AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

July 29, 2026

Georgia Hall

Press Conference

OLIVIA MCMILLAN: All right, good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. I am delighted to be joined by our 2018 champion, Georgia Hall. Georgia, you've of course won your title here at Royal Lytham and St Annes. How great is it to be back?

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, it was really cool to drive in on Monday, and it gave me like goosebumps. It was so nice of a feeling to be back here, and happy atmosphere and seeing all the spectators already today.

Really excited for this week, so hopefully be a good week.

OLIVIA MCMILLAN: If you would like to ask Georgia a question, we'll get a microphone to you.

Q. Hi, Georgia. Welcome back.

GEORGIA HALL: Thank you.

Q. You've gone on record as saying your body is not quite there yet, although you're hitting some nice shots. How much is memories and the crowd going to pull you along this week and your memories of the course?

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, obviously brings me a lot of confidence coming back here, and even playing in the practise rounds I see the shots I hit in certain positions. I remember like every pin position, so that was really good.

Yeah, my body is improving every month definitely and I'm playing pretty decent, but I think it's more having a card in your hand and being in those pressure situations and getting used to that again.

So this is definitely -- this event is obviously one of the reasons I play golf. This is just like the highlight of my year.

Q. Wondering if you wouldn't mind taking us back to when you first picked up a club again after you gave birth to Conor and what the feeling was like and what was the most difficult part about that.

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, I first picked up a club when I was -- six weeks after giving birth. I was in Ireland and went to a local driving range. I was really excited because I didn't know how I was going to hit it and thought I might top it or something, but I actually hit it pretty good, but my rotation, like there is no rotation at all.

Yeah, I went there for an hour and I was pleasantly surprised. I was leaving that thinking, okay, let's see if I can get back to Lytham. Yeah, it was good. I enjoyed the progress coming back. I think majority of it was rehab, like pelvic floor, you know, gym, cardio, stuff like that.

Q. Now having been through that, when you look at what Catriona did winning just 11 weeks after giving birth, what do you make of that?

GEORGIA HALL: I just spoke to her and I said, I really don't know how you done it. You like couldn't dream of doing that. I couldn't. She said, oh, it's lot easier with the second. So I was like, oh.

So when I have a second I'm definitely not coming back, so...

Yeah, it's just amazing. She's such a role model to look up to as well and gives great advice. Obviously such a great player and captain as well, so it's nice to see her here this week.

Q. Finally, can you take us back to the walk up 18 in 2018 and what that felt like, what you remember about it?

GEORGIA HALL: I just remember everyone standing up on the grandstands and cheering my name. And then obviously walking down there with a three-shot lead made it a bit more enjoyable. Had a bit less pressure on me.

But for it to be in England as well was extra special, and to have that support. It was my rookie year then on the LPGA, so it was such a -- obviously highlight of my career. You don't really realise the impact it has on you until months after. That's advice I would give to myself if I won again.

Q. In 2018, you had your dad on the bag, and then this year coming back with Conor in a carry cot or whatever. In terms of that sort of changing life, how special is that and how kind of mind blowing as well?

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, it's definitely -- it's strange. Obviously eight years ago is quite a long time. But my parents are here and my other half's dad is here so we have a lot of help with Conor, which is great. Obviously it's a very busy week for me, so it's nice to know that he's well looked after.

It's really cool. I had a picture with him on 18 and that will definitely be my screen saver. I have my whole life there with Paul. It's lovely. It's a shame he's not a bit older, but I'm really grateful that I kind of made it back here and everything went well enough in the birth to allow me to play.

Q. Thinking about when you've gone through this little period of getting back to the game, was this definitely this week that was the aim point, and what drove you?

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, 100 percent. This event, I didn't want to miss this event wherever it was, but especially Lytham. I didn't know whether it would come back here if I would have retired down the line in ten years or something like that, so I didn't know.

Also, I do like to feel like I'm achieving things and I like to be very busy, so I might have just got a bit of like ants in my pants.

Q. Final one: The new 11th hole, have you played it yet? What do you make of it?

GEORGIA HALL: Yes, I played it a couple times. I mean, they added more bunkers everywhere. It's a great hole. I think this is the most tactical we have to be on any golf course we've ever played in this Open.

You have to be brave on some shots. Can't just lay back. There are so many bunkers and they're all in a line, so if you carry one you're just in the other one.

It's very, very smart what they've done, and obviously I'm a big fan of it.

Q. We know you spoke to Tom Lehman and then spotted his photo I think on the eve of the championship just to remind you. What's been the interaction in the years since?

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah, I've stayed at his house a few times. Not recently; few years ago. He was in Arizona so when we had the event there I stayed with him and played a couple rounds of golf with him.

The Senior Open was at Sunningdale a couple years ago and I returned the favour. He didn't play in the end. Yeah, obviously the advice he gave me was very important and I listened to that, so I've got that in the back of my mind. Fingers crossed it works again.

Q. Georgia, when you win a major everyone immediately asks when are you going to win more.

GEORGIA HALL: Yeah.

Q. How difficult is that as a player when you're in the middle of it and want to cherish a win and people want more and more?

GEORGIA HALL: To be honest I haven't honestly dealt with a lot of that. I think after I won here my next goal was to win in America, especially as a player on the LPGA. It's a, completely different type of golf so, that's what -- yeah, I wanted to win in America, which I did.

This event just outrides any other event for me. If I had to pick another major it would always be this one.

Q. Do you think yourself, a multiple major champion, is looked upon differently to a single -- you or others will think of your career differently with more majors?

GEORGIA HALL: I don't think so, no. I think whoever wins a major has to do something pretty special and has to do with the mentality of playing. Obviously there is not many per year. So I wouldn't look at myself differently if I won another one.

Q. This is just a follow up to that question. You seemed to imply there that winning a major championship was significantly different to winning any other tournament. Just what is it that's different? What's the mental challenge that was significantly different here to anywhere else?

GEORGIA HALL: I think winning any tournament, especially LPGA or a major, is very hard. Majors obviously I think it's just added pressure and added atmosphere, and the fact that LPGA events, we have like 30 events, majors are only five, so that's why.

Obviously the prize fund and the title of being a major champion. So it all kind of adds to that, but then obviously we have our personal views on it. Like I would want to win this more than maybe an American wants to win the U.S. Open more. So, yeah.

Q. Looking ahead to tomorrow, you're grouped with Hinako Shibuno and Valentine Delon. Last month Valentine won the Women's Amateur Championship, just as you did. Having won yourself, what do you remember ahead of your own Open debut and what advice would you give Valentine this week and any other amateurs making their Open -- taking part in their first major?

GEORGIA HALL: I played with her actually yesterday, so we got the draw and then we said we were playing with each other. Obviously she is a great player winning the Amateur. I played in two Opens as an amateur, so St Andrews Royal Birkdale, and I definitely remember what it was like.

I think you're on such a high. Like you can't believe the food and the way you get looked after. It's so different to playing amateur events. And you're playing against the best in the world, so the advice I would give is give yourself a break and really enjoy the experience. They're in this event for a reason because they are great players and hopefully got many more to play. So not to put any pressure on themselves and just enjoy the week, and even try and learn from the best in the world how they play and enjoy the pressure.

OLIVIA MCMILLAN: Georgia, thank you very much for your time this afternoon. We wish you the best of luck this week.

GEORGIA HALL: Thank you.