PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

May 21, 2021

Christian Bezuidenhout

The Ocean Course at Kiawah

Flash Quotes

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Christian Bezuidenhout. Christian posted a really stellar 2-under par-70 today. He's 3-under par for the championship.

Christian, that's a heck of a clean scorecard, some stellar play in tough, trying conditions. What did you see out there? What did you feel?

CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT: Yeah, I mean, I think most of the people can see how tough it is out there. Yeah, it's a brutal golf course. It plays long, really windy, as well.

Yeah, I had a better ball-striking day today than what I had yesterday. I gave myself a lot more looks, and my putter is heating up nicely, so hopefully I can keep that going for the next couple of days.

Q. It's one of the cleaner cards we've seen. Was it as steady as it looked?

CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT: Yeah, most of the holes were. There was a few scramble up-and-downs, par saves here and there, but all the guys are going to have to scramble their way around here.

Yeah, but most of the holes were solid holes, solid pars.

Q. What's the best par save that stands out to you? What are you most pleased with?

CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT: I'd say my up-and-down on 17 today. The 17th hole is just a really, really tough golf hole. I just tried to play it short left there. Bogey there is never going to hurt you, so I just gave myself a look for a par, and I hit a great chip shot to three, three and a half feet and made the putt. Yeah, there's not going to be a lot of pars on that hole today, so yeah, that 3 actually feels like a birdie on that hole.

Q. What club did you hit off the tee?

CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT: I hit a 3-iron and it went 175 yards into that wind.

Q. 175 shot, what club?

CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT: Normally it's a 7-iron, but it's a 3-iron.

Q. I know you were close to getting your PGA TOUR card through non-member points last season. Is that your goal this year?

CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT: Yeah, I'm obviously still playing in the top-50 category out here, and I've got five more tournaments left, which I feel like I can get my card out here and then come and play full-time out here.

Q. Do you have a place in the U.S.? Do you have a base out here?

CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT: Well, at the moment I'm just renting a place in Orlando while I'm over here, but I'm not a permanent resident yet.

Q. Can you walk us through your eagle on the 7th hole today?

CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT: Yeah, it was a great drive, just straight down the middle. I had, I think, 247 to the hole, and I just played for the front part of the green. I hit a 5-iron. It landed five yards onto the green, and I think it stopped 33 feet from the hole. Just a left-to-right breaking putt, yeah. It was a great bonus.

Q. Do you feel good about your position here at the 36-hole mark?

CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT: Yeah, it's always nice to be in the top 5 heading into the weekend. Looks like it. It's playing pretty hard out here, so yeah, hoping for a solid couple of days over the weekend.

Q. I'm curious to get your take on these putting surfaces. Are there any adjustments you make specifically putting in the wind?

CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT: Yeah, so I just grip my putter a little bit shorter for more stability in the wind, which obviously helped over the last couple of days. My putting has been really good. Yeah, it's tough to putt in the wind, tough to keep your putter stable back and through, so that's what I did. Just a couple inches shorter, yeah.

Q. Just curious, how did you come across that technique? When did you learn that? Is that new this week?

CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT: No, I had a chat to my coach. He's back home at the moment actually, and I just asked him what does he normally do when he plays in windy conditions, because he's a good putter himself. He just said, just try to grip it a little bit shorter but with a normal style so you can have more stability with your putter.

Q. Who's your coach?

CHRISTIAN BEZUIDENHOUT: Grant Veenstra.

THE MODERATOR: Christian, thank you for finding us today, and best of luck. Play well this weekend.