BILTMORE CHAMPIONSHIP

September 17, 2026

Mackenzie Hughes

The Cliffs at Walnut Cove

Quick Quotes

Q. Mackenzie, fantastic 65 in the first round. Great save of par here at the ninth, too, one of the more challenging holes out here on the golf course. What looked good to you in the first round of the Biltmore Championship?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: Yeah, I feel like I was swinging the club fairly well. Didn't make a ton of mistakes. Felt like I kept the ball in play for the most part.

Was a few tricky tee shots, so if you get through those...

But, yeah, I think that this course gives you, you know, a handful of wedges into some par-4s and the par-5s are very gettable, so the par-5s to me are a huge focus.

Birdied every one today, which is big. Yeah, just felt like I was tidy. When I missed greens, I got up and down. When I needed to make a five-footer for par I did. So I was able to keep momentum going in the round. Then just one dropped shot.

Overall, very pleased.

Q. Yeah, sitting outside the top 100 in FedExCup points. The approach in the fall as you look forward to the rest of this tournament and the remainder of the fall schedule?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: Yeah, I mean, it's not where I want to be. You know, I've been a pretty consistent performer out here for the last, you know, half dozen years, and I've been -- this is my tenth year on Tour. You know, I am where I am. You know, I am where I am. Golf is hard.

But also look at it like there is a lot of opportunities this fall and I still feel like my game is in a pretty decent spot, so I'm not panicked.

I know I have some golf to play. Just taking it one day at a time.

Q. And supporting you, fellow Canadians at the Presidents Cup next week for sure because you were in it down the road in Charlotte just a couple years ago as well. Also though, big football game on Saturday for Kent State. You got to go to Ohio State. They're not too happy right now, Mackenzie.

MACKENZIE HUGHES: No, you know, for the program it's good. We got a nice little paycheck to go play Ohio State. Yeah, Ohio State is a little mad so we're probably going to feel that wrath, but, you know, that's part of what we do. You play those schools once a year and you just try and put your head down and survive. Yeah, that's going to be a tough game. Yeah, we'll follow along.