U.S. MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

September 14, 2022

James Leow

Blue Mound Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

JAMES LEOW: Well, I mean, just been hitting great all the matches in match play so far. Fun fact, caddie just told me I haven't lost a hole, so it's great to just build that momentum, just keep going.

It's a really good track for match play, and just hit fairway, greens, give yourself good chance, and make those putts.

I definitely did that the last two days.

Q. Were you sticking it close, making one putts here these the last two matches, or...

JAMES LEOW: I think was a mixture of both today. Stuck quite a few. Came out hot, too, like in the first few holes and stuck a few close and made some putts.

Then towards the middle of the round at the end I kind of made a few longer putts. Yeah, just kind of how it goes.

Q. Did you adjust today, because you struggled a little bit in stroke play round here?

JAMES LEOW: Yeah, on the second round it was actually getting good after hole 10 and 11; birdies on those two.

And group was unfortunately on the clock and one of my buddies got penalized on the first round of stroke play out here. Definitely kind of rushed through the round and didn't want to risk losing any more position.

So I kind of rushed, and I think I think didn't do quite a good job about that, taking my time to hit the shots, be a little more careful around the greens and stuff.

So, yeah.

Q. What are you doing with all the extra time with the washout and the delays, winning matches early?

JAMES LEOW: I'm pretty new to Mid-Am, so I'm just figuring out the extension, the stay at a hotel, those rental car extension. Got a couple stuff back home that I need to deal with too, like insurance and housing application, so just been busy with that.

Just trying to get my mind off golf once it's done out here. As soon as I leave the golf club, I want to be golf free and reset, refresh, and have a new match tomorrow.

The matches are only going to get tougher, so just expecting it to be tough always and just all gas, no brakes.

Q. Obviously you've become comfortable at Erin Hills. What is it about this layout where you can make a lot of birdies?

JAMES LEOW: Yeah, I just feel like the key out here was hitting really good tee shots and just being on the fairway.

Because the rough out here, it's decently long and not able to control the distance and the spin off the ball landing on the green unless you have a short iron or wedges in.

So I done a great job about that, hitting the fairways, keeping it way down there in the fairway, hitting short or like mid-irons into the green, and getting it close.

Yeah.

Q. When you talk to family back home, how aware are people in Singapore of what you're doing, especially right now?

JAMES LEOW: Yeah, I mean, I'm playing out here, representing my national team, too, and not just myself but my family name as well.

But my family has my full support out here. Regardless of where I have in the States they have my schedule and they know what I'm going through, especially my dad.

So just having nice text every night saying that they're watching, they're glad I'm doing great, keep it up, never get too confident or arrogant. Stay humble and be hungry.

That's kind of words I got from my dad. Stuck well with me, yeah.

Q. What happened this summer with winning the Pacific Coast Amateur and all the good things that you're doing? Is there something with your game or something mental that's that happened this summer?

JAMES LEOW: I think it's much more mental and just a few stuff on short game side, like inside 60 yards, 70 yards that I've been working a lot with my coaches.

Yeah, just my ball striking has always been there. Rolling it well. Just mentally just needed to be more comfortable within six feet putts, slight breaks, just be a little more confident. Don't give too much respect to the hello.

Yeah, just did a lot of work on that, and with the win at Pac Coast, it just gave my more confidence and assurance that I was doing the right stuff.

Q. Did you play in France?

JAMES LEOW: Yeah, didn't go too we'll. Struggle with putting out there.