AMERICAN CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP

July 11, 2021

Vinny Del Negro

Edgewood Tahoe

Quick Quotes

Q. An emotional Vinny Del Negro. You came here first when you were 35 years old. You're 54 now. Is this something that you perhaps thought maybe this may or may not ever happen?

VINNY DEL NEGRO: Of course. But if you put it in into words -- I lost my father this Wednesday. And I wanted to play well for him. I thought of him the whole time, every fairway, every shot, what he would tell me: Toughen up; hit the shot; you're either good enough or not. Just hit it. And I stuck to my game plan. My caddie, Dirk, who has been with me for years, was fantastic. This is for my dad. I thought of him every shot. He was such -- I wouldn't be here without him. So winning this tournament means so much to me and performing well for him. I can't tell you what it means. It means the world to me.

Q. I was going to ask where it ranks for you, but I think I have an idea. If you could say something to your father right now, maybe it's not a fair question, but tell me, what would you say to him?

VINNY DEL NEGRO: I did it for you. You're my rock. I love you. I miss you. And I won this for you.

And man, it's tough. There's just so much stuff going through my head. But every shot was, like, for him. Like, every walk was for him. Every putt was for him because I wouldn't be playing in this thing with him pushing me all those years to play and tough it out and whatever I was doing, playing, coaching, didn't matter. So this is for my dad. My wife Lynn, everybody, I love you, and I can't wait to celebrate with them.