THE 152ND OPEN

July 19, 2024

Liam Nolan

Mixed Zone

Q. Rounds of 78, 77. 13-over, you're not going to be making the weekend, but it was some experience?

LIAM NOLAN: Yeah, incredible. It was really tough conditions out there. A lot to learn from my first major. I'll be back. A lot to take away from it.

Q. A lot of great players have never made it to an Open Championship, so it's wonderful to have had that experience and I'm sure you'd love to do it again?

LIAM NOLAN: Absolutely. I won't be playing this weekend, but hopefully now next year in Portrush will be my time again. I know the course really well, so plenty of positives to take. I hung in there as best I could out there and didn't give up, so I'm proud of that.

Q. What were the highlights of the week for you? I'm sure the round with Padraig and Shane early in the week was right up there?

LIAM NOLAN: Yeah, absolutely. To meet two of my golfers that I really look up to in the Irish golf scene and to play with them and just pick their brains a little bit was incredible.

Q. Obviously Shane is doing well, leading The Open possibly after two rounds. Will you be hanging around for the weekend or heading home?

LIAM NOLAN: Yeah, I think I'm going to hang around, just go out and look at some of the best players in the world close up and see what differences there are in both their games and comparisons, as well, see if I can pick up on anything and obviously cheer on Shane there at the top of the leaderboard.

Q. What advice did they give you during your practice round? Was there anything of assistance or help to you?

LIAM NOLAN: Yeah, they were telling me to believe in myself. You're not here to make up numbers. Although you're an amateur, you're here to play as good as you can, so just keep focused and hang in there. I kind of knew up the last few holes I wasn't going to be making the cut, but I was proud of how I kept battling.

Q. What did you make of the course setup? It was very difficult with the wind, but the course is not easy here at Troon, either.

LIAM NOLAN: No, no. The one thing that stood out to me this week was every hole has a crosswind, so there's no hole straight into or straight downwind. There's always a crosswind, which makes it even harder than it already is as a setup.

So yeah, really, really difficult but a good challenge. Shane and the top lads there are well able to get the ball around. If you're playing well, you'll shoot good scores.

Q. There was a nice crowd there cheering you all the way around, as well. It was a great experience to actually walk down the 18th of an Open Championship, as well, wasn't it? Shane calls it the best walk in golf, and it certainly is that.

LIAM NOLAN: Well, it's been the best walk so far in my golf career. I haven't been to all the majors yet to compare them, but yeah, really special and great to have a crowd to cheer you on when it's not going as well or if you've hit a good shot. It's great to have them all there.

Q. Great to come through qualifying in Dundonald; I'm sure it'll whet your appetite for more. What's your immediate plans or what are you hoping to achieve next?

LIAM NOLAN: I have a couple of tournaments left as an amateur and then I'm going to turn pro at the end of August, and we'll take it from there. But I've gained a lot of experience from my amateur career that I can take into my pro game, and yeah, really looking forward to the next step.

Q. For the whole week, what would you say was the highest point? What memories will stand out for you particularly?

LIAM NOLAN: I hit a 412-yard drive up 16 today, which was pretty fun.

I've been watching this tournament my whole life, especially with the Irish success we've had, and I don't know, I just think like walking up the fairways and hearing big cheers and knowing how the course played and knowing the shots that the winner eventually hits, it's just pretty special to be a part of the history of the 152nd Open Championship.