SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP

October 5, 2024

Keith Mitchell

Country Club of Jackson

Quick Quotes

Q. Bogey-free, 7-under. How would you assess your round?

KEITH MITCHELL: Consistent. Smooth I guess. I definitely hit a few bad shots, and when I did, I just made sure I got it back in play and made par and tried to capitalize on the me that I had a good chance.

The putt on 17 was just a huge bonus. Then I got a accident lie on 18 and hit a great shot. All in all, it started kind of slow and the last ten holes I was just able to capitalize a little bit more.

Q. Heading into the final round with the lead, how are you feeling with your game?

KEITH MITCHELL: Good. My putter feels great. My ball striking was better today. I think it could be just a touch better tomorrow. But if I do hit a bad shot, understanding it's okay to hit a bad shot and just get right back if play and try to make par and let my putter try to make some birdie putts when the pins are tough.

Q. Kind of goes hand in hand, but same question but mentally how are you feeling?

KEITH MITCHELL: Good. I would say tomorrow is a completely new day. It's Sunday. Last group. Been there before and failed a bunch on Sundays in the last group or even close.

I'm hoping I can learn from those mistakes, learn from when I get those feels that it's -- like what I did wrong then and not to let them happen again.

Because I would like to think I could have won more then once with my game and I haven't because I've succumbed to the pressure and tried to force things and did things out of my control and tried to really just win.

You can't do that. You never know what's going to happen with the guys around you.

Q. Drawing on those past experiences, do you draw more on the win or maybe the time those that didn't go your way?

KEITH MITCHELL: I would say equally both. Couple things I did when I won that I could really reiterate out there tomorrow. It's more so I failed so many more times than I have won.

It's kind of knowing what not to do. Couple of those things I've been working on a little bit lately, and I felt like did I a great job of that today.

Being in the second to the last group coming down the stretch, felt like I got better on the back nine. If I can do that tomorrow I think I'll have a good shot depending on what the guys around me do.

Q. Have any family and friends out watching that week?

KEITH MITCHELL: My Buddy Brad is on the bag, and he's as close of friends and family I can have, and that's really all I need out there. There was a couple people I know in the crowd that have been nice to come support me, so it's been great.

Q. How helpful is that to have a buddy on the bag in between shots?

KEITH MITCHELL: Honestly we lived together for probably four, five years in Sea Island and he played professionally, so he's been on my side of the bag. I think that's just invaluable experience. He knows what it's like in my shoes equally as much as his.

He's just been so great with me, knowing when to say something, knowing when and not to say something and helping me with clubs if I need it. He's a great putter. He's helped me read a lot of putts, and that's been my weakness, so it's been great.

Q. We asked yesterday, was Brad giving you updates about the game?

KEITH MITCHELL: Billy Ray was giving me updates. Buddy Bobby in the crowd was giving my updates. So that was good. Georgia has done better when I haven't watched and we're clearly doing better today, so hopefully they can continue.

Q. Valspar earlier this year you held a 54-hole lead. Obviously didn't work out for you. That's very tough. What lessons did you learn from that experience that you'll take into tomorrow?

KEITH MITCHELL: I would say just the feelings of what it's like there. I remember I was in the last group with Rory at Quail Hollow a couple years back. Felt like I did a little bit better job there until the last few holes.

And then Valspar I hit probably the worse two shots of the day on the first to holes and was not able to bounce back from those feelings of fear or anxiety trying to make sure I get it in the fairway or on the green.

Valspar is a tough golf course and it bit me that day. I felt like I was doing everything physically as best I could and mentally I was a train wreck after the first two holes.

Learning from that is really all I can do. Only won once and trying to close the door a second time, which has been clearly very difficult for me.