U.S. AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 9, 2021

Michael Thorbjornsen

Oakmont Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Good birdie there on 8. Finished with a 5-under 65. Just take me through the round.

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: Kind of started off pretty hot I guess. I mean, first hole was bit of a struggle. Nice scramble for par there.

But, yeah, other than that it was pretty easygoing the rest of the round. I was hitting the ball really well. Drove the ball really well.

Did have one hiccup. I think I was 5-under after 11 holes or something, and -- I can't remember what hole it is -- hole 6 maybe, or hole 5, the par-3.

Q. Oh, yeah, 5, the par-3. Doubled it?

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: My other competitors, they both hit 6-iron, and I've been hitting it probably at least one club longer than they are consistently. It was downwind, stepped up, tried to hit like a flighted 6-iron to take some off so I don't go long, and right as I hit it you can feel the gust of wind coming into.

So it just completely switched out there. Came up well short. Kind of had a screw up there from the rest on. Birdied 7 and 8 the last two holes, so that felt really good.

Q. Yeah, I mean, you're playing some of the best golf of anybody in the field right now. How do you feel after this round and going into Oakmont tomorrow?

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: Feeling good. I mean, these two are completely different, like these two courses, so it feels good to definitely get a couple shots here and make up some shots here and hopefully play the same as I did today tomorrow.

But just play solid tomorrow. That's the main goal. Hit some fairways, greens, go from there.

Q. Does it make tomorrow's round a little less intimidating when you can post a score like this today here?

MICHAEL THORBJORNSEN: A little bit. I mean, the course itself doesn't change. I'm still trying to do the same thing. I understand that I probably won't be shooting 5-under at Oakmont.

That would be amazing, but, yeah, just stick to the game plan that I been working with past couple months and we'll see what happens.