THE 154TH OPEN

July 16, 2026

Jackson Suber

Mixed Zone

Q. How did you get thing to kick start?

JACKSON SUBER: Things just really started going after the birdie on 10. I just felt like the momentum was really in my favour. Just kind of kept the ball in good spots and didn't put much pressure on my game to make pars.

Q. How much have you played over here in the past?

JACKSON SUBER: This is my fifth day here. Monday was my first round of links golf, so I've played 27 holes before I played the first round today. I've never been to Europe.

Q. First time in Europe?

JACKSON SUBER: Yes.

Q. Wow. How were you able to adapt so easily?

JACKSON SUBER: I'm not really sure, but I feel like I've just been playing good the last few months and just knowing that good golf is going to take care of everything, and really trusting my caddie to figure out where we're going to hit it.

Q. What did you hit on 17?

JACKSON SUBER: Hit a 4-iron. Choked up pretty far on it almost to the shaft. Ball was way above my feet, but got it over that bunker and in that collection area and got a good bounce up on to the green.

Q. 15 also, was that a good up-and-down from there? Should we write about it?

JACKSON SUBER: For sure. On Tuesday when I played, it wasn't a really good spot, but with the wind back into you, it wasn't impossible, but it wasn't great. I think either side of that green is not great with the wind off the left. It was definitely a good shot. And I don't want to re-hit it.

Q. You had some good finishes at the CJ Cup, John Deere, Canadian. What's been the difference the last couple months?

JACKSON SUBER: A lot of factors. I've switched to the new Pro V1. I was playing an old Titleist ball for a while and switched to that. The new Titleist driver, I switched to that, and I started driving it really well, which was never my strength. Then working with one of my old college coaches on my mental game and that's really helped, too.

Q. How much were you into the final round at Canada in terms of trying to win, and how much was The Open on your mind, and was that something you found out about later?

JACKSON SUBER: No, I finished 18th there last year. I finished pretty early in the day, so I had remembered that there was an Open spot because I was not close to getting it but I was a few spots out of it. So kind of checking that but remembering when I went back this year. It was more just trying to win the golf tournament, and happy it worked out that way in the end.

Q. Have you been outside of the United States?

JACKSON SUBER: Yes. Yeah. I've been pretty much everywhere in Latin America and Canada.

Q. What are your impressions of the UK?

JACKSON SUBER: Yeah, it's awesome. The golf is really cool, and just the towns, how the train system works. We went into Liverpool the other day with my fiance and Pierceson Coody and his wife, so that was really cool to see a European city and enjoy that.

Q. Try driving on the other side of the road?

JACKSON SUBER: No.

Q. Why not?

JACKSON SUBER: Because I'm trying to make it here for four days.

Q. What are you going to do on the weekend to stay in contention?

JACKSON SUBER: Just keep being patient and keep being disciplined and knowing that you can get in spots where bogey is a great score and taking that and just moving on.

Q. Curious, what sort of recon did you do about how to play links golf?

JACKSON SUBER: I think I watched a YouTube video on every hole at Birkdale on Friday last week or Thursday, but besides that, yeah, just -- I have a stats guy that's helped me, of course, so just knowing that the pot bunkers are no good and stay out of those.

Q. Why does it suit your eye do you think?

JACKSON SUBER: I've been hitting the driver well, and I feel like I'm a good iron player. Just a lot of long irons into these holes. I think that suits my eye. Then just chipping, I like chipping off tight, firm surfaces. Kind of feeling comfortable with that I think is important for me.

Q. You said you had to make some changes with your mental game?

JACKSON SUBER: Yeah, I just started working with one of my old college coaches, my assistant coach from my sophomore year. Just started working with him and we've worked on a lot of things that have helped.

Q. Such as?

JACKSON SUBER: Things between me and him. I don't want to give away too many secrets.

Q. Can you pinpoint a turning point for you in the season?

JACKSON SUBER: This year I feel like I've been really coming into myself as a golfer and maturing and learning what makes -- what works for me. Just learning how to deal with my golf game on the road and playing a whole year and what I need to change when things are going a certain way and kind of what I need to be -- how I need to be calibrating stuff every day.

Q. What model driver did you put in?

JACKSON SUBER: The GTS3, Titleist 1. I was playing the TSR for a while, so I didn't switch to the new GT model. I played the model from four years ago. It's just a lot more consistent with the mis-hits I feel like. Like a toe ball, it just hangs in the air better and doesn't really dive as much off line and kind of holds its spin. So I feel like that's been helping me a lot, especially I feel like I have a left miss tendency, so just knowing that that toe ball is going to hold its line more and carry farther is always good.

Q. Do you tinker with your equipment much?

JACKSON SUBER: No. I really like gear, but I don't really change too much stuff.

Q. Whether it's the really big yellow scoreboard on 18 or spectators holding pints of beer, the applause you get just for what looks like a simple shot, what's been different and cool that you've liked about this week?

JACKSON SUBER: Yeah, there's definitely a lot of respect here and knowledge, and in the practice rounds just hitting shots to the ghost holes, the discs, and the spectators just knowing that that was a tough shot that you're just practising and clapping for that is really cool, and just to see the intent they watch the game with.

It was Sami's birthday today, and they sang happy birthday to him on the last hole, and I thought that was pretty cool, too.

Q. Did you say fiancee? When are you guys getting married?

JACKSON SUBER: We don't have a date or location yet. Still waiting on her to help me with that.

Q. First time you watched The Open? Were you a regular when you weren't playing?

JACKSON SUBER: Yeah, I'm not a super early riser, but I would watch it for sure.