RBC CANADIAN OPEN

June 11, 2022

Mackenzie Hughes

St. George's Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Bit of a stronger round today. What did you see from the course this morning that maybe you didn't see yesterday afternoon?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: There was less wind, little softer being that there was some morning moisture. And yeah, so you could kind of be aggressive and felt like it was a day that, yeah, a little disappointed in the round, just being that I played really well and there was a score out there to be had and I didn't quite do it.

Q. You did have a strong start on the front nine. I was wondering, could you take us through the eagle you had on 9?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: Yeah, the par-5s this week are pretty much put the ball in the fairway and you're going to have a chance to put it on the green. So hit a good drive on 9 and had 220 to the flag and hit 6-iron, just kind of on the front right part of the green. Had a little 30, 35-footer and it was nice to see a putt drop because I really have not made much this week and it's been a little frustrating on the greens. So it was nice to see one go in.

Q. Talking to you yesterday and chatting with Chase a little bit today, is it a little bit, are you balancing being frustrated that there's some just misses, like just missing fairways, just missing greens and also somewhat encouraged that you probably could be a little bit lower than you are, especially heading into next week?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: Yeah, I mean like today I walked off thinking that I left a 65 out there. I made just three terrible bogeys on the back nine, like from like good positions. Like hit a good drive on 14, missed the green just right, trying to be a little too aggressive. Kind of felt like I was maybe pushing a bit too hard, like trying to shoot something really low and kind of cost myself probably shooting 66 or 65 and putting myself maybe on the outskirts of contention.

But I'm encouraged because I feel like if I play like that going forward and continue to kind of progress like that then hopefully I'll have a little breakthrough week here soon.

Q. We're now through three rounds of this tournament, can you just comment overall on this tournament finally being back, what you've seen from the course, what you've seen from the crowds through three days, nice weather yesterday, some nice weather right now, just overall comments on the atmosphere?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: Yeah, I think it's been awesome, just being back here in Canada, obviously hearing the chants in the crowd, the Oh Canada's yesterday afternoon, that's really cool. The Rink yesterday afternoon was pretty cool. Like you walk on that tee and it's hard not to get goose bumps because everyone was pounding the boards and it was a packed house in there. But, yeah, it's been awesome. Like this venue has been incredible.

The golf course itself obviously is, it speaks for itself, I think it's a great test. But logistically I think it's a tough one and I don't know in the future where this one might fit in. But I know that they have done a tremendous job of making it work, given that it is really difficult, but, yeah, it's been a lot of fun to be home this week and a lot of friends and family out there hooting and hollering which has been fun. Unfortunately we don't get to do it, only get to do it once a year, but every time I do it's special.