THE CJ CUP BYRON NELSON

May 1, 2025

Cameron Champ

TPC Craig Ranch

Quick Quotes

Q. Opening round 64. How would you assess your round?

CAMERON CHAMP: Yeah, it was solid. Obviously the start, first hole hit a good drive; just caught a jumper out of there, which I wasn't expecting.

Hit a wayward tee ball on 13 and 14, which I got very lucky on. Today was just a good day as far as ball striking goes. Those wayward shots I was able to scramble. Two of them I was able to make pars. From there I just rolled the ball well today.

Yeah, it was a nice way to play. Just like I said, not trying to force it, letting it come to me. I've been hitting it well, doing everything well, so at this point it's just trying to stay out of my own way.

Q. 24 hours ago, alternate in the field.

CAMERON CHAMP: Yeah.

Q. Tell us about when you were notified and your journey getting here to TPC Craig Ranch?

CAMERON CHAMP: Yeah, obviously knew I was within a couple alternates coming in on Wednesday, and then I got the call I think around 1:30 or 2:00 yesterday, so then I packed up everything and got up here around 9:00.

Today had a longer warmup to get somewhat used to the greens. Yeah, no, it's definitely been an interesting two days, that's for sure.

Q. Do you have an instructor or coach right now?

CAMERON CHAMP: Yeah, I work with Sean Foley. Been with Folsey since I was a kid. Yeah, Folsey has been a huge help for me, more so off the course has been the majority of my issues.

Has nothing to do with on the course. Yeah, no, Folsey has been a massive help to me.

Q. Anything specifically you're working on as far as the putting is concerned?

CAMERON CHAMP: Just try not to the think. I feel like even myself, I think I can overcomplicate it a lot. Just find my reads, trust it, and after that, you just have to have good speed.

So I think sometimes I can get too involved in the line and trying to be absolutely perfect, versus when you have greens that slope over like a one and a half to two, you kind of have a window you can hit it in depending on speed.

Today the way I saw it, the putt on the last hole for par, I kind of saw it out there. I felt like I was seeing too much, but I was like, you know what, I'm just going to hit it a little bit softer and curled in there.

So, yeah, it's trusting your gut and instinct.

Q. Were you in Houston when you got the word?

CAMERON CHAMP: Yeah, I was at home.

Q. Is there something to be said for the scramble to get here and show up and play? Can that be a help on the mental side?

CAMERON CHAMP: Oh, definitely. Coming into this week in general I had no expectations, so I think in general that's how I need to be regardless.

Just come out and play my game. Whatever I shoot, I shoot. Yeah, like I said, I was very happy with today.

Q. I would guess the results haven't really been what you want the past couple years. How do you 6sort of keep the faith that you can turn it back to how it was when you were winning on TOUR?

CAMERON CHAMP: Yeah, you know, even considering last year, how many cuts I missed by one, it was like 11 or 12 or something, I haven't really been playing that bad. It's been a couple holes here or there that just alters my round.

Throughout the year and even this year, kind of the same deal, one or two holes and one week I'm hitting it really well, next week I'm struggling putting well. It's been a little mix match.

Again, most of that for me is all off the course. Has nothing to do with my physical abilities. I've worked -- the last two years is probably the hardest I've ever world. Feel like my physical abilities are there. It's now for me it's just getting back to the right mental state.

Q. Fairly close to home and your college home. Is there a familiarity with the DFW events that helps you?

CAMERON CHAMP: Yeah, this definitely feels like a somewhat home event. My caddie is my best friend. All his family are here. Known them for years. My wife and son will come up.

It's kind of like a smaller Houston event for me. Yeah, excited about the week though.