THE 152ND OPEN

July 21, 2024

Calum Scott

Mixed Zone

Q. What's your emotion at this moment?

CALUM SCOTT: Yeah, super happy, excited, buzzing, relieved as well. Made it tough for myself coming in, but just super happy to come in and be the Low Am for this event.

Q. I saw the first few holes, and you actually started really well, didn't you?

CALUM SCOTT: Yeah, first nine holes, I played really good. Could have taken a few more opportunities, but I think overall even-par wasn't too bad for the front nine.

Obviously the wind -- the wind has been different pretty much every day. Today it was pretty much side winds for every single hole. But I made it tough for myself on that back nine.

Q. Big names have won this thing. For an amateur, how prestigious do you feel this prize is?

CALUM SCOTT: It's one of the highest honours I think you can win as an amateur. To be able to make the cut -- first of all, you have to make the cut to win this award, and to be over 11 other amateurs, I'm very proud of myself for that. To compete in a tournament like The Open, it's just amazing.

Q. Do you feel extra special because you beat Mr. Olesen?

CALUM SCOTT: Yeah, I obviously needed some revenge for that. No, he's a good player. I'm just happy to have won and beat the other 11 players obviously. They're great players, and they're here for a reason. I'm just happy to be the Low Am.

Q. You knew you had a cushion when you went out, but did you know what was happening on the way down?

CALUM SCOTT: No, not at all. I think about 14 or 15 someone said, yeah, you've got like a five-shot lead. At that point, I was pretty chill, and I was like I can take it somewhat easy from here. I don't have to be too stressed.

Yeah, obviously I didn't make it easy, but happy to do it in front of friends.

Q. A lot of big names that you're following. What kind of launchpad can this be for your career?

CALUM SCOTT: Obviously there's been a bunch of Silver Medal winners that go on to do incredible things. I'm not exactly sure what this will do.

Obviously I've got a year left at college, and we'll see where that puts me in regards to -- I think it does a lot for my amateur career and kind of helps me the next year or so as I transition into pro golf. It's just a really cool accolade to have, I think, to join some big names.

Q. What was that moment like on 18, you had a big crowd with you, and you really embraced it?

CALUM SCOTT: Yeah, my caddie told me, my assistant coach at Texas Tech, James, he was like soak this in. We pretty much had it at that point, so he was like soak this in.

I did the last 100 yards just walking, and I got kind of emotional. I still had two putts to hit. So I couldn't fully, but I was embracing it. I know it's just amazing. It's a memory I'll have forever and cherish for a lifetime.

Q. Is this where you've definitely got to go back and finish things at college?

CALUM SCOTT: Yeah, I think I will. Obviously this puts me in a good position going forward, like maybe starts or something in regards to events. I think the opportunities that college has with the PGA Tour, I just think it's a no brainer to go back and try to compete for that PGA Tour card because obviously that's the peak, that's where you want to be.

I'm in a decent position going into my last year.

Q. Maybe an unfair question, but who's the best golfer in the Scott household at the moment?

CALUM SCOTT: I don't know. That's a tough question. Probably my dad (laughter).

Q. What's the next couple days going to look like?

CALUM SCOTT: Yeah, I'm going to take a bit of a break. It's been pretty hectic, the schedule, the last kind of two months. Basically since February onwards, it's been nonstop, it feels like. I'm going to take a few days off and kind of reflect and just decompress and chill with friends and family and enjoy this moment. Yeah, just take it from there.

Q. You grew up on a links course, but if someone at home asked you what's the difference playing competitively here and playing in that, what would you explain?

CALUM SCOTT: I guess it's pretty weather dependent, but that back nine is clearly one of the toughest back nines in links golf or in golf, especially with that prevailing wind kind of into and off the left.

It kind of sets you up -- you can't really practise what that back nine does. You've just got to kind of grind it out and see where that puts you at the end of the day. Obviously Nairn provides a good test off the back tees, and it's not flat calm all the time there either.

It definitely helped me going forward here, prepared me well for the wind and conditions.

Q. Calum, who's here today and this week, family and friends, for you?

CALUM SCOTT: I had all my family, apart from my brother, and friends from Nairn, a bunch of guys that I know through golf, kind of my age golfers as well. I could hear them out there. The support has been brilliant, so yeah.

Q. For a 20-year-old young lad from Nairn, do you have to pinch yourself sometimes?

CALUM SCOTT: Yeah, I think so. I guess it will probably sink in a little bit more when I'm out on that green with the Silver Medal, and I'm just really happy where everything is right now. To win that Silver Medal is just unbelievable.

Q. And attending Texas Tech, you'd love to follow in the footsteps of Ludvig Aberg, wouldn't you? He of course graduated from there.

CALUM SCOTT: Yes, I would. He's obviously a great role model for other golfers. I got to spend two years with him, and we knew he was good, but we didn't know he was that good.

No, he's just a great role model for us, and he's a proper nice and humble guy, great to talk to and get advice from. Yeah, I'd be happy to follow in the footsteps of him.

Q. A bit odd question. The college is in Lubbock, Texas. I know about Buddy Holly's music. Is he remembered there? Is he recognised? Is it clear in Lubbock that they have Buddy Holly?

CALUM SCOTT: Yeah, they've got things named after him, a hall named after him and stuff. He's big in Lubbock.

Q. Anything at the college?

CALUM SCOTT: Yeah, they've got a street named after him and a building named after him and stuff. He's big there.

Q. Do you listen to his music?

CALUM SCOTT: I don't listen to his music.

(Laughter).

Can't say I know many of his songs. I'm sure I've probably heard it once or twice from someone.