PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

May 22, 2021

Corey Conners

The Ocean Course at Kiawah Island

Quick Quotes

JOHN DEVER: We are joined by Corey Conners, who posted a 1-over par 73 today. He's 1-under for the tournament, currently tied for 10th.

Corey, a series of ups and downs today. How did you play, and what did you see out on the golf course?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, the conditions were a little tamer today. Wasn't as much wind. I was trying to not force things but trying to be aggressive when I could and try and make some birdies out there.

Unfortunately didn't quite happen. I gave myself some chances, was just a little bit off with the irons and had a couple of three-putts on two of the par-5s for par, which kind of took some momentum out of the round. Battled back, made a nice birdie on 15. I was disappointed to finish off with a bogey on the last, but it was a grind out there again.

A little disappointed with the score, the way I scored the ball. I felt like my game was a little bit better than a 1-over today, but it is what it is.

Q. How would you describe your emotions right now?

COREY CONNERS: I'm a little frustrated, honestly. I felt like I was in a good position starting the day to kind of post a few under par, a good number. I'm disappointed not to see any putts fall in really throughout the round.

Definitely a little bit frustrated overall, but I'm still within striking distance, I think, and hopefully can put it all together again tomorrow.

Q. What did you learn from Augusta on Sunday that you can take into tomorrow on Sunday?

COREY CONNERS: I think you try and treat it just as much like any other golf round as you can, just really be patient, take things slow. Just kind of find my rhythm early in the round, be ready to play from the start, and just battle away right until the end.

Q. I know you were out on the golf course and didn't see everything we've seen, but is there a number that's too big to overcome if you're chasing, and if you are chasing, how comfortable do you feel if you're where you are now?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I'd like to be a little closer to the top, obviously, but I think there's a good number out there. I played well the first round in some tough conditions, shot 5-under par, and you always feel like you left a few out there. I certainly did that day, although the round was pretty good.

I think I'm still right on the cusp, within reach, and yeah, excited to go at it tomorrow.

Q. We would have thought that maybe five-shot lead would have been enough, but clearly not over even nine holes it wasn't enough. On this golf course is there a number you would think would be too much to overcome?

COREY CONNERS: You know, I don't know. You can make birdies out there and you can make bogeys very easily, as well. I'd like to think maybe five-shot lead with nine to play tomorrow will be safe, but anything can happen out there.

Like I said, it's real easy to make some bogeys or worse out there. Tough question to put a real number on. I don't think really any lead is safe.

Q. How comfortable are you getting in these top-10 situations in majors, and do you feel any more comfortable this week than even say last month at the Masters?

COREY CONNERS: I feel very comfortable out here week in and week out, feeling more comfortable in these big events. I was pretty relaxed out there today. I want to put myself near the top.

Kind of stumbled a little bit out there, but still close enough where I think I have a shot. Definitely feel more comfortable and taking confidence from a couple top 10s in the last two Masters, and yeah, hopefully can have a good round tomorrow.

Q. In your position what kind of day are you hoping for tomorrow? Do you hope the wind blows?

COREY CONNERS: I'm hoping it's difficult, yeah. I think the wind is supposed to come maybe from a little different direction, but I'm hoping it's as difficult as possible. I think that gives me the best chance.

Q. You're firmly in the mix I would say; do you scoreboard watch at all when you're out there or do you try not to look at what's going on around you?

COREY CONNERS: I'm not really glued to the scoreboard by any means. I only saw a couple of the boards out there today. I saw Phil got off to a really nice start, and I just saw when I finished that he's come back to the field a little bit.

Just trying to focus on my job. I'll probably be a few groups ahead of the leaders tomorrow, so I'll maybe have a look if things are going well towards the end. But really doesn't change my game plan. Just try and be patient but be aggressive when I can.

Q. Derek had said last night that maybe there was a few shots where you were just a little bit off; was that the same today, just maybe a little bit off?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, there was a few. Still had a number of good ones, but yeah, quite a few were just a little bit off. It was very close. I was just a little short on the speed with some putts that could have easily fallen in. That was kind of the case yesterday, as well. So hopefully I can get those to fall tomorrow. But very close.

Q. You always hear about majors being about patience. Tomorrow how much do you have to put that playbook away and just start attacking flags?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I think there's a fine line there. You can't force things too early, I think. Just try and get off to a solid start. Each kind of stretch of the golf course going different directions there's some holes that you can take advantage of with good shots, so I think just be really focused from the get-go.

But I'm not going to really try and force the ball at some flags necessarily. That's where you can shoot yourself out of it. You still need a little bit of that patience, but I'll have confidence in my game and will be trying to be a little more aggressive tomorrow.