U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2023

June 15, 2023

Sam Bennett

The Los Angeles Country Club

Flash Interview

Q. 3-under 67. Obviously probably not the finish that you wanted there, but great round. Talk us through it a little bit.

SAM BENNETT: Yeah, it was good. Tee'd the ball on the play and then I think I only missed three greens, so I struck it good all day and had a lot of looks.

I knew the front nine was gettable and I saw there was some low ones out there, so I knew there was birdies to be had if you teed it in play. Pretty frustrating finish because I played solid all day, and to lose two on the last two is pretty disappointing.

Q. You played in last year's U.S. Open; you're coming off low am at the Masters. How have those experiences helped you?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah, I'm comfortable. There's no nerves. I feel like I belong. Played the weekend at RBC, at Memorial, so that was good.

Yeah, just the experience I got playing the weekend at the Open, the weekend at the Masters, I feel like I belong and I'm comfortable on this stage.

Q. Even before you turned pro you said you felt like you belonged. Is today another validation of that, playing in that group and putting up that number?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah, I guess so. I'm just comfortable. The hole is still the same size even though there's people out here.

Q. Obviously the success on kind of these major layouts with Augusta and the Country Club last year, what about kind of these really tough, hard golf courses -- Ridgewood last year, as well -- brings out the best in your game?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah, out on Tour I realize it's a driver's pair ties. You've got to hit the fairways. I like courses where it's not a putting contest where it puts pressure off the tee, you've got to get the ball in the fairway to score.

But I like where par has value. Coach Kortan, he's helped me a bunch, course management and just thinking through stuff. It's good.

Yeah, I like the tough courses where it puts the -- the driver is important.

Q. I overheard you on the driving range saying you're not a big TrackMan/numbers guy. Curious why that is and how you go about working on your swing and working on why your game without some of the same knowledge that players use nowadays?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah, just see a shot and hit it. I like wedge numbers. They're okay. But I don't know, I'm just not numbers-based or anything.

Yeah, I'm swinging the best when I'm not thinking of nothing. That's when I tend to play good under some pressures because I'm not thinking of anything and I just let my body take over.

Q. Have you ever worked with a coach, or is it just kind of a home-grown feel thing?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah, no, no coach.

Q. Curious, where do you think you've grown the most in the last year since you decided to come back to college for an extra year and kind of prepare a little bit more to turn pro? Where do you feel like now you've improved the most?

SAM BENNETT: Yeah, I think I've just grown up, some better routines and way of life, and just getting around the course, course management, and then just the experience.

The game is still the same. I've been driving it really good the past few weeks, which I tend to do, but nothing has changed. Same ol'.

Q. Do you talk to yourself a lot, just kind of alone, like to maybe motivate yourself or anything like that?

SAM BENNETT: No. I'm pretty easygoing, laid back, easy to deal with. I'm just happy to be out here competing, put a good one on the board, and get to go back out early in the morning.

Q. Since you've turned pro now, do you feel like the last few weeks have gone by fast or really slow?

SAM BENNETT: Slow. I'm ready to be home. I've got next week and then Rocket Mortgage and then get an off week, so I'm excited for that week.