PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

May 22, 2021

Kevin Streelman

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island

Quick Quotes

JOHN DEVER: Currently 4-under for the championship and at this very moment in fourth place. Looks like a hell of a round played out there. Maybe not the ending you wanted but let's talk about the first 17 holes and how you played, what you saw and how it went.

KEVIN STREELMAN: We knew to today the wind wouldn't be as bad as it was yesterday especially. In my mind we had to attack and make some birdies. Got off to a nice start, but hung in there nicely and was able to hold on and make a few more in the end. On 18, the wind didn't push it left like it was supposed to. Hit a great putt and feeling solid going into tomorrow. It's an exciting Sunday.

JOHN DEVER: Any of the birdies or par save that sticks out in your mind?

KEVIN STREELMAN: The bunker save on 15 and stepping up and birdieing 16 and the other nice bunker save on 17, was able to stay atop the leaderboard. Bummer to birdie 18 but I'm sure I wasn't the only one today.

I think tomorrow we have a different direction, and it's going to make our plan of attack be altered. Course is awesome and greens are perfect, and fun to have fans out again and in the field at a major championship again.

Q. You played here in 2012. What was your reaction when you got here for the first time?

KEVIN STREELMAN: I really -- I flew in Monday, played nine Monday, nine Tuesday, and that's how I like to do my preparation. Dothe slow practice rounds, but look at the greens at where you can and can't miss and prep where the wind is going to be and how the bunkers are and standard preparation stuff.

I'm a good driver of the ball. This course you have to hit the poise and I've been driving it straight and put it in the right place to attack. My iron play is on point and I've been rolling the ball nicely. Those make for a good, complete package, so one more big day to go just try and enjoy it. Keep doing what I'm doing.

Q. Seeing Stewart Cink and Brian Gay and some of your contemporaries have success --

KEVIN STREELMAN: I'm not that old.

Q. You're not that always, but the 40-somethings in general, what have you been doing?

KEVIN STREELMAN: Getting up, going to the gym every day, pretty much every day I'm home, and do that before the kids get off. And just doing everything smart, trying to stretch a lot, eat right, don't drink too much wine and just kind of enjoy yourself when you can but be smart when you need to be.

The game is changing and it has changed and you see how far the kids hit it and how in shape they are and the fitness trailer is a perfect example. In 2008, there were three or four of us that used it and now there's 18 at a time before a tee time. It's just constant people in and out of the fitness trailer. It's good for the game and kids coming up are obviously ready to play.

Q. This has by far been your best performance to date in a major championship. Why do you think you're finding some comfort or how did you approach majors before?

KEVIN STREELMAN: Yeah, that's a good question. I would say this course fits my eye nicely. I love the course. It's been just me all week. It's been a low one under key, chill week. My family is flying in today so I'm excited to see them. Kids are off summer break, so they will be with me Colonial, Memorial the next few weeks.

That's been probably the toughest part of the COVID run for me, it's just been golf, back to the hotel by yourself, room service, FaceTime the family and go to bed for pretty much 12 months straight. It's been lonely out here on Tour, and it's awesome to have fans back and just the feel of a major and a normal tournament and can see the kids out throwing golf balls to them. I love that stuff. It's good to get that feeling, that MoJo back.

Q. Did you see this week coming with how you were playing this season?

KEVIN STREELMAN: That's a good question. Coming from an off-week, not necessarily but I hit it real nicely at Quail a few weeks ago. Had a few silly short game mistakes but didn't putt it great and hit it really nice. When you can go around that golf course hitting it nice, it's a good feeling, good MoJo going into a major championship. Did some good work with my coach, Rob Rashell, and my buddy, Billy Klemps, came in from Vegas and we did some bunker and short game work that's paid off this week.

You know, just keep plugging along. Been doing this a while so just take it week-by-week. You never know when the putter is going to get hot. You never know when the stars align. You just kind of keep playing.

Q. How do you think you'll approach tomorrow probably being in the next to last or two to the next, last, groups?

KEVIN STREELMAN: Just got to be the same way I've been doing it. You can't change anything. You can't make it bigger than it is. You're just not going to perform at that level. I don't know how it's going to go.

If it's 65 or 85, my kids are still going to give me a hug when I'm done. What always gives me peace is I know I tried my best 72 holes each week and I'm okay with the result and that's kind of always given me peace in my career.

JOHN DEVER: How much fun are you having out there? Looks like you have a wry smile on your face, and that's not an easy golf course but you're taking to it and looks like you're having a good time.

KEVIN STREELMAN: I would say I am. Like I said at this point in my career, I haven't had this opportunity many times. I'm going to enjoy it, do my best and be okay with the result and whatever happens, happens.