U.S. SENIOR WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

August 20, 2026

Juli Inkster

Barton Hills Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Here with Juli Inkster. Juli, a 2-under round. Your best opening round in this championship. How would you assess your first round?

JULI INKSTER: I played really well today. You know, I kept the ball in the fairway. I hit some really good wedge shots today. You know, I had I think four tap-ins, which was nice. I made one long putt and one kind of "smedium."

I made a triple on 15. Hit it over the green and then, you know, left it in the bunker and then 3-putted. But, you know, out here you just can't get in the bad spots, and I was in a bad spot. So I'm very happy with the way I played.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. What were you trying to do with the second shot on 15?

JULI INKSTER: I was just trying to hit it -- I was just really trying to hit it in the middle of the green, but it's just, like, when you try to get it up in the air a little more, you hit a little more on it. You know, God, as soon as it was in the air, I just wanted to go like this, you know? But, yeah, it's a tough bunker shot.

Q. Do you get over bad holes any differently than you did --

JULI INKSTER: I thought I rebounded pretty good. I made a nice par. I made a nice 4-footer that broke like this on 16 and birdied 17 and made a nice up-and-down on 18. I thought I hung in there good.

At my age, yes, I want to play good golf, and I want to compete, and I want to be there, but at the end of the day, I'm super happy where I am in my life. Golf is just -- it's just fun to come out here and compete.

Q. You played an LPGA event earlier this year with Angel.

JULI INKSTER: It's nice having her in your right pocket, let me tell you (laughing).

Q. What was that like? Just from a preparation standpoint, does that help you at all in terms of what you want to work on?

JULI INKSTER: Yeah, I think so. You know, it was so long ago, but it kind of kept me practicing a little bit because, I mean, in the winter I play more golf than I do in the summer. I'll go hit balls or putt, but I don't really -- I play nine holes once in a while. I mean, I play nine holes late night, but I just don't have the crew I have down in the desert to play with.

But, yeah, I mean, it kept me, you know, just to compete, to make the putts, and especially to have a partner, it was great.

Q. (Off microphone).

JULI INKSTER: I know. I love playing alternate shot, too. It's great.

Q. You hit the ball exceptionally well. I think you missed one fairway.

JULI INKSTER: Yeah.

Q. Is that an indication of your overall state of your game?

JULI INKSTER: Yeah, I feel pretty good. Last week I hit the ball really well, and I didn't putt great. So I've been working a lot on my putting this week. I really like the way I rolled the ball today. I putted great.

If I can just keep doing that, you know, three more rounds of golf is a lot of golf, especially on this golf course. It's firming up a little bit. You're going to have to really pay attention, especially off the tee, what you're hitting and stuff.

Q. (Off microphone).

JULI INKSTER: It's my stroke. I have a tendency to get a little loop in my stroke or cut the ball a little bit. I've been trying to work on that. Yeah, it's just -- I don't know. It's just golf (smiling).