed in it, and I just kept practicing every day, and my parents were like, you got it, I believe in you, and other people were also very encouraging, and I think that helped a lot.