THE MODERATOR: Beau Hossler, 3-under 67. Talk us through that last shot. Good way to go into the weekend.
BEAU HOSSLER: Yeah, it was amazing. No. 9 is a really tough hole, and the wind, oddly enough, was gusting the last four or five holes for us. Kind of had an uncomfortable approach and tried to commit, but probably didn't hit my best shot.
I knew if I hit it left, I had plenty of green to work with even though it was downhill, and I executed a great bunker shot and actually just lucky for it to go in.
THE MODERATOR: We haven't gotten to talk to you pre-championship. When you first saw the course, just your overall kind of take on it and how it suits your game?
BEAU HOSSLER: Yeah, I played the U.S. Amateur here in '13. I missed the cut, so I only played one round. I didn't remember too much, to be honest. I remember being out here. I remember a few shots, but all I do remember is playing it and thinking it was the hardest course I'd ever played.
To be fair, I think the rough was probably even longer when we played the U.S. Amateur here, and I think that the setup is -- it's very, very difficult, but I don't think you'll hear one player say any part of it is unfair, which is a huge compliment to the USGA to set it up that well. Obviously, a compliment to the golf course to not have to really do too much to make the scores what they are.
With that said, I really like the course. It's very challenging. I've just gone out with the strategy, frankly, to just try and make a par on every hole, try not to get too greedy on shots that sometimes you're kind of licking your chops.
So you've just got to rein it in a little bit and basically understand that every green in regulation is a win in a U.S. Open. Fortunately, was able to make a few birdies late in the round, but with that being said, if I had made 18 pars today, I would have been quite happy, as well.
Q. I was covering that U.S. Open where you were made such a splash. They were showing highlights from that. I think this tournament especially there's that sense of kind of continuity, amateur to pro, and it fascinates a lot of people. I'm curious what you think. Here you are again, obviously you've lived every day since then, but for many people this is kind of like, oh, there he is again.
BEAU HOSSLER: It's kind of interesting you say that. I was having a conversation with some staff in the locker room because I was asked the question how many players played in the U.S. Amateur in '13 and are playing the U.S. Open this year. And, apparently, I had the highest number, and I guessed 20 but it was 22.
I think that tells you something about the amateur game. Having been kind of a top amateur, college player, probably sounded a bit confident or arrogant at the time, but I always felt like I could compete at this level. Maybe not necessarily win a major at that age, but to contend and be near the top of the leaderboard I think is very feasible.
You see amateurs every year make the cut in a U.S. Open. You see tons of guys qualify. You see players that are 16, 18 years old qualify it feels like every year now. I know at the time I did it in 2012 I was probably one of the younger ones ever, but it does seem like the bar keeps getting lower and lower and lower. Guys are here year in and year out that are high school or college players, and it almost feels normal.
No, I think the amateur game is -- the top amateurs in the world are your next Collin Morikawas and Will Zalatorises and Scottie Schefflers. Three years ago all those guys were your top amateur players, and here they are at the moment the top professional players.
I think it's really cool like what the Golf Channel has done with broadcasting some more college golf. I think it's cool to showcase kind of the talent that's, frankly, here now but seems like years ago if you were out on the scene at 20, 25 years old, you were still really young. And now on the PGA TOUR it's a lot of young players playing incredibly good golf, and just a couple years ago, to your point, they were some of the top amateurs.
Q. You just mentioned 2012. It's been 10 years. If you were around a dinner table, what's one story that you kind of continually tell about that week?
BEAU HOSSLER: I don't too much, to be honest.
Q. Do you still watch some of the -- do you have anything from that week that you still hold on to, any mementos?
BEAU HOSSLER: Not necessarily. I know it's a big story and all that, but at the end of the day it's a golf tournament. It's a golf tournament this week. It's a very difficult and prestigious golf tournament, but it's a golf tournament.
I think that's why you notice really top players seem to perform really well in majors is I don't think they make it much bigger than it is. They just kind of go and treat it like a really good golf tournament and prepare and try not to glorify it too much to where it becomes a hindrance really.
I've always tried to do that. I try and treat all the tournaments and my preparation the same, and I try not to look back and dwell or get too excited about things in the past to be honest.
But, yeah, the week was spectacular. It was kind of a blur. At the time I hadn't really played on that type of stage, but it's cool to look back now and understand how much more comfortable I am sitting in front of you here after Friday than I was in a very similar position 10 years ago.
Q. Were you nervous before those interviews as a high school kid playing in that?
BEAU HOSSLER: Before the actual interviews? No, I don't have an issue with interviews. I can talk to anybody. But the golf, absolutely. That doesn't necessarily mean poor play. I think nerves are a great thing. I think we all have them at certain times.
Frankly the best players can just perform at their best when they are nervous, right.
Q. Did you prove anything to yourself that week?
BEAU HOSSLER: Yeah, kind of what I was saying in the previous question. I just think that you look up to these players and this stage for so long, and once you're on it and on it consistently, I think it just becomes more normal. I think that proved, I proved to myself that week that maybe I wasn't capable at the moment, but I could get there.
I feel like I have.
Q. What are you most proud of in your career so far when you think of your career to this point?
BEAU HOSSLER: That's a good question. You know, I'm probably the most proud of my work ethic. The results have been peaks and valleys. I've played some good golf, I've played some really bad golf, but kind of through it all I've really worked hard.
I think I've never lost belief in what I can do. I've been really fortunate to have people around me that know what I'm capable of and have always helped me and been there for me when I've played well and played poorly. I've always worked hard. When I've played well I've worked hard and when I've played crappy I've worked hard.
That doesn't necessarily mean true hours on a golf course but just real commitment to getting better. That's never wandered for me.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports