U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

June 25, 2022

Padraig Harrington

Saucon Valley C.C. (Old Course)

Quick Quotes

THE MODERATOR: Padraig Harrington, 5-under 66. Maybe not the way you wanted to finish but an impressive round of golf. What are you most proud of today?

PADRAIG HARRINGTON: I haven't really thought about it. I'm not really sure what to think. I know I missed some chances out there to be lower, and I know I got a few breaks here and there and did some good stuff.

Not really trying to analyze too much. Just it's a good score, but there's still another 18 holes to go tomorrow unfortunately.

Q. You'll take a big lead into tomorrow. What will kind of be the mindset even tomorrow as you wait for your later tee time?

PADRAIG HARRINGTON: Just stay rested. Don't overthink it between now and tomorrow. That would be it. Just chill out in the morning, as I did today.

I know, when it comes to this course with a five-shot lead, I've given myself plenty of options to win this tournament. That's the important thing. When you've got a lead like this, in not even a perfect world, but in dreamland, you think you're going to go out there and play well and run away with it, which is a possibility.

I could play good tomorrow and have a nice comfortable day. I could play average tomorrow, and someone will have to come at me. Or I could play badly tomorrow, and I'll still have a chance.

As long as I keep my head on my shoulders, even if I play badly, just stick in there. I'm sure I'll have a chance coming down the stretch to turn things around if I'm not having a good day.

I've basically given myself a lot of hands to win this.

Q. You've played 42 straight holes without a bogey on a U.S. Open course. How satisfying is that for you?

PADRAIG HARRINGTON: Trying to stay away from those things. The first day I went through -- I played really well the first day. That was my best golf of the week. Missed a lot of opportunities in the first round in that rain.

I think through 28 holes I'd hit 19 greens in regulation. I just happened to see it on Instagram that, I think Jon Rahm had hit 34 greens was the best this year. The minute it jumped into my head that I've just hit 19 greens in a row, of course I missed the next green.

I have no interest in -- I've only an interest in 11-under par. I really couldn't care less if I've hit greens, fairways. It's the score. Nothing to do with how you go about it.

It's the scores and the doors. That's it. I'm trying not to count anything. I'm trying not to think like that.

But I was aware that I was bogey-free for a long time.

Q. Can you give us the details on 12, club you hit, yardage.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON: I think I had about 268, 270 maybe, and then a slight adjustment downhill. I think we were adjusting six yards -- I think at 269 adjusted six yards downhill.

So 263 and I hit 5-wood. The wind had laid down nicely at that stage. It was a nice shot that I could aim at the middle of the green. It just turned ever so nicely onto the pin.

I wasn't trying to hit it left of the pin, but obviously it was nice -- you know, I have an advantage on those holes. So if I don't take that advantage, it feels bad for me.

It's all very well that you can reach these par-5s. When you don't do it, it's kind of a little bit of -- you know, it gets you down a bit if you don't do it. It was nice for once to make not just a birdie, but an eagle.

Obviously I had a nice eagle try on 6 as well.

Yeah, for me, to feel good about how I'm playing I've got to make those birdies or eagles on those par-5s, and it was nice to do it there.

Q. I know, different animal, different time, long time ago, but I always think of the 5-wood at Birkdale '17. Why is the 5-wood -- it's not the same club, but it is a 5-wood. Why?

PADRAIG HARRINGTON: It's not the same club. That was 278; this is 269, I think, but you need to confirm that.

Look, obviously I wouldn't even come close to comparing those two shots. The one in Birkdale is probably the best shot I've ever hit in my life; today's was a good shot.

Q. What did you feel about the reception you got today playing in the last group?

PADRAIG HARRINGTON: It's really nice. Yeah, I suppose this is why I've come out on the Champions Tour. I'm fed up playing in the middle of the field and not having the bit of balls that you get from having fans out there supporting you and cheering you and the excitement.

That's why you're here. It was great to have it. Plenty of Irish people, but I think everybody out there supporting. So, yeah, it was good to be -- obviously, this event is surprisingly -- maybe not for you guys, but for my experience in the Champions Tour, this has been surprisingly well supported. This is like a regular tournament. So very impressed with that.