U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2021

June 18, 2021

Kevin Streelman

Torrey Pines Golf Course

Flash Interview

Q. Kevin, five birdies against three bogeys, how would you describe today's round?

KEVIN STREELMAN: It was really solid. I had a few great par saves both at 6 and 7 and came back with great birdies at 8 right after that and kind of hung on and made a great birdie at 12 and then 13, as well. Just snuck another one there on 15, which always tastes good.

Birdieing 18 got me in a nice position. I knew I wanted to try to get as low as possible while I could, and course is just going to get firmer and tougher and faster, and those late tee times on the weekends in the big ones are fun.

Q. How is the course playing compared to how you expected it to play?

KEVIN STREELMAN: You know, I would say the rough around the fairways is a little bit wispier than I was expecting it, especially after last year at Winged Foot. It was so dense and thick and literally could hardly move the ball. But around the greens it's much worse than I was expecting it. It's gnarly in some spots around the greens. You've got to just mind your ball. If you get in trouble you've got to get in a place where you can try and save par and take double out of play and just be really smart.

Q. You're making your eighth U.S. Open start; what have you learned along the way?

KEVIN STREELMAN: You know, just one of the old guys now, and I'm enjoying the experience, I'm enjoying the opportunity. It's a course I feel comfortable at. I play here at Farmers every year. Played here probably 14 tournaments. Gosh, with two U.S. Opens, 16 tournaments, so it's a course I know well and I love.

I think this is one of the best setups I've seen at a U.S. Open. I think it's super fair off the tee. You still have to hit the proper shot and execute the proper shots into the greens, but you're penalized if you don't, and I think that's what this tournament is all about. Clearly the scores are right where they want them, and it's going to make for an exciting weekend.

Q. What are the biggest ways the game has changed since 2008?

KEVIN STREELMAN: I just would say the 50th player today is a whole 'nother level than he was in 2008. And that's me. The 100th playing, 150 now, it's just so much deeper, it's so much younger. It's obviously faster and stronger and younger, too. When I got out, we all played those mini-tours. We all played the Hooters tours. You didn't expect to get out here until you're 26, 27, 28, and that's just all changed and these kids get out here at 21, 22 and expect to win big tournaments. That just wasn't the case when we were there; we were just trying to get our feet wet and trying to make a few bucks. But they're coming out ready to play.

Q. What about for you personally as far as your diet, your exercise, the amount of technology and information you absorb in a tournament now versus then?

KEVIN STREELMAN: Yeah, I've always been smart about being -- just everything in moderation. I try and -- I like to have fun when I have some off time, but at the same time when I'm here it's working out at least before every round and then I'll go in again after and stretch. It's just important to keep our backs loose. It's important to keep our hips open and flexible. Just taking that time to make sure I'm doing the right things to try and stay out here as long as possible. I've been very, very blessed to be 20 years as a pro without major injuries and back pain, and I think that's just from spending that little bit of extra time and getting in certain stretch positions, and I just kind of know my body and know what I can and can't do.

Q. Has data and ShotLink and all that changed in any way the way you approach tournaments?

KEVIN STREELMAN: Maybe not tournaments but definitely my practice routine. It's such great information to have. I think it's silly to not at least look at where your deficiencies are, where your strengths are. It's rarely something that pops up that I'm not surprised at. Yeah, my wedges haven't been good enough or I'm kind of struggling from 150 to 200 out or maybe four to eight feet and all those data points are right there to be seen. Just spending a few minutes every week or every couple weeks on what you need to work on and then I'll go home in an off week and go, all right, I've got to make my five- to ten-footers this week and then I come out the next week and make my five- to ten-footers and finish sixth. It's not rocket science, but at the same time, there is a little bit of work that needs to be -- smart practice, smart work and smart preparation. The older you get it's kind of important.

Q. If you could beam yourself back into a clubhouse conversation in 2008 versus today, how has that changed as far as what guys are kicking around?

KEVIN STREELMAN: That's a good question. To myself, I would say just enjoy the journey. It's like to think of where I've been able to play, on every continent pretty much, in every major tournament multiple times now, to really enjoy the journey, there's opportunities I let slip by because I was almost scared of the moment, which was silly, and now it's kind of, who cares, you've got nothing to lose, enjoy it, because if you don't do well, everyone forgets and you don't care anyway, and if you do do well, that's gravy anyway. It's just like being I guess mature in that regard and knowing who I am as a man and a husband and just being now a veteran out here, it's something I'm proud of, but there's a lot of time where your kind of fear of losing a card or fear of screwing up -- I guess we all have them in their professions, as well, but for me it was -- it goes so fast. You've just got to enjoy it. That's what I'm doing now, and I think that's why I'm playing a lot better right now.