THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

June 20, 2023

Ronan Kleu

Quick Quotes

Q. Great round of golf today. You must be delighted with 64.

RONAN KLEU: For sure. After yesterday, was a very solid round of golf. Some of the putts didn't want to fall but I was very happy with a 70. I went out with not too many expectations because there was some rain at the beginning but at the end of the day, bogey-free 64, can't wish for anything else.

Q. How did you handle that? It was pretty wet this morning?

RONAN KLEU: First five holes, a lot of rain. It was more about hanging in there. I made some very good birdies on the par 5s. Took advantage of those today. Birdied all four of them. Yeah, all 4s and 3s today, so that was good.

Q. Is that a course that hopefully suits you? Do you feel that already?

RONAN KLEU: It does. It gives you so many different options off the tee and also into the green which I really love. Not many bunkers in the middle of the fairways or anything. You can always choose a specific type of shot. We'll see, probably keep the strategy similar for tomorrow.

Q. Tell us about your championship history. Have you played before?

RONAN KLEU: Yeah, I played twice. The first time was the Covid year (2020), that was at Royal Birkdale just across the road, which is a great course, as well. Then Lytham last year and this is my third time.

Q. So hopes for the match-play stage? Is that the type of golf you like?

RONAN KLEU: I love it. It's just a mentality where it's one versus one, and really go out there, give it your best.

Q. So coming here this week, how far did you think you could go? What was the goal?

RONAN KLEU: You know, there's so many players. There's 288 players. The first goal is always to make the cut, and after that, it sounds cliché, but I'm here to win the thing, yeah.

Q. Coming over from Switzerland, and many other countries, I think almost 40 countries represented. Tell us what it's like playing the two venues and being part of this championship.

RONAN KLEU: Yeah, it's awesome. I really enjoy links golf, as I said because it gives you so many different possibilities. Last week we played at St Andrews, Home of Golf, and so that sort of prepared us for this links style, which is really fun. Definitely different to golf courses in Switzerland, a lot of fun.

Q. A few of here as a team?

RONAN KLEU: Yeah, actually five. Hopefully we'll make it through to match play. I haven't checked the scores yet. Yeah, great team.