THE 149TH OPEN

July 17, 2021

Corey Conners

Mixed Zone

Q. Corey, we didn't see too much of your great stretch from 10 to 14 here at home. Can you tell us about it and any particularly important moments that kept it going?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I played really solid golf all through the front nine. Wasn't able to get the putts to fall. Stayed patient, gave myself some good chances. Hit a nice approach on No. 10, 15 or 20 feet behind the hole. Was able to roll that in. Got some positive mojo going for the rest of the nine.

Hit a nice wedge shot into No. 12 and was able to convert that. Same thing on 13, really nice approach shot. Had a tricky two-putt on 14. I was just short of the green. Kind of banked a putter sort of around -- wrapped around a bunker and up on to the green. I went a little by the hole, but was able to make that for birdie, which was great.

Really had a few more good chances coming in and wasn't able to convert those. But yeah, it was a solid day. I could have had a stretch of making a few birdies kind of anywhere throughout the round if I would have got some putts to fall. I felt like I really struck the ball well today.

Q. You have a background in math; if you keep putting yourself in these chances, do you think it's only a matter of time before you come out on top at a major, and how much more ready are you now than say last year to get it done?

COREY CONNERS: Well, in mathematical terms I feel like it's likely. I feel ready. I'm going to be a little bit behind starting tomorrow, but I like where my game is at.

I feel comfortable in this position. It's a lot of fun. The fans here have been great. Just enjoying the experience and having fun playing good golf.

Q. You said you were going to be a little behind. We don't know exactly what that will be, but how aggressive can you be on this golf course, and how aggressive do you think you'll need to be tomorrow?

COREY CONNERS: I think there's a fine line. I felt like I was quite aggressive today. I gave myself a ton of good birdie chances. Really didn't get into too much trouble, which was definitely a big key, to avoid making bogeys.

I think just kind of the same game plan. I don't think you can force it too much, but I know if I hit good shots I'm going to have plenty of opportunities, so just keep in that mindset and hopefully can continue to do that tomorrow.

Q. This is the third of the last four majors where you've had a chance going into Sunday. What does that say about your game?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I've had good consistency in my game all throughout the last year. It's been fun to be in the mix at the majors. Hoping I can have a good day tomorrow and finish off a great week.

Q. The putt on 17 off the green, is that one of those linksey shots that kind of sparked the creativity in you? Did you enjoy having that kind of opportunity, that kind of shot?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, absolutely. That was a shot that I worked on a lot with Derek, my coach, even back in Florida a few weeks ago when we spent some time together. I putted a lot from off the green just trying to get a good feel for it. I've worked hard this week on hitting those shots in preparation, in practice.

I've had a few good ones throughout the tournament, and yeah, I hit it, I don't know, probably 10 or 12 shots from that similar position where I was on 17 in practice, and was able to judge it really well. Just hit it solid. It had to climb a pretty significant slope, so it was nice to get that one up there pretty close.

Q. How have the crowds been this week? Obviously a pretty robust number have been out there. How have they been for you?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, they've been amazing. The last Open Championship I played, I was really blown away by the amount of people that were out watching and how polite they were. They seem to all know golf really well, so it's really fun. They applaud shots that may not end up really close to the hole but are really good shots, and yeah, it's been fun to put on a decent show for them and hopefully can feel some more love from them tomorrow.

Q. Any Canadians out there?

COREY CONNERS: There was a few Canadians out there, yeah. They were the loudest of the bunch, I think, but it was cool to have a few smiles out there when they were yelling on words of encouragement.

Q. With the numbers that you put up today, 13 fairways hit out of 14 and 16 greens out of 18, 4-under, do you think it might be the kind of minimum score that you could have got? Maybe you left a few out there? Going off that, how encouraged are you going into the final day tomorrow that you might even make a push if one or two drop a few shots?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I definitely think you leave every round thinking you left a few out there. And I've got no complaints about my round, but I definitely did leave a few out there. I had a lot of really good birdie looks. I think my speed was a little bit off with the putter on the first nine. I hit a lot of putts right on the line I wanted, a few short, a few were just a little too firm and didn't take the break.

I like where my game is at. I like the strategy I have in place. I like my game plan. I think if I stick to that tomorrow, I feel like I'm driving it great and ironing it really well, so hopefully can keep doing that. I know I'll give myself a ton of chances, and like you said, get a few more putts to drop in, and it could be a really special round.