THE 150TH OPEN

July 14, 2022

Barclay Brown

Mixed Zone

BARCLAY BROWN: Obviously very pleased with that. It was very enjoyable. Fortunately nice to keep it relatively stress-free. Very pleased with myself.

Q. (No microphone.)

BARCLAY BROWN: I was unbelievably nervous at the start. And then once I got through the first couple of holes, yeah, it was nice to kind of calm down a little bit and hit some good shots and just get into it.

Q. At what point did the golf (indiscernible) take over? You were able to shut out the (indiscernible).

BARCLAY BROWN: Probably not at any point, really. It just managed to quiet down a little bit. But after the first couple of holes I managed to get into it a little bit more.

Q. Phenomenal to see you right at the top of the leaderboard.

BARCLAY BROWN: Yes. It was nice to see that walking up the 18th.

Q. What has the stretch been like in terms of qualifying and preparing for this week in the last couple of weeks? Has this been something that's been on your schedule the whole time or how did it...

BARCLAY BROWN: I didn't have it on my schedule. But obviously qualified about 10 days ago, couple of weeks ago.

And I was down playing for England at Royal St George's last week, which was some good preparation there with, obviously some great competition and some good friends and links golf as well. So that's kind of been my last week, and then got up here on Sunday.

Q. (Indiscernible) you play so much like (indiscernible) coming on to links for The Open. See amateurs do quite well here at The Open for that reason. Does that help?

BARCLAY BROWN: I think amateurs are comfortable with it. So many of the big events that we play, certainly a need for all the UK players, links golf all year round, as you said. I think it helps us get more comfortable with it.

Q. Is this your first time playing on the course? Have you been here a few times before?

BARCLAY BROWN: I played when I was probably 9 or 10 years old. Other than that, that's my first time.

Q. Love affair beginning here today, then?

BARCLAY BROWN: Let's hope so.

Q. (Indiscernible) U.S. Open, kind of maybe inspire you to play well out there today?

BARCLAY BROWN: Yeah, I mean, it was obviously brilliant to see him do that. And, yeah, I know how hard he's worked and how much he's put into that. So, yeah, obviously makes me want to get there at some point in the future.

Q. Do you know him well?

BARCLAY BROWN: I know Matt a little bit. I know his brother Alex a little bit better. But I know the family.

Q. (No microphone.)

BARCLAY BROWN: Yeah, that was enjoyable. I was saying earlier it definitely changed my line on 18 a little bit further left given I had already gotten that birdie. That was obviously a nice moment there. The grandstand was full. It was enjoyable.

Q. How did you play that hole?

BARCLAY BROWN: I hit probably my best driver of the day. I didn't want to really land it up on top just because it's so firm. Managed to just skip it up the slope and got lucky enough with the putt.

Q. The gallery (indiscernible)?

BARCLAY BROWN: It was brilliant.

Q. (No microphone).

BARCLAY BROWN: I had 131.

Q. Wedge?

BARCLAY BROWN: I hit gap wedge and just kind of punched it, tried to run it up there.

Q. (No microphone).

BARCLAY BROWN: It was probably 40 feet, 45 feet.

Q. What were your expectations?

BARCLAY BROWN: Just play the best I can, really. Obviously want to win the silver medal. And then beyond that just put four good rounds together.

Q. (No microphone).

BARCLAY BROWN: Probably that par on 17, as we were talking about. Obviously it wasn't too many people out here this morning at 6:45. So it's starting to build up there. And it was nice to have a good moment there.

Q. Can you give us an example of a hole or a shot that was particularly unusual to play because of how hard and fast the fairways are?

BARCLAY BROWN: Yeah, I'm sure I can. Probably the 15th, I hit a good drive on 15 and finished just in the edge of the rough. The pins kind of tucked behind the bunker. It's 30 yards on, but really just had absolutely no chance given the pin. So I had to land it short of the green and just work it to the back right and try to two-putt from 45, 50 feet.

Q. (Indiscernible) landed on the green, what club?

BARCLAY BROWN: I hit sand wedge.

Q. Are you staying in town?

BARCLAY BROWN: Yeah, I'm staying up in the town with my parents and my brother and my girlfriend.

Q. How was the wake-up for you?

BARCLAY BROWN: It wasn't too bad. When I saw the draw, I was saying it's not too bad because I'll probably be awake at 4.00 a.m. anyway playing the first day of the Open. So might as well be out playing golf rather than sitting twiddling my thumbs.

Q. Your family all get down in time?

BARCLAY BROWN: Yeah, they did, fortunately. We got all the lights on. I'm sure they didn't mind too much.

Q. Why is Sheffield producing so many good golfers?

BARCLAY BROWN: I don't know. I couldn't tell you. Couldn't tell you.

Q. (No microphone).

BARCLAY BROWN: I think that we had a really good junior section at the golf club, and obviously that kind of started with Matt and then there's people following on from that.

Q. Do you go to the (indiscernible) academy?

BARCLAY BROWN: I don't know. I've been there. But I don't regularly go there.

Q. Not a product of it?

BARCLAY BROWN: No.

Q. Why did you come here when you were 9 or 10? Is it a family holiday?

BARCLAY BROWN: Yes, they used to do a thing where you could play, in January or February you could play The Old Course. So just came up with my family and we played.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

BARCLAY BROWN: Not really, I watched The Open in 2010 as well. I remember it a little bit more from that, but I don't remember playing it.

Q. Who did you play practise rounds with, and did you learn anything from those people you played with?

BARCLAY BROWN: I learned some things from people I talked to. Maybe not who I played practise rounds with. I managed to have a good chat with Sir Nick Faldo and a chat with Darren Clarke as well before coming out and they were able to kind of help me out and just tell me how to go about playing it. But it's all fairly in front of you out here.

Q. What advice did you think was the most compelling?

BARCLAY BROWN: They really said keep it out of the bunkers and get good at hitting 60-foot putters. They should have said hitting 160-foot putts.

Q. Did you do anything in town? Did you do anything off the course that's memorable?

BARCLAY BROWN: Not really, no. It's been straight back from here to the house, yeah, and just relaxing.

Q. How have you been sleeping?

BARCLAY BROWN: Pretty good. A little worse last night than the other nights, but not too bad.