After Corey Nagy had lost his quarterfinal match in the United States Public Links championship earlier this summer, he and his father, Steve, were having dinner in Colorado when the subject of Tiger Woods came up.

Nagy, a rising junior at UNC Charlotte, had reached the Publinks semifinals in 2007 and had come within a match of duplicating the achievement this year, an impressive achievement.

Woods, however, won three consecutive United States Junior championships, then three straight U.S. Amateur titles, an accomplishment that had Nagy shaking his head at that dinner.

“It's mind-blowing to win all those matches and tournaments in a row. But every time he was in position, he got it done,” Nagy said.

Nagy begins play Monday in his first U.S. Amateur, one of 312 golfers playing 36 holes at Pinehurst Nos. 2 and 4 to determine the 64 players who will advance to match play on Wednesday.

While Woods' record is beyond reach, Nagy has tried to emulate the approach used by the world's top player, particularly on the mental side.

Nagy is also working with mental coach Louis Csoka of Apex Performance in Charlotte.

“We study Tiger,” Nagy said. “How did he win the U.S. Open on a broken leg? That's incredible.”

Nagy, who came to the 49ers from Vance High School, has emerged as a top-level player. As a freshman, he played in the final pairing on the last day of the NCAA championship.

Charlotte coach Jamie Green said Nagy has become a more consistent ball-striker, has outstanding length and a short game that continues to improve. The most striking change, Green said, has been in Nagy's approach to golf.

“Some guys just beat themselves up, but he's wise enough to recognize the things he did well,” Green said.

Match play suits Nagy. It showed in the past two Public Links championships, and it could show again in the U.S. Amateur.

“I feel I'm more mentally tough than the other guy,” Nagy said, “and that leads to confidence.”