U.S. ADAPTIVE OPEN

July 18, 2022

Douglas Shirakura

Pinehurst Resort & C.C. (Course No. 6)

Quick Quotes

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Q. How was your first Adaptive Open experience?

DOUGLAS SHIRAKURA: It was fantastic. They've just been treating the players so well. I couldn't be more than -- being excited is obviously an understatement for just how grateful I am to be here and to have this opportunity to compete against some of my peers.

Q. Kind of getting into more of the specifics, talk us through your round today. What did you like, what didn't you like, what did you do well?

DOUGLAS SHIRAKURA: Today it was just -- if there's anything that I didn't like, it was probably just how humid it was, and just the gnats come out when it's this humid and there's not enough wind, but the course is in fantastic shape. I think it's playing really fairly for a lot of people. This will be -- it's just like the actual U.S. Open; it's a real test for the players to be able to come out here, play under all this pressure and play at a hard course like Pinehurst. Yeah, just fantastic. Everything is great.

Q. Kind of looking forward, what does sharing a course with so many inspiring athletes like you are this week, what does that mean to you, and what do you hope that does for the adaptive community in the future?

DOUGLAS SHIRAKURA: You know, me being one of the younger people in the field, I just turned 20 a couple weeks ago, and I've played adaptive golf since middle school, and so now I feel like I finally put myself next to these guys, playing in this event alongside them. I couldn't be more -- I'm just really happy to come out here and compete with them more than anything. I just get to see my mentors, my peers and my inspirations every day. I'm really happy about that.