THE MODERATOR: We would like to welcome the winner of the 2026 RBC Canadian Open Bud Cauley to the interview room. Bud, 239 starts, win No. 1, and you got to share it with your family on the green. Can you talk us through the emotions of winning.
BUD CAULEY: Yeah, like you mentioned, so many events without getting a win, but with everything that our family went through when I was out and then to have my first win when everyone's here, just it kind of seems like perfect timing.
THE MODERATOR: Your story's been well documented, told time and time again. Does this moment today kind of feel like it's come full circle?
BUD CAULEY: You know, it's so fresh I don't know if I really know. I've been working really hard and just trying to do all the right things. I have so much help also so many people that help me try to get better at this game and play good golf. I really almost look at it more as like a thank you to all the people that have helped me get to this point. To have some success and play well is just kind of a thank you to them.
THE MODERATOR: You pulled away there over the last few holes, but can you talk us through the front nine and kind of the start of the back, what it took for you to come out with the win.
BUD CAULEY: Yeah, it was obviously playing difficult with the rain and the wind, the conditions were so much different today than they were the first three days. I feel like my game was in a pretty good spot, I was hitting some pretty good shots. I had a 3-putt there on 4, but was able to birdie 5 and kind of get it right back. I kept thinking the back nine had been pretty kind to me all week and I thought if I can just keep myself then until we get to the back nine I can make some birdies there.
THE MODERATOR: Awesome, we'll open it up for questions.
Q. Can you just expand on what it was like after you tap in for the win and turn around and see your son running onto the green to jump into your arms?
BUD CAULEY: Yeah, I mean, that's a moment I've thought a lot about. Even last year a couple times when I was in contention my family wasn't with me and it would always kind of cross my mind that if I, hopefully for my first win everyone would be here. I had to try to not think about it a lot today. Obviously with them being here and I was playing well, I really had to think almost on every hole about staying focused and not thinking about that celebration if I were to win. I hit that putt up there to a few inches and I kind of stood on the front of the green, and I looked over and saw Kristi, Cooper, and Miles standing there, and I started to tear up. I tried to look down. I had a short putt, but I was trying and couldn't see, and so I thought I needed to clear my eyes before I could go up there and tap in.
Q. Probably no victory comes without at least one or two breaks out there. The tee shot on 16, when you hit it, where did you think it was going to end up, and when you walked up and saw where the ball did indeed end up, what were your thoughts?
BUD CAULEY: Yeah, I didn't really know what was over there. I had hit pretty good drives on that hole all week and kind of hadn't glanced over there, so I wasn't too sure. I did -- I heard that it hit something and kicked back left. I got a few good breaks today that really helped me kind of get over the edge. Obviously the chip-in on 12. 13, I didn't hit a poor drive, but I happened to be just in the first cut rather than being in the primary rough. And then that bounce on 16 was massive, too. So I think it's kind of cliche, but obviously those good breaks went a long way for me today.
Q. With everything you've been through in your career, 239 starts as indicated, the accident, everything, did you always believe that this moment would come?
BUD CAULEY: I did. Well, there were times when I was hurt that we really weren't sure if I was going to be able to play again. So there were moments and conversations that Kristi and I had where we didn't know if it was going to work out. Once I was able to start playing again and I felt more comfortable with my body and it holding up -- I've always believed in my ability to play golf and play the game and be competitive. I knew I could win, but I also knew that I needed to prove it to myself and go out and do it.
Q. I'm a gear guy, so I got to ask this questions, you put a center-shafted GoLo in your bag at Truist, I think, last month. What has that been for you on the greens since you put it in and what did it mean this week?
BUD CAULEY: Yeah, it's helped a lot. I've always putted with a Newport 2-style putter, and I started messing around a little bit with some center-shafted putters. I'm left eye dominant and I was told that sometimes a center shaft or less offset can look a little better to someone who is left eye dominant but plays the game right-handed. It's helped me a lot. It looks a lot more square to me, it's a little easier to aim, and I've really putted pretty well since I put it in.
Q. I'm sure you're a student of the game, I'm not sure if you had a chance to look at some of the names on that trophy beside you, but how does it feel to know that your name is going to be on there in short order?
BUD CAULEY: Yeah, I mean, it feels amazing. I haven't had a chance to look at it, but I watched, probably since the mid '90s, almost every one of these events, so I'm well aware of all the past champions and all the names on this trophy. To add my name alongside those is pretty incredible.
Q. Just to maybe a specific question about your season as a whole. How would you maybe describe the body of work of this particular year up until this week?
BUD CAULEY: Yeah, I felt like I've been playing really solid. In the beginning, I was really struggling with my putting. I was hitting the ball pretty well and just wasn't getting anything out of it. But even the last few weeks, it's like I kind of haven't been able to keep it going. I'm playing really solid golf, but it's like I'll make a couple birdies and then make a bogey and it kind of kills my momentum. Where, this week it seemed like when I made a birdie, I was able to back it up with a couple and really kind of keep that momentum going.
Q. Do you recall the very first time you ever dreamed about winning a PGA TOUR event?
BUD CAULEY: I don't, but it was a very long time ago. I started playing the game when I was six years old, so it probably wasn't too long after that first day that I started thinking about it.
Q. I wanted to follow-up, you mentioned you got a couple good breaks today. Do you feel, after all you've been through, you sort of deserve some good breaks?
BUD CAULEY: I wouldn't say that. I don't think this game owes you anything. It did kind of feel a little bit like it was my day, just with the good breaks I was getting. I will say, that lie on 18 probably kind of brought me back down to earth (laughing). I wasn't expecting to get up there and for that ball to be six inches off the ground. But, yeah, I was really just happy with the way that I took advantage of them. I hit a good shot there on 16, I was able to make par. On 13, where my ball just stayed in the fairway, I hit it up there and made birdie. So I think that as much as the good breaks really kind of propelled me to be able to win also was, when I got a good break, I took advantage of it.
Q. A lot of the narrative around you on the broadcast, just talking to other players is, everybody loves Bud. It's not just because of the accident and what you've been through, it's like everybody loves this guy, everybody's pulling for the guy. And I'm sure your phone is going to blow up with messages from all the guys that you play with. But I'm just wondering how that makes you feel that you have so much love from your peers out here on the PGA TOUR?
BUD CAULEY: It does, it means a lot. I've played the game my whole life and all of -- I mean, basically everyone I know is through the game of golf. So not just guys out here, but even my friends at home that don't play professional golf. But to have your peers, you know, like you, I guess, and think you're a pretty good guy is, you know, means a lot. Like I said, I'm lucky to play this game and to get to be around all these guys every week too.
Q. We've had a lot of comments from some of the Canadians this week on the 14, The Rink hole. Just wondering how that experience was for you while you were in the lead?
BUD CAULEY: Yeah, it was awesome. Almost made birdie there today. Hit a really good one in there yesterday. I thought it might take a peek and go in there for a minute. But it's a lot of fun. Obviously it's kind of similar to like 16 in Phoenix, you know, very loud and they're banging on the boards. In that environment, you really just want to hit a good shot, so they can continue to get loud.
THE MODERATOR: Awesome. Bud, congratulations on the win, and enjoy the night and best of luck next week at Shinnecock.
BUD CAULEY: Thank you very much. Thank you.
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