RBC CANADIAN OPEN

June 12, 2022

Keith Mitchell

St. George's Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Let's talk about your round today. 4-under 66. If you can talk about that for us, please.

KEITH MITCHELL: Really only making one bogey on first hole of the day was just a tough 3-putt. Which, unfortunately started off not how I wanted to. But played really solid the rest of the way and made a couple good putts on 10, 11, 12. Really had a good look on 18, but it broke so much. But still pleased with the 4-under and good tournament.

Q. With that finish you've now qualified for The Open Championship through the qualifying series for the third time. Talk a little bit about how happy you are to be heading to St. Andrews.

KEITH MITCHELL: Extremely happy. I mean it's the birthplace of golf. It's where everything started. It's got the most probably respect of really of the game because that's where it was founded. My sister went to school over there so I got to go over and visit and I've been there a couple times. Going with my dad, it's probably one of the most special places in the world for any golfer. I'm really thankful that the R & A is continuing to do everything they can for the sport, and the USGA, the PGA TOUR, everybody's really doing a great job trying to make golf and professional golf the best platform we can make it.

Q. All those times you went over there, did you ever play?

KEITH MITCHELL: A lot. I played a bunch.

Q. What was your best score when you played?

KEITH MITCHELL: It's probably been 10 years since I've been over there. But I remember every hole. I remember my dad took me over when I was probably 10 years old. And that really opened my eyes to the game of golf. If you're a 10 year old getting to play that place, it's -- I'm very fortunate, very lucky -- but it's a life-changing experience to the point where I can stand here now and say that I'm going to play in the Open Championship there.

Q. Your sister is older?

KEITH MITCHELL: She is, she's a year older.

Q. What do you remember most, was there a particular shot you remember most having played there?

KEITH MITCHELL: Honestly, the first tee. I probably played there may be a year or two after Tiger won in 2000. I just remember watching that non-stop, eight years old, watching him win there.

And then to be able to go there the year after and teeing my ball up in the same spot that he did on that iconic hole is really something that you can never, there's not a price you can pay for that. It's just something that is so unique in golf and so amazing that it's just something that, as a kid, you dream to be there.

Q. Key stretch for you to earn that spot was 10, 11 and 12. If you can just take us through those holes.

KEITH MITCHELL: Hit a good drive on 10. Had a tough angle to the pin but had to play safe, probably played it seven, eight feet left of the hole just because the bunker is in the way. Hit a great shot to pin high and just had to make the putt. Hit a good putt, broke a little right but it went in.

Then hit a good drive and a great 7-iron on 11 to just right below the hole. The putt was breaking probably just a ball left. Hit a great putt.

12, the hit an okay 5-wood, but that pin's pretty tricky. Somehow kept it below that hole and had an uphill putt and you can be aggressive on it and it went right in.