THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

June 17, 2024

Sean Keeling

Quick Quotes

Q. Pretty happy with that, tricky, testy day?

SEAN KEELING: I'll take it. Played quite solid. Had a good game plan and holed a few putts. So yeah, try the same tomorrow.

Q. What was the plan?

SEAN KEELING: Keep it in the fairways. Fairways and greens as much as you can and just try and make pars and try to sneak the odd birdie.

Q. What was the pick of your birdies today? Any one that stood out?

SEAN KEELING: I had a good one on the par 5, 4th. I drove it in the fairway bunker. Pitched it out. Hit a 9-iron to maybe 30 feet and holed the putt. That was nice to get a birdie after hitting it in the bunker.

Q. Already shaping up to be a good season with the Irish boys?

SEAN KEELING: Yeah.

Q. Coming in with confidence?

SEAN KEELING: Yeah, I haven't had my best the last few weeks but my game didn't feel too far away, so just try and keep that in and see how it goes.

Q. You've got a bit of history around here. Is your cousin the director of golf here?

SEAN KEELING: My mom's cousin is the general manager, right. I'm actually a member here.

Q. Are you an honorary member?

SEAN KEELING: Yeah.

Q. How does that come about?

SEAN KEELING: I guess John just -- my mom's cousin, he just presented it to me.

Q. Nice bit of family ties; so no excuses. How often would you play here?

SEAN KEELING: Not that often. A couple times a year. Maybe four -- three, four times a year. So yeah, I do know it.

Q. A little bit of local knowledge always does help.

SEAN KEELING: Yeah.

Q. You won the Scottish Boys' last year, as well. Is match play something that stirs your senses? Do you quite enjoy the head-to-head?

SEAN KEELING: Yeah, I do. I love it. It's a bit different to stroke play. You're just playing the man rather than playing the golf course.

Q. Did you watch the Rory finale last night?

SEAN KEELING: Unfortunately, yeah. It was disappointing. Couldn't believe it.

Q. For all the Irish, is he the one you'll still follow, isn't he?

SEAN KEELING: Yeah, couldn't speak afterwards. It was shocking.

Q. But still, onwards and upwards. Doesn't matter how you get through as long as you get through?

SEAN KEELING: Exactly.

Q. How many Amateurs have you played?

SEAN KEELING: This is my third. The first one I was 15.

Q. So you're kind of getting used to it.

SEAN KEELING: I'm used to it now, yeah. Obviously taking it day-by-day but yeah, any time you show up at a championship, you're trying to win.