COGNIZANT FOUNDERS CUP

May 12, 2022

Nasa Hataoka

Upper Montclair Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Here with Nasa Hataoka. A 7-under day. Currently with the clubhouse lead. Just take me through what today was like for you at the Cognizant Founders Cup.

NASA HATAOKA: I was able to hit the ball in the fairway, and make some putts.

Q. You hit every single fairway out there today. How important was that, and how much was that a factor to your good play, do you think?

NASA HATAOKA: My swing feels really good, and I made some putts. Reading good.

Q. You started on No. 1 today, so you had a nice eagle on No. 2, your second hole of the day. Just take me through that hole.

NASA HATAOKA: Just from the tee to the green everything was perfect, so I was able to get the eagle.

Q. What was the looks like? How far were some of the shots for you?

NASA HATAOKA: So the second shot that I hit in was 201 yards with my 4-hybrid.

Q. To keep it bogey-free, how much of that was a goal for today knowing this is a challenging course?

NASA HATAOKA: Obviously I was able to hit a lot of close shots into the pins and then had a lot of par saves out there as well.

Q. Where were some of the par saves that you really think helped your round today?

NASA HATAOKA: Yeah, by being able to hit a lot of the greens. I was 15 of 18 for the greens, so that contributed to just carrying that momentum into having more birdies with me.

Q. Three birdies on 12, 14, and 18. What was it like to close with a birdie on the final hole there?

NASA HATAOKA: Just from the tee shot it was really good, and I was able to stick a good one in there on the last one and walk away with birdie.

Q. When players win a tournament, they don't want to stop playing. You won in L.A. two weeks ago and then went home. Did you consider staying out on the tour? And I guess it didn't hurt you taking the week off.

NASA HATAOKA: Yeah, I was originally planning to play in Palos Verdes last week, but I decided take the two weeks off and gear up for this tournament.

Q. Did the trip home -- did you get good cooking, or what helped?

NASA HATAOKA: I rested for three days and then met my trainer and did some strength training.

Q. So you continued to practice?

NASA HATAOKA: Yes.

Q. What about this course do you like best that allowed you to go so low today?

NASA HATAOKA: I think it's just because I was able to hit a lot of really good shots and put them close that allowed me to go low today.

Q. With that, also what will you take away from today's round as you head into Friday?

NASA HATAOKA: Yeah, I feel like I'm really managing my game well right now, so just kind of carry that into tomorrow's round as well.

Q. I want to ask, you've been working on a little something other than training. How are you getting so good at your English?

NASA HATAOKA: English, it's because I'm practicing my English more than my golf game. (Laughing).

Q. Fun times. Thank you, Nasa.