U.S. SENIOR WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

August 24, 2025

Leta Lindley

San Diego Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Great job this week; walk me through it and what you're most proud of.

LETA LINDLEY: I'm surprisingly emotional after defending. I think I just played really well, and I'm really proud of myself. It was hard to defend. Obviously I wanted to go back-to-back, but fell a little short. I just missed too many putts out here. These greens were super tricky.

But I feel like I can hold my head high. I fought until the very, very end for every stroke out there, and I think I did a good job defending with all the different attention and duties that came with it. I didn't know what it would be like to have all that extra attention, and to stand up on the first tee the first day and rip it right down the fairway like a champ, I was really proud of that.

I played really, really well. I had a rough start today. Well, I started great with a birdie and then went through a really rough patch, and to fight back and shoot even par today, I'm really proud of myself.

Q. What were your emotions walking off the course today?

LETA LINDLEY: Crying a little bit. I was emotional. It's funny because I didn't cry at Fox Chapel when I won, but I think I was so zoned in and I couldn't let my guard down. I really wanted to make that last putt for par. I think my parents from heaven bumped that one in to help me out.

I'm hanging on the edge, and I think I shed a few tears actually. It's been a great week, and to come home to San Diego and play in front of so many of my friends that came here from all over the country, some here locally, some members from Old Marsh that flew all the way from Florida, eight wonderful ladies, my best friend from college flew in this morning to watch me play, my cousin is here, best man at our wedding. We had so many people out here cheering for us. I just felt super supported and loved, and it was a great week.

Q. Tell me what it's like to have your family here. I know your son is your No. 1 supporter.

LETA LINDLEY: Well, he said that he was coming no matter what. He's supposed to be in school, but he said if he had to rent a car or walk here, he was going to be here in San Diego, so we did get him a ticket to come and share the week with us. To have him here and to be there Tuesday night to listen to me speak and just to see how much this week meant to all of us, it was a great week.

Q. Are you excited for next year at Barton Hills?

LETA LINDLEY: I am excited. I'm excited for the next nine years I have an exemption. I try not to get too far ahead, but I start to think, how old am I going to be in nine years? I'm looking forward to every single one. This is such a special championship, and it means so much to me, and I'm proud to be a part of the USGA family. I look forward to cheering whoever wins today.