JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

July 3, 2022

Patrick Flavin

TPC Deere Run

Quick Quotes

Q. Speaking of legends, you tried to make yourself a legend today. How was that you round for you in your mind?

PATRICK FLAVIN: Yeah, it was awesome. It was so cool playing with Zach Johnson. He's a guy I watched my whole career. He's a small guy, somebody I kind of see myself in.

So to get to play with him at the John Deere, he's a John Deere legend, and to play great really meant a lot to me.

I had so many family and friends out and I wanted to play well for them, and I was getting shivers down my spine all day, so it was really cool.

Q. He said at times he felt like he had to stay out of your way to make sure you could do what you had to do today. What does that say to you?

PATRICK FLAVIN: He's a great guy. He's really cool and. Yeah, step one to making the Ryder Cup team is playing well with the captain. (Laughter.)

It was an awesome day.

Q. Resetting the goals I see.

PATRICK FLAVIN: Yeah.

Q. Did you talk to him about that today?

PATRICK FLAVIN: A little bit. A little bit. Yeah, but he's an awesome guy. The fans we had even from the getgo, like when they announced Zach's name on the first hole I was like, wow, this is different.

So it's nothing like I've ever experienced. On top of that, I had so many people, family and friends who came all this way and have held me along the way, so it was just so much fun.

Q. Where do you feel you are now in your goal quest or your immediate goals?

PATRICK FLAVIN: Yeah, this was a huge step. I've been kind of riding that threshold to get to the Korn Ferry finals for a while. Obviously my goal my whole golfing career has been to make the PGA Tour, and to play here at the John Deere has always been a dream of mine.

To play great was -- it's hard to describe. I'm incredibly grateful that I got the opportunity. Clair Peterson, I've been wearing him out with emails for four years, so he gave me a chance, and to capitalize when I needed to was amazing.

Q. Did you look at the board after 16 and see where you stood? Any thoughts go through your mind?

PATRICK FLAVIN: I didn't know where I stood. I kind of kept my head down all day. Like even when my family and friends, I recognize their voices yelling at me, I was just trying to keep my head down and stay in my zone. I know that's how I play my best golf.

I knew I was in a great spot. I looked after yesterday and I figured like 15-, 16-under could have been in the top 10. It was a little windier and greens were a little faster and pins a little bit more tucked.

I mean, I played awesome. I played great. Yeah, I have no regrets about the way I played. I felt like I made good decisions all day and it was so much fun.

Q. If you don't top 10, will you Monday tomorrow?

PATRICK FLAVIN: I think so. That's the plan. I got my bags packed for the Monday. I'm definitely going to play the rest of the Mondays for sure. Yeah, right now I'm just kind of soaking this all in in.

I think playing the John Deere has been something I've been looking forward to for the last couple months since I got the spot. With that comes a lot of like anticipation and anxiety and a little bit of stress, you want to do well.

It was bogey-free on Friday to make the cut, and that gave me so much confidence. Today did I kind of the same thing, played great. So I'm -- there is a huge step to making the Tour for sure.

Q. How does that incredible support help you out there, spur you on?

PATRICK FLAVIN: So much. It's hard to even describe. You're so much less focused on the results because you kind of have people cheering on every step of the way.

And it's also just all these people that have been great friends and great friends throughout like the ups and downs of golf, which means so much.

I know that no matter how I play, especially my parents, are going to be super positive. And even last week I Monday qualified for the Travelers; missed the cut. My dad was caddieing for me and I was a little bit frustrated and down and I think I respond well because my parents are so positive.

I'm so grateful for them.

Q. (No microphone.)

PATRICK FLAVIN: He fired me last week actually. Yeah, he was done carrying that big bag.

Q. You showed great skill on the golf course this week. How about off the golf course? What can this do for you mentally moving forward?

PATRICK FLAVIN: I think I'm doing a way better job not swinging too far with the ups and the downs. On top of that, away from the course I'm doing a lot of meditation and just visualization in a positive way.

It's a long week and you need to kind of stay fresh and relaxed away from the course, otherwise you get a little bit too up and too down on the course.

In terms of like what I believe I can do, it's a huge step. You always say you can do it, can play well on the PGA Tour, but especially in an event like this where I got a sponsor's invite, I kind of feel like I have something to prove, and then going out and playing great does a lot pore if I confidence.

Q. (No microphone.)

PATRICK FLAVIN: Always. Nick is one of my best friends. He's helped me so much. He's one of those guys that helps me through highs and lows. I've played so much golf with him, he helps me with my golf swing, with my chipping and putting. I think I do the same for him.

I was joking about beating him on Tuesday, it was already a successful week. He's done amazingly well, and he's a guy I know if he does well on the PGA Tour I can do well, too.

Q. With or without the top 10 what's the biggest takeaway for you this week?

PATRICK FLAVIN: I think just how relaxed and confident I was while I was playing. I think I found the right rhythm, the right zone for me to play and stay calm. Obviously it helps when you're making a lot of putts.

But yeah, obviously I was a little nervous, but I did a great job staying in each moment and, yeah I'm really proud of that.