U.S. MID-AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

September 25, 2024

Bobby Massa

Kinloch Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. What a performance on the front nine.

BOBBY MASSA: Yes. Just had it going early. He made a good putt on the first hole, then I covered it up, and it was kind of the momentum after that took me the rest of the way.

Q. How far was the putt he made on the first hole?

BOBBY MASSA: About 20 feet, and then I probably made one that was about the same distance. After that I hit a lot of quality shots and we were able to cash in a few putts, so it was good.

Q. The birdies on 2 and 3 -- I believe you birdied the first four?

BOBBY MASSA: I birdied the first four and then I had a bad three-putt on 5 from about 25 feet, and then I hit a great drive on 6 and made a putt from about 15, 18 feet that broke pretty good. Seeing that one go in was nice, but I was still only 2-up.

Q. The birdies on 2, 3 and 4, how long were the putts there?

BOBBY MASSA: Not long. I think I had a four and a half footer on 2 and a six-footer on 3.

Q. When you get into that type of zone, what is that like when you're out there --

BOBBY MASSA: You don't even think about it, to be honest. You just play. You just pick your target and go. Just happened to be in a rhythm and the shots were coming out. So it was good to see.

Q. You're playing a guy out there who's almost probably equally as long as you are.

BOBBY MASSA: He's a great player.

Q. Talk a little bit about -- did you know much about him prior to the match?

BOBBY MASSA: I knew he was from Scottsdale. My brother lives out there. My brother said he played with him about a year ago or so. Other than that, I don't keep up much. It's not that he's not a great established player, I just don't keep up.

Q. Is that a good thing maybe when you go out there and play something and you're not thinking about who the guy might be or what his resume might be?

BOBBY MASSA: I don't know, I've got a lot going on at home. It would just take more time to kind of dive into that stuff. I've got kids and a wife at home, and work. All that stuff adds up and doesn't leave much more time for anything else.

Q. You're into a USGA championship match. You're already exempt for the Amateur next year --

BOBBY MASSA: Maybe they'll grow that exemption for two years.

Q. If you win, you get two years.

BOBBY MASSA: Oh, nice.

Q. That's obviously something -- there's another couple nice exemptions if you win tomorrow. How do you keep yourself focused? How do you keep yourself from not thinking about that prize at the end of the road?

BOBBY MASSA: I mean, you just try to play. There will be thoughts for sure. Anybody that doesn't say there will be is not human. Just try to keep one foot in front of the other and one hole at a time.

Q. Have you played any 36-hole matches before?

BOBBY MASSA: I've felt like I've played a million 36-hole days these last three days. I don't think that ought to be that much different, but no, I have not played any other 36-hole matches.

Q. I'm curious how you attack a 36-hole final than maybe you would an 18-hole final?

BOBBY MASSA: One hole at a time. It's not much different mentally for me. I don't know about the other guys, but for me, it's just try to get off to a good start on 1.

Q. Have you heard from any of your clients?

BOBBY MASSA: Oh, yeah.

Q. What have the texts been like?

BOBBY MASSA: We've definitely heard from a lot of the clients. It's great. They all support me, and I appreciate them. I miss them, but we'll be home soon.

Q. Do you think this adds to -- a run like this and a run like you had at the Amateur, is it adding to the client list?

BOBBY MASSA: Oh, I'm sure there's probably a few DMs here and there that are going to come and see what the training is all about. But like I said, just taking it one day at a time, and we'll see where it go from there.

Q. How are you doing physically this week?

BOBBY MASSA: I'm fine. It's a lot. 36-hole days add up. But when you get going, your mind is not thinking about how tired you are or anything like that. It's just pedal down and let's get this thing going.

Q. How do you feel today? 18 when you missed that putt, you could have closed the match out and you have to go to extra holes. How differently do you feel at the end of the day today than you did yesterday when you really had to suck it up and get one?

BOBBY MASSA: Oh, the less holes you can play, the better. Just adds stress. I'm definitely taking years off my life doing these things. The stress just never goes away with these things.