THE 150TH OPEN

July 17, 2022

Filippo Celli

Mixed Zone

Q. How are you feeling?

FILIPPO CELLI: I'm feeling very happy and proud. Today my golf game was really good, like the last three days. And today I made a lot of stupid bogeys, I can say that. But that's okay, because I'm very happy because my dream was to play here, and I won also the silver medal. I can't ask for a better thing to win the silver medal at the 150th Open in St Andrews.

And hopefully, to be honest, I think -- I hope that Rory McIlroy, he can win the Claret Jug because he's my favourite player. So going out for the presentation with Rory McIlroy, it will be a real dream. And I can't ask for better in this moment.

Q. How has the whole week gone? How has the week gone as a whole? Has it been a dream?

FILIPPO CELLI: It started on Monday, I was so lucky because I was playing the practise round with my coach and caddie, Alberto. We were on the 13 green, and the 13 green and the 5 green are the same green. Rory McIlroy was playing the practise round with Dustin Johnson. He's putting on the 5th green. I was alone by myself out there with Alberto putting on 13.

And I was so happy when Rory, like he turned to the face to me and Alberto, and he asked me and Alberto, hey, guys, you mind if I join you for the back nine? I looked at Alberto, I say, he's serious or not? I say, Rory, of course you can.

I was so lucky and happy because it's a dream come true because I grew up like watching the video of Rory and the win of Rory, all the stuff that he won. So it's amazing, unbelievable.

Q. Is that the first time you had ever met him?

FILIPPO CELLI: Yeah, first time. The first time was Royal Troon. But I just saw a driver because it's impossible to follow Rory at The Open, especially, because all the people are following him. So it's crazy.

And so it's the first time that I met him. And he's a really nice guy. He's really, really nice.

Q. What are your plans now for the future?

FILIPPO CELLI: For the future, I don't know yet. For sure next week it will be a week off and spend like on the beach with my family and friends and we'll see. But I'm not sure about my plan after this week, we'll see.