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Think Young, Play Hard: John Peterson
Peterson at Alex Box Stadium, Baton Rouge, La., July 20, 2012.
ON FINISHING T-4 AT THE U.S. OPEN
I'm going to keep playing while I'm hot. It's like when you're at a casino: When you have a heater going, you don't leave.
ON MAKING A DOUBLE BOGEY AT THE PAR-5 16TH ON U.S. OPEN SUNDAY
I shouldn't have hit driver. They moved that tee up 100 yards. I should've hit 5-iron, 5-iron, 9-iron. But a 23-year-old, one shot back in the U.S. Open, I stepped up there and tried to drive the green. I saw the leader board on 15 and thought, I'm going to try to win. You know, pull off this upset.
ON FELLOW LSU ALUM DAVID TOMS
He's been more than a mentor to me. On Saturday of the Open, to get paired with him in the group in front of Tiger, then to make a hole-in-one, that was just awesome.
ON GETTING INVITATIONS TO PRO TOURNAMENTS
It's definitely harder than I thought. It's my fault, because I didn't get through Q school last year. I'm just going to try to earn my way in with Monday qualifiers.
ON BASEBALL
I like it more than golf, but I'm not as good at it. I pitched some. I was walking off the 18th green after a practice round at the U.S. Open, and this dude, about 100 yards away, was waving at me. I threw my ball to the top of the hill, and he didn't have to move to catch it.
ON BEN HOGAN
Being from Fort Worth myself, he'll forever be an idol of mine. I walked by that bronze statue every day when I practiced at Colonial. Being surrounded by Mr. Hogan's legacy made me want to be like him. I think I swing like him.
ON QUALIFYING FOR THE MASTERS
I don't even know where to start. I've never been to Augusta National. I'll watch every shot of that tournament on TV. I told my dad that I never wanted to go until I was playing. Now I get to go. I can't wait.
ON BEING SNUBBED FOR THE WALKER CUP TEAM
That was the only goal I had last year, to make that team. If it was run like the Ryder Cup and there was a point system, I would've made it. I'll think about it forever, but I won't ever let it make me mad. I'll only let it motivate me.
ON HIS GRANDMOTHER
She was a big fan of my golf. She died on a day I shot 65, my best round on the PGA Tour. I signed the ball and sent it back with my dad, who put it in her casket. I felt it meant something, and I couldn't think of a better way to honor her.
ON SAYING THE TOP 20 TO 30 GUYS IN COLLEGE COULD BEAT THE TOP 20 TO 30 GUYS ON THE PGA TOUR
I caught a lot of heat for that. A lot of heat. I let it fly and didn't think about it. I shouldn't have said it, and I know now that it's definitely not true. [Laughs.]