U.S. ADAPTIVE OPEN

July 8, 2026

Kipp Popert

Woodmont Country Club (South Course)

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Please welcome to the interview area the champion of the 2026 U.S. Adaptive Open, Kipp Poppert. Kipp, why don't you just talk about what you're feeling right now and what emotions you have.

KIPP POPERT: I'm extremely pleased and extremely proud I guess of all the hard work I put in.

Justin chipped in on three for eagle. I hadn't holed a putt for 20 holes and I remember thinking -- it was like, I had nine foot for birdie. I thought, right, here we go. It's now or never.

I need the pressure. I need the -- yeah, and I always know I need that or I always thrive on it. To then play the way I did -- and I hadn't holed a putt for 20 holes as I said; definitely a bit frustrated yesterday.

Then it all just went. When I actually had to do it the mindset went clear. I didn't really care. I thought, right, just put the ball in there. I did. I was 6-under through nine. Birdied ten. Then I just wanted to keep going.

I knew Simon was having a good round so just wanted to keep my foot on the gas. Yeah, me and Ben did great today.

Q. You had such a dominant win last year. Did you feel any sort of pressure this year?

KIPP POPERT: Yeah, you know, they were only -- I only had a three-shot lead. This golf course if you're wedging it good and hitting good drives you can shoot low.

I had never played with Justin before and maybe part of that was the reason. He's a really nice guy. When he chipped in for eagle I just thought in my head, all right, I better show him who he's playing with - in the most polite way.

I'm really pleased with how I played and how composed I was. I always say about going into autopilot, and I've practiced my whole life to be able to do that, and definitely did that today.

Q. Just become the first male player in USGA history to win four consecutive USGA championships. What does that honor mean to you?

KIPP POPERT: Last year was pretty cool, so to now have four, you know, they mention Tiger and they mention Jack, and they're some of the best players to ever live, greats of the game.

I really want disabled golf and adaptive golf to keep moving forward, and I hope I'm helping do that. I just want more opportunities for kids growing up that we didn't have. I'm extremely grateful to the USGA for putting on this championship.

If you didn't, I wouldn't have had the chance to pursue my dreams really. I have always wanted to dreamed of winning majors, and to have four her in a row now -- last night I remember thinking three was pretty good. Like then just before I went to bed I thought, you know what, sod it. I'll go for four. I've never backed down before and I didn't want to come into today accepting that three might be okay.

Again, to then just play the way I did today is what dreams are made of and what I worked my whole life to do.

Q. Looking at the leaderboard the last couple of days there were a lot of really low scores as well. Did anything stand out to you just seeing how many competitors out there were able to match where you were at and kind of the level of the game?

KIPP POPERT: I mean, the game is growing. Disabled golf has only had really significant tournaments in the last five or six years.

For the level of golf to be what it is already, you know, I think if there is more opportunities for girls and boys growing up to have coaching, national teams, everything like that, the standard is only going to go this way. (Indicating up.)

So to see everyone stepping up, that's what I've prided myself on, is trying to shoot as low as I can at times. Not to win, but just to keep showing how good we can be. I feel like there is an unconscious bias that disabled athletes have to get over, and the best way to do that is by playing good golf.

Finally I just want to say, as you said, a lot of real talent here, a lot of incredible golfers. Max Togisala has won five in a row. He shot 9-under total. He finished third. He deserves so much credit and so much more recognition.

He's an awesome friend, and as I said, an exceptional golfer. You might mention and say that I'm dominating, but to do what he does is truly dominating a field and he deserves every bit of recognition.

Q. Final question from me: How are you going to celebrate this big win now?

KIPP POPERT: Well, I got a flight tonight to get home, but I'll just go and hang out with Ben and my dad and just maybe see my friends when I get home.

I'm really excited to get in the other room with all the other players. Yeah, it's a family here. We all thrive and strive to do as best we can and to keep moving the game forward, so I really appreciate all their friendship and support.

Q. I know you said you hadn't made a putt for 20 holes but you also were bogey-free yesterday.

KIPP POPERT: Yeah.

Q. Like what was the key to kind of keeping your edge even as you were struggling a little bit with your putting?

KIPP POPERT: I'll be honest, I hit so many good putts yesterday. I never had a round where I had so many lip-outs or edges. I just kept trying to hit good putts. I've mentioned it in an interview yesterday. I shot 11-under here last year, and yesterday my iron play was as good, of not better. So I was really hoping to maybe do what I did today yesterday and have a nice comfortable night's sleep.

Actually slept pretty good.

But I love the pressure, and that's why I went to bed last night thinking, well, I didn't do it today; that means I have to do it tomorrow. I've always wanted to be in that situation and it was great.

Q. Any idea how many putts you had today?

KIPP POPERT: No.

Q. You seemed like you had a lot of one-putts.

KIPP POPERT: Probably. (Laughter.)

Q. Okay.

KIPP POPERT: No, idea. I can try and count them, but...

Q. No. Thanks. Go celebrate.

KIPP POPERT: Awesome. Thank you guys.