ISPS HANDA SENIOR OPEN

July 26, 2026

Jerry Kelly

The Gleneagles Hotel, Kings Course

Quick Quotes

Q. Many congratulations. You just secured the Senior Claret Jug and your third senior major championship. How does that feel?

JERRY KELLY: It's indescribable to win it. The senior Claret Jug is the trophy that I've wanted as an over-50 golfer other than any other. To do it in Scotland at the Home of Golf and to actually win and get into the Home of Golf at St Andrews, I mean, I'm absolutely speechless.

But it's been this Scotland army out here that's been behind me that really brought me through, and I really appreciate the people for getting behind me and just lifting me up when things were going low, saying you've got this and really pulling me through. I really appreciate Scotland itself.

Q. An up-and-down out there. Your putter seemed key coming down the stretch. What was the most successful part of your game today?

JERRY KELLY: My brain, actually, was the most successful part of my game. In the past I would have gotten down that I wasn't striking it the way I'd like to strike it. But instead of worrying about that, I just went and took care of the next shot.

I learned a lot about myself today, and I wish I would have learned it about 20, 30 years ago. You're never too old to learn, and that's what really pulled me through. Hitting a couple speed putts from 90, 100 feet on a couple of those holes, it was kind of enjoyable to putt the strikes on it. You get the second putts, some of them tailed away, as well.

Yeah, the last putt was probably the most memorable.

Q. You seemed to be struggling with your back early on but how proud are you to show that determination and still pull through?

JERRY KELLY: Yeah, I've had some issues the last couple years. So I'm kind of used to it. It tweaked on six and was able to take a full backswing rest of the day. That's over-50 golf there. We are finally tuned athletes but sometimes we blow a gasket, too.

Q. You're the 10th winner of the Senior Open from the USA. How proud does that make you?

JERRY KELLY: Incredibly proud. Incredibly proud. Just to win this, I mean, how many of them has there been? To be on this trophy, to be a part of this trophy, to be a part of the R&A -- I just love it over here, I really do. It brings it full circle that I didn't do what I wanted to in The Open Championship but to get it done here, I mean, I'm over the moon.