U.S. MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

September 14, 2022

Andrew Paysse

Erin Hills

Quick Quotes

Q. Can you explain to me what the barbecue circuit is and why that's helping you play well?

ANDREW PAYSSE: The barbecue circuit, gosh, there's a bunch of three-man events and tournaments we play in with our buddies back home.

There's one in Brownwood we play in every year. I haven't done too many, to be honest with you, but it's just cool to make it fun again, playing professional for a few years and having a job.

We're having so much fun with our little three month old. But just to play for fun in those tournaments is really cool.

This is obviously USGA, a big event, the one I look forward to all year and try to practice the most for, but it's good to keep it light all year-round, I think.

Q. How did you get ready for this championship with everything that you have to do?

ANDREW PAYSSE: You know, I really didn't. That's just part of amateur golf, I guess. I had other priorities.

I've been busy at work, in the office, and we've just been having so much fun with our little three month old, and my priorities have kind of been the baby and being in the office.

I like to cut my yard. I've got a greens mower that I like to cut my yard with, and sometimes I'd rather be cutting my yard than playing golf, but I find a way to get practice in here and there.

I enjoy playing with my two brothers and my dad and Callie on the weekends. We'll go to College Station for the football games and play Traditions and just have fun with it. That's my preparation, I guess, to answer your question.

Q. Maybe it's probably tougher from the mental side to get back into these competitive --

ANDREW PAYSSE: Yeah, it's different. It's really the only time of the year that I have nerves, and I'll admit it's hard to adjust to. But I just have to remind myself that I'm here to have fun.

I know the competitive juices are down there somewhere. I've just got to channel the energy in the right direction.

Q. How much does your wife help you out here, and what kind of things would she do?

ANDREW PAYSSE: You know, she's not super technical, but she has obviously had a very good caddying career. She doesn't have near the player now that she used to, which I'll --

Q. You're referring to your brother?

ANDREW PAYSSE: Yeah, I'll admit that. But she keeps it light. We're just out here having fun. We're not going to take it too seriously. We're not going to yell at each other or argue on a club or something.

Q. Let's talk about today's match, too. Obviously you've gotten one step further now than you did last year in this event.

ANDREW PAYSSE: Yeah.

Q. What does that mean to you?

ANDREW PAYSSE: It's really cool. I mean, I try to take it one match at a time, but knowing that this was the stage that I lost last year and just playing such good golf on that back nine, to come to 18 was -- he played really well.

I think I made three birdies and no bogeys on the back and went to No. 10 all square and went to 18 -- fast, firm green. That's a good plan on both sides.

He played a great match; I'll hand it to him. He made it tough there at the end. Yeah, it was fun.

Q. What do you think when he holes those shots and then...

ANDREW PAYSSE: The putt on the par-5, 14, I was outside of him; made birdie. He ended up making it; probably 12 feet. He was just inside of me and made it, as well, but it could have been a turning point to get it back to all square.

I barely missed on 15 for birdie after I hit a good wedge in there. Had a great up-and-down on 16. Kind of made the similar putt I made yesterday on 16 for birdie, but today was for par after missing short left and tying him there, which was huge.

Ran my 40-footer probably six feet by on 17 and made that one after he made a really clutch par there.

Hit a good little punch 8-iron in here just trying to keep it on the right side of the hole and not spin it down the front. So yeah, it was pretty solid all the way in.