U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

June 23, 2022

Mark Hensby

Saucon Valley C.C. (Old Course)

Quick Quotes

THE MODERATOR: Mark Hensby, 4-under 67. Mark, can you talk us through that round?

MARK HENSBY: Yeah, it was -- I got off to a decent start, which always helps, especially in a tournament like this. Yeah, just kind of played pretty solid. There's a few tee shots towards the end, but hit it far enough to where I could still get it on the green somewhat.

I had a really good day.

Q. Do you think you had the better end of the draw going out this afternoon?

MARK HENSBY: For sure, yeah. This morning it's probably -- I kind of didn't put a number on it, but, no, any time you have to put an umbrella up and clean and all that sort of stuff, so for sure we definitely had the better side of the weather.

Q. The weather is supposed to improve the next couple of days. How do you think the course is going to change?

MARK HENSBY: It will probably firm up a bit. It was a lot softer today. Obviously scores are showing that this afternoon. So it would probably firm up, I think.

Q. Mark, what are your impressions of this golf course?

MARK HENSBY: It's tough. I mean, the greens are probably -- if they go a little bit too fast, could get out of hand, I would think, but right now it's a tough golf course.

If you don't drive it in the right areas, then you get it on the wrong side of the greens, it's very difficult to make a score.

Overall the golf course is in great condition, though. If you play well, you can shoot a score.

Q. Any holes today where things kind of turned around for you for the better?

MARK HENSBY: Yeah, probably missed my tee shot on 10 up the right. I tried to hit driver, and I got a decent sort of a lie, and I hit a good shot in there and made birdie.

I think that kind of kept the momentum going for sure.

Q. There's not much in your record as far as past performances. Have you been playing much?

MARK HENSBY: I finished seventh in Puerto Rico on the PGA TOUR earlier this year, and I finished top ten at the senior PGA. Yeah, I played a few tournaments, but not a whole lot.

Q. So how do you stay sharp?

MARK HENSBY: Just training and practice, and hopefully when it comes to go, you're ready to go.

Q. Mark, the six birdies that you had, were there one or two you were especially proud of, especially that start you had?

MARK HENSBY: Yeah, No. 2 was a good one. That was a tough pin. I made a good cut over the ridge. That one was a good one.

The one on 15, I took driver over the bunkers, and I pulled a little bit but got in the rough and I got the up and down. I was pretty close to the green. So that was a good one.

Q. You're kind of a rare bird where you got to be 50 twice in this championship. Last year you were the youngest player in the field, and here you are 50 again before your birthday coming up. It's two different things. Last year you had an issue where you had to leave the championship early and now here you are in the lead. Talk about the difference between the two years.

MARK HENSBY: Interesting. I had some medical issues last year. I still do have kind of sleep issues, bad insomnia. Last year I was up for three or four days before that first round.

It was unfortunate because I was actually playing pretty well then. This year I've got it under control somewhat. Yeah, it's kind of funny how I had to withdraw and now I'm leading. Pretty cool.