The questions came at Bryson DeChambeau almost with an undertone of “well played, you’re the low amateur” of the Australian Masters.
The answers, politely as ever, came back with the distinct feeling of disappointment that the young American had let slip a golden chance after finishing tied second, just two behind champion Peter Senior.
“I'm trying to play my best every week, no matter the field, no matter the situation, you're just trying to do your best,” the US Amateur champion said.
“If that encompasses you winning, then that's a part of it.
“That's what I've tried do is take every week and look at it as an opportunity to play my best golf and try to win.
“It's not going there just to show up. I'm trying to do my best to prepare myself for the (US) Masters as well as any other tournaments I'm playing in the next couple months.”
DeChambeau, who finished tied second at six under, outstripped West Australian Curtis Luck (69 to finish +2) and Victorian Zach Murray (77 to finish +14) in the amateur race.
But he was very much thinking of what might have been after his round.
“Any time you get to be up near the leaderboard and have an opportunity coming into the last nine, it's special,” the 22-year-old said.
“But unfortunately I missed a couple putts. One of the kickers was on 15. I missed about an 8-footer for birdie and had previously already had two birdies on 13 and 14. If I had made that one on 15, it would have jump-started me.
“I still made a birdie on 16, a great 20-footer, so I could have had four (in a row) easily there.
“But what really what got me this week were the par-fives. I didn't take advantage of them like I should have.”
It caps a remarkable week for the 2015 NCAA champion who won a lot of admirers for not only his stellar play, but his approachable, engaging attitude.
And as he heads to Sydney for this week’s Emirates Australian Open, just his sixth start in a professional event, you sense that it won’t be long until he’s standing one notch higher on the podium.
“I call myself an intern, an amateur intern.
“I'm trying to get my feet into the professional ranks and feel what it's like to be in that situation, those sorts of situations.
“It's great to have not too many consequences I guess for playing bad, but there's a big upside to playing really well.”