Q. What was that drive on this hole like? How did it feel?
BRANDON HOLTZ: It felt great. The driver got me here. The driver is my strong club, and it's the reason I'm here. Honestly, when I was walking up to the tee, when they had the tees moved up, it was going to be driver no matter what.
Q. This is your first USGA championship and there are guys playing in this tournament who have played in dozens of these. What allowed you to come in here and outlast all of them?
BRANDON HOLTZ: I'm 38. I'll be 39 next week. I've been around, seen all the shots and the crazy things. I feel like the older I get, the better I get. I'll be back next year.
Q. Put it into words; you are now a USGA champion. There's a lot of guys on that trophy that are big-time players. There's a lot of USGA champions that are big-time players. Put it into your own words what it means to be a USGA champion.
BRANDON HOLTZ: Wild. I kept my pro card for a while just because I liked to play for cash, and it got to the point where I just wasn't playing any events anymore, so decided to get my amateur status back last year. I didn't see this day. I'm glad it's here, though.
Q. You're going to go to the U.S. Open and likely to the Masters. Anybody that you'd like to play a practice round with?
BRANDON HOLTZ: Oh, there's a list. You know, there's a list for sure. Whoever likes to have fun and talk a little trash. That's who I'd like to play with.
Q. When is the last time you had to defend a golf title, and what will it be next year at Lido?
BRANDON HOLTZ: I've never defended a golf title. I won a couple just city events in my hometown, so I'll defend that next year.
Yeah, I'm excited. I'm ready.
Q. You got a 5-up lead and then you started to chip away -- he made three consecutive birdies. What are you telling yourself after he wins the 28th hole?
BRANDON HOLTZ: Just keep grinding. Trust the process, trust your game, don't give up.
Q. Speaking of the Masters and the U.S. Open, are these tournaments that you always sort of dreamed of playing?
BRANDON HOLTZ: Oh, I mean, I'm not going to speak for everybody, but I'd say 99.9 percent of golfers dream for that. Like I said, my dad winning the Masters badges in the lottery in 2010 just makes it extra special because we've been there. We know how special it is.
Then the U.S. Open, not to discredit the U.S. Open at all, I've made it to sectionals in the U.S. Open probably seven times and just haven't been able to crack it. But here I am.
Q. How many guys came down today?
BRANDON HOLTZ: Well, I had my wife, my dad, my stepmom was with us, my brother showed up last night, surprisingly.
Q. His name?
BRANDON HOLTZ: Brent Holtz. Then a couple of buddies I have out here, and then I had 10 guys fly down this morning in a private jet, so that was pretty cool to see those guys.
Q. Are they all from Crestwicke?
BRANDON HOLTZ: Yeah, they all are, all hometown, all close buddies. We probably play golf two, three times a week.
Q. Liz is your wife?
BRANDON HOLTZ: My wife.
Q. Your stepmom's name?
BRANDON HOLTZ: Her name is Gina. She left yesterday. She had to get back because I have a brother at home, high school brother.
Q. Do you have kids?
BRANDON HOLTZ: I do, I've got a two-year-old daughter and a five-year-old son.
Q. They're not here?
BRANDON HOLTZ: They're not here, no. We kept them at home. Those two are wild.
Q. The names of your kids?
BRANDON HOLTZ: Baker, my son, and then Millie is my daughter.
Q. Did it alleviate any of the pressure today to see so many loved ones around here?
BRANDON HOLTZ: I mean, I don't like to call it nerves; I'm more adrenaline. When they showed up on 9 on the front match, it was kind of cool, gave me a little extra step. You obviously want to play good, but playing in front of your people, playing good in front of your people is way more fun.
Q. Was it a bigger wake-up call, the lip-out putt to go 6-up on the front or air-mailing 14?
BRANDON HOLTZ: I mean, 14, that was just a misclub. I hit a great shot and I just misplayed the wind. But yeah, I felt like I missed a lot, a lot of putts this week. But to credit that, I hit a lot of greens, too.
Q. Is this your first time playing in Arizona?
BRANDON HOLTZ: I played out here back in like 2010. It was actually my first professional mini-tour event, and I think I played one of the Troons. I'm not real sure. Troon North, I didn't recognize that one, so I don't think it was that one. But yeah, 2010 is the last time I've been out here.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports