U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 9, 2021

Jay Haas

Omaha Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: It's my pleasure to welcome Jay Haas to the interview area. Jay, a 1-over 71 today, currently sitting tied for fourth at even-par for the championship. You had only six pars out there today, a lot of up and down. Just maybe walk me through a little bit about your scorecard today.

JAY HAAS: I got off to a great start. Played two beautiful holes at 1 and 2, birdied both of them, and after that I kind of got off the rails a little bit, never got settled in. Just didn't have the opportunities that I had yesterday. I drove the ball better yesterday and ended up losing a ball on 14 today. Hit it to the right and we never found it. It was a terrible shot.

That kind of shook me a little bit, but I played the last four holes really well. Had a nice makable look at 15, didn't make it. Birdied 16 and 18.

So I guess I have a better taste in my mouth than I did middle of the back side there. Overall even-par for two rounds, still in it. I need to be sharper, hit more greens, hit better iron shots, pretty much play perfectly from here on out.

THE MODERATOR: There are not a lot of red scores out there today. How tough was the course playing?

JAY HAAS: I think the greens got a little firmer. Maybe the pins were a little more difficult. I don't know for sure. I just wasn't as sharp personally, but the scores, other than a couple -- Jim shot low, and Krafty shot low. Maybe somebody else is shooting pretty low this afternoon -- but overall I guess the scores were about the same, maybe a hair higher than yesterday.

It seemed like we got the break on the weather yesterday morning. There was hardly any wind and really not much wind to speak of the last few hours. So I think early-late tee times were fortunate to have that, but it's a tough golf course. Got to put the ball on the fairway. The holes I missed fairways on, I think I played 3-over. So that's a must for me.

Q. Jay, is it possible that you could be the Phil Mickelson of the Senior Tour?

JAY HAAS: Or he was the Jay Haas of the PGA TOUR. You know, there's such a long way to go, but I'm playing okay. I don't think I'm playing just amazingly -- golf that I can't even fathom. I can play better, I think, but I have to do it. It's not like it's going to happen automatically.

But I've hit a lot of good shots. I feel good. Health, I love the heat. It keeps me loose and everything.

If I learned anything watching Phil, it was his demeanor. He seemed to be very focused and very single minded when he was out there. Each shot was like his last shot, and I think, if anything that I learned, it was that. Just take it one at a time.

I tell Bill all the time, just take it one shot at a time. That's all you can control. Right now just thinking about that tee shot on No. 1 tomorrow.

Q. Is there something about this championship that lights your fire because 12 out of the 15 you've played in, you're in the top 25. So you're there on a consistent basis.

JAY HAAS: Yeah, I don't know what it is. Early on in my Champions Tour career, I was playing very well, playing good golf. But the fact that we're at a full field here and we have a cut, I guess I don't want to miss the cut. I want to keep playing and all that. So that's my first goal, first focus.

Can't really point to anything other than I enjoy playing U.S. Open golf. It's awfully difficult, and you have to put the ball in the fairway. That's my strength, but if I don't, then it's a weakness for me because I'm not long. So I've just got to put the ball in the fairway off the tee.