Q. How good was that then?
It was a fairly good spherical. As I stated, I believe my spherical at Kingsbarns in 2022 was most likely higher than this, and people circumstances had been fairly nasty. I believe you had been there that day. However this one’s by far my finest spherical in actually robust circumstances in an Open Championship.
Q. Billy, why do you get pleasure from this a lot?
I’ve simply at all times embraced the toughness of something. I’ve at all times loved it. I believe that’s one of the simplest ways you are able to do to have an opportunity to play properly.
I get pleasure from hitting little bunt pictures. It’s not the — I get bored with golf the place you’re making full swings and also you lean right into a sure quantity and it stops. I like when it’s a must to be artistic and discover a method to get across the golf course, and I believe I’ve at all times performed that properly for essentially the most half.
So I believe that’s why I’ve at all times — or I get pleasure from days like this.
Q. If you began out immediately, did it seem to be it was going to be actually troublesome the entire means? Did you sense that instantly?
No, as a result of the wind wasn’t blowing that arduous. So we knew it was going to get some rain, however the wind was down for essentially the most half. Then even the again aspect, it wasn’t blowing too laborious.
Then we acquired to 13, and it actually picked up. We performed 5 par-5s on the again aspect, and that’s not even together with No. 16. Yeah, it was a tricky one on the market immediately. Simply knew going into the again aspect that it was going to be a grind it doesn’t matter what. You must discover a method to grind down and make a rating.
Q. Which of the brief recreation saves on the again 9 was essentially the most satisfying to you?
The one at 13. The one at 13 was the hardest. It was a 70-yard wedge shot. You’ll be able to play it many various methods, and hit a extremely high quality wedge shot there into the wind and to make that putt, saved some momentum going. Yeah, that was the one which was essentially the most satisfying of all of them.
Q. What was harder, the circumstances in ’16 while you shot 85 right here or immediately?
Those in ’16 had been a helluva lot harder. It was blowing 30, and it was raining sideways. Yeah, it was lots harder again then by far.
Q. Billy, 37 years outdated, and also you’ve performed numerous golf. Now you get one thing that’s inherently new. You’re a frontrunner going right into a remaining spherical main. It’s one thing utterly completely different for a man to play hyperlinks golf. What does that sort of really feel like?
I like it. I’ve labored my whole life to be on this place. Hear, I’ve been within the lead many occasions going right into a remaining spherical. Clearly this can be a main. It means just a little bit extra. Everyone knows that. We all know what this implies to everybody. I do know what it means to my legacy within the recreation of golf and what I need to do and achieve.
However I’m excited to be right here. I’ve needed to be right here my whole life. I’m lastly right here. I’m embracing it.
As I advised Todd Lewis, one thing I’ve performed this 12 months, and I’ve performed a greater job this week of it, or tried to do a greater job, is form of manifest seeing myself holding the trophy earlier than I fall asleep each evening, envisioning myself holding that trophy on 18, strolling out to the gang and being congratulated as Open champion.
That’s what I’m going to do once more tonight, and hopefully that comes true tomorrow. If it doesn’t, then I’ll get again on the grind and work tougher to get again able like this once more.
Q. Does it assist while you’re each taking part in very well grinding it out collectively?
Yeah, it does. If you’ve acquired one other man like Justin Rose who loves circumstances like this, who grinds out pictures, who works laborious, it does make it just a little bit simpler while you’re taking part in with somebody like that.
Hear, I’ve appeared as much as Justin for a few years now, I’ve advised him that. The way in which he goes about his enterprise, the way in which he checks each field, I’ve emulated that just a little bit in what I’ve performed.
Justin is a good buddy. Foochy clearly caddied for me for a number of years. He’s an important buddy. So we had an important group on the market. Although there wasn’t numerous chatter occurring as a result of we had been grinding out our rating, we all know we each are pulling for one another.
Q. Why do you assume you’re prepared now? Why do you assume the time is now?
I imply, I believe I’ve discovered lots concerning the recreation of golf taking part in 15 years professionally. I believe I’ve discovered methods to deal with my feelings. I’ve discovered methods to embrace numerous issues, to not be — I’m not saying afraid of failing. I believe I’m extra — I’m by no means afraid to fail. I believe I hate once I don’t do properly and I get criticism from exterior, and I’m letting these criticisms form of have an effect on my imaginative and prescient of myself.
So yeah, I believe, if it’s my time tomorrow, it’s my time, and I’m going to be ecstatic. If it’s not, then we’ll get on the horse once more, and we’ll work laborious to get again in that place once more.
Q. You stated legacy there. At this stage of your profession, how a lot do you sort of take into consideration balancing all of the success you’ve had after which sort of this void just a little little bit of main match success?
I’ve received numerous actually good occasions on the PGA Tour. I’ve received some nice occasions on DP World Tour. Clearly, pay attention, there’s three issues that I’m lacking, a pair issues which might be lacking on my CV. Clearly a Ryder Cup, being a part of a Ryder Cup, hopefully a victorious Ryder Cup, after which a serious. I need to win a couple of main.
I’m additionally content material that, if a serious doesn’t occur in my profession, I may be happy with what I’ve performed within the recreation of golf, that I’ve given it every little thing I’ve had.
And if it’s not meant to be, it’s not meant to be, however I do know that I can look myself within the mirror the subsequent 10 to fifteen years and say, hey, pay attention, I did every little thing I may to be the very best participant I may, and it simply wasn’t within the playing cards for me to win a serious.
Q. Have you ever taken a special method in any respect to the majors this 12 months?
I believe I had a special method the final couple years. The outcomes have been higher this 12 months, however I believe began in ’22 simply understanding I’m a perfectionist at coronary heart. I need every little thing to be good, and it’s bizarre at majors — or at common occasions, I do know I don’t must be good to win, however at majors I’ve at all times felt I’ve needed to be good.
Behind my thoughts, I knew I didn’t, however I simply couldn’t get that thought out of my head.
Type of early in ’22, working with my staff and Bhrett McCabe, I don’t assume we’ve performed something completely different or targeted on something completely different, I’ve simply come to the realisation that my recreation is sweet sufficient to play properly in majors, and I’ve to determine a method to make a rating daily.
Q. If you happen to’re content material in your profession, is {that a} peace you discovered later over time?
I believe I’ve discovered it during the last couple years, there’s little question about it. There’s another excuse I’ve performed properly in majors as properly.
I take a look at guys which have had heck of careers, Lee Westwood, Steve Stricker, who else am I going to neglect in there? I’m certain there’s a pair different guys in there that haven’t received majors, which have had actually high quality careers, they usually don’t have a serious on their file.
Understanding that it’s okay if a serious will not be within the playing cards, however it doesn’t imply that I’m not going to work my butt off and do every little thing I can to form of change that.
Q. Billy, what does this night seem like for you? Are you normally okay sleeping on a lead, particularly on a Saturday?
Yeah, I’ll sleep. It’s a late evening. It normally takes me a very long time to form of settle down after a spherical of golf. What are we, about 8:15, 8:30, so I’ll most likely go to mattress about 11:00, 11:30. Go watch some darts on TV and simply benefit from the evening with the staff.
Q. Darts man?
Hear, I’m very English in the case of sporting occasions. I like watching cricket. I like darts. I like numerous the English sports activities over right here. Yeah, I get pleasure from it.
Q. Do you perceive cricket?
Do I perceive cricket? I perceive it just a little bit. I nonetheless am studying, however I perceive among the fundamentals to a minimum of comprehend what’s occurring.
Q. Billy, don’t inform the gang that you just’re very English, by the way in which.
I’m very UK, how about that? That’s higher.
