U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 9, 2021

Chris Devlin

Oakmont Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Let me start out by asking you about shooting a 72. No one is under par. That's got to make you feel good.

CHRIS DEVLIN: Absolutely. Of course a hole-in-one will always help, but like I said, I did play a lot better than even some of my -- I mean, it was an up and down day. I had a lot of bogeys out there, too and I was really just trying to keep the doubles off my card.

I did end up making one double where I got a plugged lie in an bunker on I think it was 14. But other than that, my focus for this, I mean, I've got to use my experience. I'm 46 years old now, so it's the only chance I've got against all these flat bellies. (Laughter.)

I got to try and at least -- Oakmont at least gives me that opportunity, because you just got to find way to leave it below the hole somehow. If I can do that then I'll always have a chance.

Q. What's this like playing in your first U.S. Amateur, and of course you had the experience of playing in a U.S. Open. What's different about the two?

CHRIS DEVLIN: So when I played in the U.S. Open in '08 I actually pulled a muscle in my chest right before I -- right the week before when I was practicing. It ate my lunch, so ended up being a really disappointing experience for me because I was playing well going in and I wasn't able to do it justice because I really just couldn't turn and I really struggled and Torrey Pines just ate my lunch.

So it's nice to get back to a big championship like this and do myself justice. I know I've got the game for it. It's just a matter of can I play at the right time and can I keep my old back in order and get around here for the week.

It's certainly a great start. I'm super happy with it. It's what I needed around here because it's just so difficult. You can play yourself out of it so fast round here. It's just so hard out there.

Q. How about the hole-in-one? Tell us about that, the 6-iron.

CHRIS DEVLIN: Yeah, I just knew I needed to clear the bunker, and I knew the way the wind was helping going this way to get to that back right pin, and I knew if I just had a nice high cut 6-iron it was just going right (indiscernible). I had it perfect.

I mean, it was just exactly the way I envisioned it up. Beat the bunker there, was just right of the pin, and rolled right down in the hole. So it was really super nice to actually get one that actually dropped for a change.

Telling the guys there I've had eight holes in one now and I've never had one as a professional, and I was professional for 11 years. I had one in my very last amateur event that I ever played in in Birmingham Country Club back a long time ago.

And then I got my amateur status back and I made another one right after -- two weeks after I got my amateur status back at home.

Then this of course is the next amateur tournament I play in and I make another one.

Maybe (indiscernible) Jones is right. You shouldn't be allowed to play professional.

Q. How is it getting a flag, because usually you have to go in and buy everyone a round, right?

CHRIS DEVLIN: I'll probably buy another one, too. But this was -- I was actually going to ask the guys, Can I get the flag after the tournament is over? But this is great, the fact that it's already here.

But, yeah, it's awesome.

Q. And the birdie on 18. How many people get a hole-in-one and a birdie on 18 at this place?

CHRIS DEVLIN: Yeah, I was kind of disappointed because I had just bogeyed 17 from the middle of the fairway. I had a really good shot into 17 and just trickled over, and I just had it two yards too far and I went down into that bottom bunker.

From there, you're just dead. So I was really just trying to make bogey from there and I ended up making a bogey, so it was nice to make birdie and make it back up on the last. I had a great driver and a great 5-iron in there. All I was trying to do, I knew if I could just keep it in this bowl or just past the bowl at least I would have an uphill putt.

Like I said, my whole goal around here all week is just going to be to keep it below the hole. If I can somehow keep it or have an uphill putt.

Q. Just talk about the chip-in for birdie on 9.

CHRIS DEVLIN: Yeah, so was that another one. I did not want to be over there, but, again, I seen Garrett, my playing partner, leave his short on top of that hill, and I didn't want it be left on top of that hill and have that putt going back down the hill.

I said you know what? I'm going to make sure I get it up over this hill, and came up over perfect and went right in the middle.

Again, I had my fair share of good breaks out there today chipping in and obviously having a hole-in-one, but to be honest, it's really the only way you can score around Oakmont today. It's just too difficult. It's an U.S. Open style setup and it's just tough. I mean, those guys are you out there syringing like crazy just to make sure they don't lose it. It's been exciting. It's been a great time.