THE AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

June 21, 2024

Dominic Clemons

Quick Quotes

Q. Well, you said yesterday, no prizes for quarters and semis. You've made it to the final. How does that feel?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: It feels good but same situation, you know. Doesn't mean a lot until I win tomorrow. So just keep it going. See how it goes and hopefully be a good day.

Q. Must have been a tough old shift. Couldn't get tougher weather-wise.

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Yeah, obviously it's one on one, so it's all fair. But you know, it was a good fight, and got away with it today. Yeah, should be good.

Q. That morning tussle, 18th green, pretty pivotal moment?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: It's crazy how things go how they go your way and don't go your way. But yeah, because in the first day, I actually got a way with one as well. Shouldn't maybe have been playing in the second round but you know, standing here now, it's all good.

Q. That's the nature of match play. What pleased you most about this general performance, the kind of resilience, all-around game?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Yeah, probably mental game. I don't feel like I've played my best at all. But I've kind of just done enough, really. I think I have to play a lot better tomorrow to take the trophy.

Q. It's nip and tuck all the way today, both your games. The key moment today, obviously get up there and what is it, 15, he hits the flag, doesn't he?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Yeah, I think it actually went in.

Q. It went in and came out?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Hit off the pin. It is what it is.

Q. And then had a good chance on 18. He's giving it his all.

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Yeah, put pressure on there. Hopefully slid away and all good.

Q. As we said before, you're coming in off the back of that 17-shot win. Not the least you expected, but giving your expectations, getting to the finals, what you expect, obviously?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Yeah, a hundred percent. Obviously you can't think ahead but I was definitely coming in to win, but you've still got to play one match at a time. Yeah, so far, so good.

Q. Booked your accommodations in the Troon area just in case?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: We'll see.

Q. Huge carrot stick tomorrow for the winner.

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Exactly. It's just another game and see what happens.

Q. I feel like listening to the pair of you, you've spoken, it sounds like, you've had a little bit of luck on your side but often in golf, that's really what you need to be the winner sometimes. You just need the golf gods. Is that --

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Not necessarily luck on my side but when your opponent can't finish the game, it's not my problem or anything like that.

But yeah, he missed a couple putts this morning, and I took advantage of it.

Q. Did you think on 18 this morning -- he looked away, went down, looked away again. You've got your hat off --

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Yeah, the wind was picking up and it was an awkward putt downhill, anyway but it just made it a lot worse. Yeah, it was a good game.

Q. You seem like quite a reserved kind of guy. Is that how you feel on the golf course? Are you calm or do the passions start to boil up on the golf course?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Yeah, I'm probably quite the opposite. I'm quite calm, as you said, laid back, calm. But I'm quite confident on the inside in terms of my golf game. You know, hopefully that stays.

Q. Do you feel like you put all the passion in on the golf course, leave it all out there?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Yeah, and if it's not your day, it's not your day. But hopefully it will be tomorrow.

Q. You've just finished and into the final, but when you start to think about it, are there any nerves there? You say you're confident but does anything start creeping in?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Yeah, you feel it on the inside when you're over putts and stuff but you've just got to tell yourself you've done it before and it's another round of golf. It's hard to do but that's all you can do in that situation instead of stressing out.

Q. It's a long week, and still 36 holes to go. Just talk to us a little bit about what you have to do to keep yourself fresh and ready to go for tomorrow?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Yeah, probably just head back. Maybe get a massage. My neck is a little bit stiff. Probably do that. Then head back, have some dinner, chill out, go to sleep, and go again tomorrow.

Q. Since you touched on the physio there, this championship and the facilities, the way it's set up for the players, is that how you feel, like you're almost coming into a bit of a major for the amateurs?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: A hundred percent, yeah. I mean, I wouldn't be getting a massage if that facility weren't there, and obviously very fortunate. Yeah, so far, so good.

Q. A couple of background questions for our commentators. What's your favourite club in the bag?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Driver.

Q. And how far are you hitting that driver?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Not far enough.

Q. But what's your usual distance with it?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: I'm not sure. I can't tell you. I couldn't tell you

Q. What driver do you use?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: PING.

Q. The logo on your hat and top, what's that far?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: I was in Kansas for a couple years at junior college, and Prairie Dunes was our home club and fortunate to let us play there. I got on with the family who let me stay there for a year, and they have been great. They are members there. So you know, they brought me stuff when I was there. Kept it for a lucky charm.

Q. So you reckon that's your lucky charm?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: So far.

Q. So we'll see some more of that tomorrow?

DOMINIC CLEMONS: Yeah, we'll see.