Q. How good was that back then?
It was a very good round. As I said, I think my round at Kingsbarns in 2022 was better than this, and those conditions were worse. I think you were there that day. But this is my best round in difficult conditions in the Open Championship.
Q. Billy, why did you enjoy this so much?
I have always embraced the rigors of anything. I have always enjoyed it. I think that’s the best way to get a chance to play well.
I enjoy hitting small shots. It’s not a – I’m tired of golf where you hit a full swing and you lean on a certain number and it stops. I like when you have to be creative and find a way around the golf course, and I think I’ve always been good at that for the most part.
So I guess that’s why I stay – or enjoy days like this.
Q. When you started today, did it seem like it was going to be really hard the whole way? Did you hear that immediately?
No, because the wind could blow strongly. So we knew it was going to rain, but the wind was low for the most part. And after that, it wasn’t much of a hit.
Then we got to 13, and it really picked up. We played five par-5s on the back side, and that doesn’t include No. 16. Yes, it was hard out there today. You just knew going into the last one that it was going to be an uphill climb. You have to find a way to grind and score.
Q. What is the most satisfying short game you have saved after nine?
With 13. The 13th was very difficult. It was a 70-yard wedge shot. You can play it a lot of different ways, and hit a real quality wedge there in the air and make that putt, keep the momentum. Yes, that was the most satisfying of all.
Q. What was tougher, the conditions in ’16 when you shot 85 here or today?
These in ’16 were very strong. It was blowing 30, and it was raining sideways. Yes, it was very difficult back then.
Q. Billy, who is 37 years old, also plays a lot of golf. Now you get something new in nature. He is the leader going into the final tournament. It’s a completely different thing for a guy to play golf links. How does that feel?
I love it. I have worked my whole life to be in this position. Listen, most of the time I’m ahead going into the last lap. Obviously this is key. It means more. We all know that. We know what this means to everyone. I know what it means for my legacy in the game of golf and what I want to do and accomplish.
But I’m happy to be here. I wanted to be here all my life. I’m finally here. I embrace it.
As I told Todd Lewis, the thing that I did this year, and I did a better job this week, or I tried to do a better job, is to kind of present myself with a trophy before I go to bed every now and then. at night, I see myself holding that trophy at the age of 18, going out into the crowd and being congratulated as the Open champion.
That’s what I’m going to do again tonight, and hopefully that will happen tomorrow. If not, I will get back into shape and work hard to get back into shape like this again.
Q. Does it help if both of you are good at grinding together?
Yes, it happens. When you have another guy like Justin Rose who likes situations like this, grinds the shot, works hard, it makes it easier when you play with someone like that.
Listen, I’ve looked up to Justin for years now, I told him that. The way he goes about his business, the way he checks all the boxes, I’ve emulated that a bit in what I’ve done.
Justin is an excellent host. Apparently Foochy worked for me for a few years. You are a great friend. So we had a great group there. Even though there wasn’t much talk because we were crunching points, we know that we are both pulling for each other.
Q. Why do you think you are ready now? Why do you think the time is now?
I mean, I think I’ve learned a lot about the game of golf playing 15 years professionally. I think I have learned to manage my emotions. I’ve learned to accept many things, not to be – I’m not saying I’m afraid of failure. I think I’m more than that – I’m not afraid of failure at all. I think I hate it when I don’t do well and I get criticism from outside, and I let that criticism affect my opinion of myself.
So yes, I think, if it’s my time tomorrow, it’s my time, and I’ll be very happy. If not, then we will get back on the horse, and we will work hard to get back to that state again.
Q. You mentioned the legacy there. At this stage of your career, how much do you think about measuring all the success you’ve had and comparing it to this little bit of big tournament success?
I’ve won a lot of really good events on the PGA Tour. I won some great events on the DP World Tour. Obviously, listen, there are three things that I’m missing, a couple of things that aren’t on my CV. Obviously the Ryder Cup, which is part of the Ryder Cup, hopefully a successful Ryder Cup, then a big one. I want to win more than one hundred.
I am also satisfied that, if nothing great happens in my career, I will be satisfied with what I did in golf, that I gave it everything I had.
And if it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be, but I know I can look in the mirror in the next 10 to 15 years and say, hey, listen, I did everything I could to be the best player I could be. , and it wasn’t in the cards for me to win the grand prize.
Q. Did you take a completely different approach to the majors this year?
I think I’ve had a different approach over the last few years. The results were better this year, but I think it started in ’22 just realizing that I’m a perfectionist at heart. I want everything to go well, and it’s weird in majors – or in regular events, I know I don’t have to be perfect to win, but in majors I always felt I had to be perfect.
In my mind, I knew I wasn’t doing it, but I couldn’t get that thought out of my head.
At the beginning of ’22, working with my team and Bhrett McCabe, I don’t think we did anything different or focused on anything different, I just found that my game is good enough to play well in the bigs, and I have to find a way to score every day.
Q. If you are satisfied with your job, is that the peace you get later?
I think I got it a few years ago, no doubt about it. There is another reason why I play well even in big games.
I look at the guys who have had a lot of careers, Lee Westwood, Steve Stricker, who else am I going to forget? I’m sure there are other guys who didn’t win majors, had great careers, and don’t have a major on their record.
I understand that it’s okay if an executive isn’t in the cards, but it doesn’t mean I won’t work hard and do everything I can to fix that.
Q. Billy, how does this night look to you? Do you tend to sleep early, especially on Saturdays?
Yes, I’m going to sleep. It’s late at night. It usually takes me a long time to plan to calm down after a round of golf. What are we, about 8:15, 8:30, so I’ll go to bed about 11:00, 11:30. Go watch darts on TV and enjoy a night out with the group.
Q. Darts guy?
Listen, I’m very English when it comes to sporting events. I like to watch cricket. I like arrows. I like a lot of English games here. Yes, I enjoy it.
Q. Do you understand cricket?
Do I understand cricket? I understand it a little. I’m still learning, but I understand some of the basics so I can at least understand what’s going on.
Q. Billy, don’t tell the crowd you’re too English, though.
I’m in the UK a lot, how about that? That’s better.
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