U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 15, 2024

Luis Masaveu

Hazeltine National Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Marathon day. I mean, you've had a really good summer. I know you played at the British Open, and now to come here and you're a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Amateur, what does that mean to you?

LUIS MASAVEU: I'm just very, very happy. First time here, so I didn't really know what to expect. The conditions obviously are very different from Europe. Yeah, I'm just really, really happy.

Q. Had you ever been to Minnesota before this week or no?

LUIS MASAVEU: No, first time. I've been to the States a few times, but just a few times, so yeah.

Q. How did you get into this championship?

LUIS MASAVEU: World ranking.

Q. What's it been like? I know you've had a pretty good following of some fans out here this week too. What's it been like to have that support even though you're over here in the U.S.?

LUIS MASAVEU: Yeah, I'm very happy. My friends, one of my friends was following me today. So, yeah, I mean yesterday I was playing against a local, and I really like felt what it was to not feel supported.

Yeah, today was obviously different. I felt even more comfortable today because I was just not with 300 people behind me not supporting me.

Q. Did you embrace the villain role at all yesterday?

LUIS MASAVEU: Yeah, I was so nervous yesterday with everything. I was leading after a good middle play. You don't want to lose in first round. So I had that little pressure on myself.

Yeah, I played very good these three rounds, especially today in the afternoon. It was a battle. We just didn't miss at all.

Q. Did you ever consider coming over here and playing a little more over here in college or anything?

LUIS MASAVEU: Yeah, I talked with a few universities, but with COVID and everything, I just decided just to stay. Obviously in terms of accommodation, it's the first place, but I have a good team, so I'm happy there.

Q. Is there anything you learned at The Open that you're maybe applying, whether about your game or whatever that you're applying this week?

LUIS MASAVEU: In the Open, you had to -- like it was a very hard course. You had to miss in the good spots, same as this course. You miss in the wrong spots, you're not going to make par. So just try to miss well.

Q. Do you allow yourself to think about sort of what could be this week? Obviously you've only got a few rounds left. There's a lot of perks on the line. Do you allow yourself to think about that stuff, or do you try to block it out?

LUIS MASAVEU: I'm just trying to play every hole, hole by hole. Just try to focus on my routine. I think the more you think about it, the worse you're going to play. So just focus on each round.

Q. Going to enjoy some rest tonight, I'm guessing?

LUIS MASAVEU: Yeah.

Q. You're now the second Spaniard to advance to the quarterfinals since 2015 in the U.S. Amateur. 2015, it was Jon Rahm. You're the second one because Jose advanced a little bit earlier.

LUIS MASAVEU: I mean, it's awesome because Jose is a good friend to me. It's awesome that we both passed. I would love to play him in the semifinals so we can have a finalist that's Spanish.

Yeah, I'm very proud of myself to be the second one, so pretty happy.