U.S. SENIOR WOMEN'S OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

August 22, 2026

Maria McBride

Barton Hills Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Maria McBride, 7-under, 6-under today, the low round of the week with seven birdies. What went well out there for you today just to have you go that low?

MARIA McBRIDE: Well, actually I played really well yesterday, too. I made a lot of birdies yesterday, so that's kind of what I brought with me today.

I made a few 3-putts to drop a few shots, but just overall I'm just playing really well, getting my yardage great into the flag, and obviously with the break we had today, the greens softened up a little bit, so trying to make sure we don't play too hard shots to get too much spin, but I'm just, yeah, just playing very solid.

THE MODERATOR: Won last week on the Legends Tour. How much confidence does that give you coming into this week?

MARIA McBRIDE: It was a lot of confidence obviously knowing that I can play well and shoot low scores and just kind of trying to build on that. The first round I wasn't really hitting the ball very well. I was really kind of out of sync with my body, but you know, tried to find it, and then the last two days I've been swing it really well.

THE MODERATOR: You're going to be in the final group tomorrow in the final round here at this major championship. How does it feel knowing you're in the hunt for this title?

MARIA McBRIDE: It's great. I was in there last year, too, and just had a really bad hole. That kind of messed everything up. I'm really excited to be there again this week and this year. You know, hopefully I can keep going.

THE MODERATOR: Questions.

Q. How many drivers do you hit out there?

MARIA McBRIDE: Today I actually didn't hit as many as I have done before, even though it was a little softer. Yeah, I actually don't know. It's maybe six, seven maybe of them.

Q. You haven't lost that much distance off the tee.

MARIA McBRIDE: I have not actually. I've been fortunate. I haven't lost any yardage with either my driver or my irons. That obviously helps coming into these holes. I'm not hitting any long irons whatsoever. I think the longest club I hit is really on 16 where I hit a 7-iron, but other than that, I hit really short irons into every green.