Q. Erik, what a finish for you. You shoot 28 on the inward nine, you play the last three holes in 4 under par, including a 15-footer for eagle to win. Just fantastic. Tell me about the day.
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Obviously it didn't start off on a great note, making a 6 on one left a sour taste in my mouth. Then you drain a, what is it, 35-, 40-footer on 2 and it's like, OK, it's all right, this is a silly game so just keep playing.
Hung around all day. Didn't make a ton of birdies. Camilo got off to a super hot start, Matt made some putts which he always does, and things just turned on the back nine.
Great birdie on 10, almost holed it on 11, beautiful 13-, 14-footer on 12, left-right breaker in the heart and you're off and running. Just hung in there and made some fricking awesome putts on 16, 17 and 18.
Q. You know, it's strange how the day went because Camilo had the hot start, then Matt made the birdie on 9 and 10 and he was starting to go, then you went to the finish line at the very end. You always stayed in touch though after what may have been a soft bogey at the first hole, but you always stayed in touch and you gave yourself a chance down the stretch.
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: That's all you want. It's a funky game and it's never over until the fat lady sings. No. 18 kind of owed me one, I was 2 over going down 18 before today so I knew if I could just stay in it and hang tight, make a few putts. You know, it went my way today.
Q. You know, so much out ahead of you now. You're going to play into the Sentry Tournament of Champions, you're exempt into THE PLAYERS, you're 125 coming into this week, you're exempt through the '25 season, but all that probably immaterial when one of your friends is suffering.
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: It's extremely immaterial. You know, it takes some not too long to mature and it takes others longer to mature, and it's taken me a while. I'm 33 years old and I've got two kids now. That gives you perspective.
Then when something like this happens where your best friend who was best man in my wedding, what's it, nine years ago now, when he's hit with melanoma, it puts things in perspective while golf doesn't really matter. When I'm 80 years old, if I get to that age, and I look back, if I lost it I certainly wouldn't remember it. I'm going to remember the people that I spent time with, the people that I love and he's certainly one of them, so I look forward to seeing him.
Q. I've seen you out here with some lows, some highs, you've always been a fighter. Congratulations.
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Thank you so much, appreciate it. Thank you.
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