Q. Erik, there's always disappointment in not getting across the line first, but you can't really be disappointed with the way you played this week.
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: No, not at all. I'm really proud with how I played.
We spoke last night, and I told you it was going to be a steep mountain to climb, and it was. Scottie was practically flawless, which is kind of what you expect from the World Number 1. But, yeah, really proud with the golf I played.
Q. You did start eight back, you finished eight back, but you got within seven at one point. What was that process like when you were firing at him and he was just putting up those numbers again?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: I don't play with the World Number 1 too often, and you're almost flabbergasted in a way because I'd fire in -- like that 5-iron on 9 comes to mind. I hit it to whatever it was, five feet, and he just makes the eagle. There's nothing you can do.
Absolute hat's off to Scottie. He's played fantastic golf.
Q. You shot your best 72-hole total or tied your best. Did it feel like you played like that?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: I thought I played better in Mexico when I won. I think I was 27-under. However, this felt the same.
Like I said, Thursday, Friday, I thought I didn't quite have it off the tee, like kind of B-game, and still proud of how I squeezed a score together. And I played great this weekend.. so the game is there.
Q. It gets you into Truist next week. Looking forward to that?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Yeah, I didn't know. We were about to go home. My mom and dad are in from South Africa, so we were going to go home and relax a bit.
That's a fun problem to have. Looking forward to playing golf there. I love the golf in that part of the world. I don't know much about the golf course yet, but yeah, again, it's a good problem to have.
Q. Just with the process of the Aon Swing 5 and getting into this event, I know you played the signature event at Pebble Beach, and that was via the FedEx poll. The process of getting in this way, how is your perspective on that?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: How honest do you want me to be? I hate it (laughter).
I strongly believe that the strongest fields are the ones with the most players in them. The guys on the PGA TOUR are so good. It's so deep.
I get that you've got the Scotties of the world, the Rorys of the world, and people want to see them, it's entertaining.
Like the PGA Championship coming up, for example, I think it's the strongest field in the game, similar to THE PLAYERS. I love competing, so selfishly I want to compete against those guys.
Again, really proud of playing my way into it.
Q. You feel like the position that you're in though, like being rewarded for that good play, is a good thing, right?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Yeah, 100 percent, it is a good thing. I think good play needs to be rewarded. That's part of why the PGA TOUR is the greatest tour in the world. It's so deep, it's so strong.
But I think Rory always says it, just play better.
Q. How quickly will you be changing your plans now?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Right now. I've got some work to do.
Q. Do you think your parents will go with you up there?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Yeah, they're all coming. I'd hope so. Yeah, we'll go to the PGA after that. The plan was to go home. I've got my wife and kids here as well. I guess we'll all just go to Philly and go to Quail the week after.
Q. Finally, just talk about the environment that was out there with the crowds out there today. What was it like for you?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: It was phenomenal. There was actually a couple of South Africans out there, which was cool. I get it, everyone is rooting for Scottie. It's in Dallas. So many Go Scotties out there, but there were a couple, We love you, Erik. So it was cool.
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