U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 13, 2021

Travis Vick

Oakmont Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Well, let's start off, how do you feel about making the semifinals?

TRAVIS VICK: It's a pretty cool feeling. You know, seeing my teammates do it and now for me to be able to do it, it's humbling and something I'm really looking forward to.

Q. Obviously the first four amateurs, you didn't qualify twice; got to the round of 64. To make it this far, how do you view that as an accomplishment?

TRAVIS VICK: I think it's a big accomplishment. There is a lot of great players that I had to beat in order to get here. They've all done amazing things in the amateur world, so boosts my confidence a lot knowing I can play here and be in the semifinals.

It's a really good feeling.

Q. With this level of competition, how hard is it to finish off players and how tough was it the last couple holes?

TRAVIS VICK: It was very tough. Kind of felt like a pillow fight out there a little bit. We definitely did not have our A games out there, so it was more having to manage your game and kind of dictate your shots based off your opponent's.

He kind of gave me a gift there on 18 by going long. So you take advantage of the breaks and you just kind of move on with it.

Q. What are you thinking standing on the bunker on 18 after the par putt?

TRAVIS VICK: I was thinking we're going to extra holes. He piped a drive. He came off two birdies in a row. I figured he found a little something, and he gave me a gift by going long on 18.

It's the one spot you can't go, and he did that, so...

Q. In stroke play I think you missed two combined greens in regulation. How would assess how your game has evolved this week and also what is the energy level at right now?

TRAVIS VICK: Yeah, you know, I'm very drained energy-wise. Just been a lot of stops and starts. I think my game has kind of changed as we've progressed in this tournament.

I would say my ball striking was the strength of my game up until this match, and then I would say my putter came alive this match. I made a lot of putts. Speed control was really good. Starting to get a feel of the greens. That's golf. You might wake up and be striping it and you wake up the next day and you could be hitting it terrible.

I think a lot of that has to do with fatigue though, so I'm looking forward to a good night's rest.

Q. You guys play a lot of match play back in Austin. There Cup that you guys play, the Massinghill Cup. What's that like? Just describe how competitive you guys get and have you ever won anything back home?

TRAVIS VICK: Yeah, yeah, we're always playing matches against each other, and then qualifying is super intense with how stacked our collegiate team is. If you're not throwing up decent numbers every time you're more than likely sitting on the bench.

So I like that a lot. I like how when you wake up every day you have to play really good golf because you have really good players on your team.

Q. Do you allow yourself any expectations when you get here?

TRAVIS VICK: I gave myself more of I like to play the course more than my opponent. I know in match play you dictate your shots based off your opponent, so I'm more of if I'm hitting the fairways and hitting the greens and feel good about my swing, that's the only expectation I have.

In regards to results, that's not something you can control. I can control my setup, my swing, the way I'm hitting it. That's all the stuff I can control.

If I do my best and I feel good about that, then no matter what happens I accept.

Q. You're happy with how it's going so far?

TRAVIS VICK: Yes, very happy.

Q. Just clarifying. You came to Texas with a lot of expectations for your game. How has your game evolved since you've been there?

TRAVIS VICK: That's a good question. I would say course management has extremely evolved. I was playing other sports in high school and I was only able to touch a club maybe once a week.

You know, being around really good players on my team and the coaching staff and Coach Fields who has extensive experience. He's been able to say, Hey, let's layup on this par-5 and let's not go for that.

I feel like I was gifting the shots to the field just with course management, so...

Q. So literally just learning how to play a little bit more?

TRAVIS VICK: Yes, that's exactly right. And there is a lot more to that. There is different shot shapes, different clubs off the tees. It's very complex.

But they have been able to help me through that. It's saved a ton of shots.

Q. What's your best finish at a USGA championship?

TRAVIS VICK: I won stroke play at the U.S. Junior and finished second at a U.S. Junior in stroke play and Colleton River, and I think I won at the Honors course. I think I got beat in like the round of 16, so I would say that's probably the furthest I've gone.

Q. Did that defeat stick with you for quite a while after that?

TRAVIS VICK: It did. Yeah, it did.

Q. What was that like?

TRAVIS VICK: It wasn't a good feeling. You know, like I said earlier, because it was -- felt like something I could control, like I can play way better than that; I felt like he just was able to take advantage of me instead of me playing my game.

Q. At the risk of trying to create some kind of eureka moment, has there been a point this summer where you felt you've got into a rhythm, you're starting to play well?

TRAVIS VICK: Yeah.

Q. When was that?

TRAVIS VICK: I would say I haven't got into a rhythm, because at Sunnehanna I finished third, which is a pretty big amateur event; and then at the Northeast Am and the Western I missed the cut.

So I come here this week, find a little something in my swing, been playing great back at home. Even before the Northeast Am and the western I was playing great at home.

When I'd go to the tournaments it felt like there was something off, so I feel like I figured that out. That's why I'm playing a lot better this week.

Q. What did you figure out?

TRAVIS VICK: It's something small but it's in my setup. I haven't been coming into the golf shots setting up square so I been fighting myself and fighting against myself. So I've been able to develop a routine to where I could get square and trust my swing.

Q. Did you figure it out or did something else help you figure it out?

TRAVIS VICK: Somebody else helped. Hal Sutton. He's my kind of more mental game coach, and we would go play nine holes and then he helped a lot with course management as well.

But he told me a little something and I tried it and seemed to click. Then Chase Cooper, who's Hal's assistant, they worked together. I used him more for the swing diagnosing and all that.