THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

June 18, 2024

Connor Graham

Quick Quotes

Q. Sitting here as lead qualifier, can you talk us through your round today and how pleased you are?

CONNOR GRAHAM: Yeah, definitely very happy with my round in tough conditions. Pretty good round considering the conditions.

Q. After the good start yesterday, how happy to back up a solid round and be at the top of the leaderboard at 1-under?

CONNOR GRAHAM: Yeah, definitely really happy to be playing some kind of good golf and to back up a good round with another pretty solid round.

Q. How much confidence does that give you entering the match-play stages tomorrow?

CONNOR GRAHAM: Yeah, definitely a lot of confidence knowing I can definitely play good golf and try and win as many matches as I can.

Q. How important is it around these links to scramble well? I know every time you've got a bogey, you bounce back. How important is it to hold a round together, especially match play?

CONNOR GRAHAM: Yeah, it's huge. Try and make those putts and try to keep the bogeys off the card. It's huge around the links in tough conditions.

Q. We talked yesterday about your progression as an amateur, being involved in Walker Cups and now in this position. How important is this to keep growing and how much encouragement do you need tomorrow?

CONNOR GRAHAM: Yeah, it's a big confidence booster. I'm looking forward to getting into the match-play stages and playing some good golf.

Q. What did you love about the match play and what will you learn about the Walker Cup and what gets you excited about this form of the game?

CONNOR GRAHAM: It's great fun. You don't get it too often in golf and it's definitely fun to be playing one-on-one against another player.

Q. A bit of Scottish fight going to get involved, but a good attitude to fire up against some competitors?

CONNOR GRAHAM: Definitely going to need a good attitude and keep trying to play more good golf.

Q. So how important is fitness and I guess mental fitness, because it's a long championship, especially in the wind. How is the health and how are you looking forward to that?

CONNOR GRAHAM: Yeah, it's definitely a long week and tiring week so try to rest up and have as much energy as you can for the week.

Q. What was the pick of the birdies out there?

CONNOR GRAHAM: The best birdie I made was the 15th hole. It was a tough, long par 4, and I hit drive and 5-iron to maybe three or four feet.

Q. How far was the drive?

CONNOR GRAHAM: I'm not sure how far the hole is but I had 185 to the hole into the wind which ended up being a nice solid 5-iron which came off pretty good.

Q. Is that the dog-leg left?

CONNOR GRAHAM: Definitely will be one of the toughest holes.

Q. How crucial are those holes going to be?

CONNOR GRAHAM: They are definitely really tough and crucial holes, especially long and into the wind.