Q. As you look back on your first Senior Open, what are some highlights that come to mind?
PAT PEREZ: Rust. Tournament rust for sure. I haven't played -- I've only played the PGA. That's my second tournament since August of '24. Then took 11 months off, then played.
It was nice just to get the blood flowing again and be able to play. Actually I played a ton this year just trying to get ready, but obviously the conditions of the USGA are just phenomenal. The course was just incredible this week. I didn't putt that great and just tournament rusty, but I'm happy with it.
A lot of work I put in and did some -- I'm just happy overall.
Q. Today you shot a 67, your best score of the week. Did you approach your game differently today, or was there something about the course that changed?
PAT PEREZ: I went with the line on my putter. I putted horribly yesterday. My speed has been off all week, uphill, downhill. I haven't had enough prep with the speed, and I just struggled all week.
With my coach, I said, look, I'm going to go with the line tomorrow because at least it takes away one thing. I couldn't get the speed or the lie. If I can line it up, I can probably get the speed right. I made some huge putts coming in. I made three really U.S. Open saves coming in. I had to make a 10-footer for par on the last three holes, so that was better.
I hit it great all week; drove it nice. I was always kind of in play. I just kind of actually took advantage of the stuff I had.
Q. Can you break down your birdies coming down the stretch to post one of the lowest rounds of the day so far?
PAT PEREZ: That's surprising. Yeah, what did I birdie? Coming in, I birdied 4, 7 -- 4, I hit it in the left bunker, which is not really where you want to go. I practiced that shot funnily enough in practice, and I happened to make it. That was a little lucky.
7, I hit it in there about -- what the hell is 7? I hit it in there about 10 feet, made that. Then made the turn, got through 8, which is about one of the hardest holes I've played in any tournament.
12, hit 3-wood, 3-wood into the bunker, and made birdie there and got up-and-down. Had some more looks.
13 and 14 were tough holes, got through those.
15, I kind of whiffed a 3-wood and hit 8-iron to about eight feet and rolled them in.
Like I said, I had three real U.S. Open saves coming in, three 10-footers, and I happened to make them. It worked out nice.
Q. Can you describe your entire week's performance in just a few words, sum it up?
PAT PEREZ: It was great. It was great. I expected a tough course. You never know -- you can do all the practice you want at home. I'm just really happy to be here. I turned 50, and I'm excited to have the chance to be able to play these and be part of this again and be part of kind of the golf circuit.
I'm really looking forward to next year.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports