U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 2, 2026

Paul Stankowski

Scioto Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, we'll get started. You kind of a history of success at this event. You have back-to-back top 10 finishes; you're in the top 10 right now, albeit only after the first round. How are going to keep that up?

PAUL STANKOWSKI: I played solid today. U.S. Opens are -- they're just a grind, you know. Birdies aren't easy to come by and you just got hit -- fairways are generous out here, so you got pick your spots.

This is not a golf course you can go pin seeking on, so, you know, kind of a boring day. A lot of fairways, a lot of greens, a lot of two putts, and then made a few on the back nine, which is great. Finally got the right speed and the right line.

And so, yeah, the last couple years had Top 10s. You got to drive it in the fairway and I drive the ball pretty good. I'm not a long hitter anymore, but I keep it in play and keep things in front of me a little bit.

And so, yeah, then you got roll putts. So that combination is pretty good.

Q. Definitely. Your approach game statistically was great today. I think you're third currently in greens in regulation. Did it feel like that on the course? Was that a part of your game that felt especially strong?

PAUL STANKOWSKI: Yeah, it was pretty solid. Three putted the first hole of the day right out of the gate and I made a bogey like on -- maybe on three. I can't remember what I did, but it wasn't bad.

And, yeah, I'm just playing for the fat parts of the greens and just trying to, like you say, pick your poison. There are only two par-5s. I'm not long. I went for one of them in two and hit it through the green, just foot off the green, but I was dead. Had no chance because -- yeah, Andrew, he won that one with his design.

It's got some pretty peculiar spots and it's -- yeah, so you can hit a green and be just dead and I was a foot off the green and I hit a pitch that ended up 40 feet away. Like nothing I can do about it.

Just got to take your lumps and try to smile. That's what my son and I are trying to do, is just smile and stay positive and literally just play some boring golf.

Q. Last one, kind of a double hitter. What does it mean to have your son on the bag, and is this the first time playing Scioto?

PAUL STANKOWSKI: First time playing Scioto. Was here in 2016. My brother played. That was his first Senior Open. Josh and I came and watched him play.

Obviously new golf course since then. I love having my son on the bag. It's his second full time season caddieing for me and we were having a blast. Yeah, as a dad I can't think of anything more special than to work with your kids, and in this sport, you know, you're competing together, which is really cool. I'm still dad, still trying to teach him stuff, and so battling the adversity and I know he's watching.

It's good accountability for me and he's the perfect caddie for me. We're having a blast.