THE G4D OPEN

May 15, 2025

Chris Willis

Mixed Zone

Q. A good start but maybe did you hope for slightly better?

CHRIS WILLIS: Yes. I was going pretty good. I was staying patient out there. It's very dry out there. So I kept patient but on the last three holes, some mistakes happened and I stumbled coming in. But it's early in the year so I'm going to forgive myself in a few minutes.

Q. And you had some highlights before that I know?

CHRIS WILLIS: 7, I had a nice approach. I had about an eight-foot eagle putt and a par 3 after. My ball went right past the hole for a hole-in-one. Then I hit a really nice birdie on No. 8.

So it was 6, 7 and 8 that I had a really nice stretch there and then I had a nice back-to-back on 14 was a great birdie, and 15 was a nice comfortable birdie, too. So it was nice.

Q. Great finish here last year. Top five. I think you were third, actually. So what do you draw from that experience to take into this week?

CHRIS WILLIS: That I belong. That I can handle the final round pressure playing with the world No. 1, No. 2 players with 50 to a hundred people watching, cameras everywhere and I maintain myself. I struck the ball well. Unfortunately just like last year, my putting needs to get a little bit better. But that will come along and I'm hopeful.

Q. World No. 1 is not here, sadly, with injury. Disappointing for everyone but does it boost your hopes?

CHRIS WILLIS: I want to compete against the best when they are at their best, and I'd like to beat them at their best. As a competitor, it sucks that the world No. 1 isn't here. But there's a lot of talent here and it's getting better every single year. We're not short on possible winners this week.

Q. You've been a great sport over the championship already. How nice to be back here?

CHRIS WILLIS: It's absolutely wonderful to be back here. It feels very comfortable. I know the place. I know the facility. I now know some of the members. I've gotten a chance to play with them, and have a good time with them. Certainly if it comes back here, I'll be back here for sure. It's a wonderful place.

Q. You do a lot of travel. How demanding is it, the type of golf you're playing as well?

CHRIS WILLIS: Yeah, it's tough. Travel can always be wearing and you have to learn how to manage, it how to hydrate and how to rest and how to not do too much while you're here during the tournament. But I love travelling and it's not something I do a lot of and hopefully it's something I do more of in the future.