Q. Bryson, you kind of got on that par train, and you couldn't seem to get off.
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Didn't help starting 2-over through three in the final round of the Masters. You know what, it was a positive step in the right direction for me out here. Learned a lot about my game and knowing that I can do it out here.
Just got to conquer the putting a little bit more and make sure my speed control is a little bit better. I'd be right up there where Scottie is now if I just wouldn't have three-putted and made a few more putts.
Ball striking has to be a little bit better. Have to take advantage of the par-5s. I did not take advantage of the par-5s this week. That was the weak point. Felt like I played the par-4s nicely, and the tough holes I usually struggle on 10, 5, 11 even, I did my job this week with that. Just really disappointing on the par-5s, especially where I drove it today, all week.
13 was a little weird. I got a mud ball today. Just that's golf. You're not going to have everything perfect. A lot of good experience that I gained this week. I'm very proud of myself.
Q. Did you say you questioned if you belonged out here?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: For this tournament? I mean, yeah, look, I played well here as an amateur, and I had that kind of looming over my head a little bit. Everybody talking about it's my lowest finish, got that out of the way.
I'm looking forward to next year. I really am. There's a few more things I need to dial in with my equipment, but I am super close.
Q. Is it crazy to think that next year is your last year with an exemption?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: It is. I don't know what the future holds, but one thing I do know, if I do get invited, I'd gratefully come back after my exemption is up.
Q. Bryson, what did this week make you feel? When you step away and look back at what you felt this week, what was it like?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: It made me feel like I could do it. There was a couple of moments out there where I got the tingles. It's a weird thing to say. It's almost like goosebumps almost. It was early in the week too. I was like, whoa, I've got to calm that down. It was too quick, too early.
I didn't shoot under par the rest of the week, and that was kind of a disappointing fact, especially after shooting 7-under the first round. Yesterday and the day before were very difficult rounds. I've never seen the greens that fast.
So I'm going to make sure to go to a place where I can practice that coming into Augusta, if that does happen again, because I've got to have a better understanding of what the greens are doing at that speed and I just don't. We don't really play under those conditions.
Other than that, I felt like it's a lot to take in right now, but I'm excited for the future. I can definitely say that.
Q. When's the last time a shot gave you tingles?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: When I shot 58. That was cool. That was definitely a day, when I made that putt, it was a 40-footer, and I knocked that one in.
I felt it when I won LIV Chicago as well. On the 2nd hole when I made birdie and I striped one down the fairway on the 3rd hole. I finished on the 3rd hole. Yeah, we shotgun obviously. Yeah, I finished on the 3rd hole, and I felt like that drive just gave me the tingles. It's a sensation of, wow, you did something really good and really cool.
I've just got to do it a lot longer come next year. It's definitely a step in the right direction. I'm disappointed, but I'm positive. My mindset is really positive.
Q. What tingles about being at a tournament with this history, this prestige, following in the footsteps of legends of the game. Do you find it hard to get up for your next event which clearly doesn't have that history or legacy?
BRYSON DECHAMBEAU: Look, I'm always trying to win an event. Even if it's a different tournament and I'm doing something really cool out there and I'm playing really well and I'm hitting it well, I'm still going to get that goose bump feeling. The history obviously plays a big part in it.
I try to take it back to the fact that it's golf. Even though it's difficult to do out here, it's grass, it's wind, it's a golf hole and a green. Got to make putts. Got to hit it straight.
It won't be that difficult for me. It was a lot of fun this week. It was a super thrill for me to experience being near the lead, being in the lead, holding the lead overnight. All that is great experience for the future for me.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports