Dan, I think it might've surprised him because he was expecting something like: "CHQ7776, reaching 11000 proceed direct KLUMP, expect vectors ILS 23 appraoch."
Instead this controller (whom I am good friends with) told him to go direct Trava more than likely to then join the localizer. This way he'll be able to join the localizer without vectors well outside the approach gate which will give him time to get established.