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Editor's note: Nick Flanagan earned a performance promotion to the PGA TOUR on Sunday when he won the Xerox Classic. With the PGA TOUR Playoffs for the FedExCup beginning this week, though, he'll need to wait four weeks to use it. So Flanagan decided to keep his game sharp and play in the National Mining Association Pete Dye Classic. Here are some of his thoughts on the eve of the Nationwide Tour event.

On Sunday's win:

"I was just trying to go as low as I could. I was focused on trying to finish second. Based on how he had played all week, I expected James would run away from the field on Sunday. I knew there were a few birdies out there on Sunday, but I would have never predicted a 63. It still hasn't sunk in. I guess it will sink in when I tee it up on the PGA TOUR later this year."

Nick Flanagan will play on the Nationwide Tour this week, as he must wait to utilize his performance promotion. (WireImage)

On reactions to his win from fellow players:

"Everyone I've seen has congratulated me on the win. There is no reason for them to be jealous. I still don't consider myself better than half of the players who are on this Tour. The only difference is that I've gotten lucky this year. I also realize I'll be seeing most of them soon on the PGA TOUR."

On decision to play in West Virginia:

"I played this event last year and I love the golf course. The conditions are a lot softer this year with all of the rain, but you can't do anything about the weather. I'm not putting a lot of pressure on myself this week. I'm just honoring my commitment to play here and then I'll go back to Australia for a couple of weeks to relax. This is a great tournament and I'm happy to be here. I'm not going to stress myself out on the golf course this week. I may not get as angry at myself as I normally do on the course. I'll still be trying to win though because it means so much for next year. The only difference is I'll be a little less stressed upstairs."

On future plans:

"I'll sit down with my management when I get back to Australia and we'll sort out my plans for the rest of the year. I'd still like to finish No. 1 on the money list. Getting into THE PLAYERS Championship would be a huge bonus, but if I don't do it through the money list on the Nationwide Tour, I'll just have to go out next year and play my way into the tournament through the PGA TOUR money list. I'll fly back over here the week before Turning Stone and start getting ready for the last two months of the season on the PGA TOUR. I can't wait to get out there. But I'm not ruling anything out right now regarding my schedule for the rest of the season. I'll sort it all out over the next few weeks while I'm on break."

On benefits of playing the Nationwide Tour:

"Everyone was skeptical that when I turned pro I was too young ... and they were right. But it was an opportunity that was too good to pass up. I took the hard route. I wasn't ready for the PGA TOUR when I played out there some in 2004. I actually thought it would be easier. The Nationwide Tour has taught me so much about how to succeed as a professional golfer. It has made me a better player mentally. I played well early in the season last year when I got out here, but I burned myself out by playing too many tournaments in a row. I've learned from that and will rarely play more than three weeks in a row now. The Nationwide (Tour) has taught me about scheduling and how to keep myself fresh throughout the season. I'm still only 23, but my head has gotten a lot more mature as a result of my time on this Tour."

On Tiger Woods being his hero:

"I remember watching him on television for the first time at the 1997 Masters. I watched him on television and admired him like everyone else. For a long time I viewed golf as a bunch of 40-year-olds who wore funny looking pants. But Tiger made me look at the sport differently. I played nine holes with him in a practice round at the Masters in 2004. All I remember is I hit the ball pretty well but couldn't make any putts."