BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP

July 15, 2022

Henrik Norlander

Tahoe Mountain Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Plus 14 today, bogey-free. Walk me through your day and some highlights out there.

HENRIK NORLANDER: Yeah, I got off to a good start. I hit a bad drive on 1, pitched out and hit a good wedge and made about a 10-footer. That brought a lot of confidence. Then I hit it to like four feet three holes in a row, made all of them.

Just felt like I was cruising. Hit a really, really bad drive on 5 and hit a tree and kicked back in play and was able to get that up-and-down for par, and then after that sort of calmed me down. I've been struggling this year a lot, and just been so harsh on myself, judging every shot. It was pretty cool when I hit that -- it's one of the worst drives I've ever hit on 5 and I hit a provisional because we didn't see it and I really felt like it was probably the best swing all year, the provisional, so that brought a lot of confidence.

Then hit some really good shots on the back and made some good putts, so it was fun.

Q. You were talking about struggling coming into this week. What do two good rounds back-to-back do for you heading into the week and how does it feel to have this under your belt?

HENRIK NORLANDER: Yeah, that's a good question. I don't think I played good all year two days in a row. I was pretty anxious today. Had a good day yesterday. My game feels all right, but I don't really know -- it was just nice to get off to a good start and sort of not -- I've been hovering a lot around the cut line on Friday afternoons all year, and it gets to you after a while. You get just exhausted and then you miss a bunch and it becomes a vicious cycle for me. Instead of -- I just had a really fun week. I like the golf course, and this format came at a good time where it's a little bit more relaxing, I think.

Q. You had a near ace on No. 15. Walk us through that hole.

HENRIK NORLANDER: Yeah, I actually hit it right where I wanted to. We were between 7 and 8, and 8 wasn't really the club, covering water and into the wind. I hit it perfect. I hit about an 85 percent 7-iron and I lost it in the air, but then I heard people yelling, and I came up there and it was about a foot. Actually I was closer on 3. I flew it about an inch from the hole and hit it to three feet. I was good on the par-3s all week, so that's been fun.

Q. This is your best 36-hole position of the season. How are you feeling heading into these next two rounds?

HENRIK NORLANDER: Yeah, first of all, I'm pretty excited to not make travel plans on Friday afternoon. That's been sort of what I've been doing every Friday the last few weeks. But yeah, it's a lot of pressure. I'm going to be nervous, but I believe I'm ready for it. Yeah, it's going to be tough, but I'm ready for it. That's why I practice, and I'm ready for the challenge.

Q. 25 points through the first two days, currently tied for second, 14 birdies. Talk about how pleased you are with your performance through 36 holes.

HENRIK NORLANDER: I'm very pleased. It's first of all, nice to not make travel arrangements on Friday afternoon. I've been sort of used to that lately. Just a lot better attitude this week. I think this format came at a good time because a bogey you can get away with at least, or it feels like. I played a little bit more aggressive and obviously made some putts today. I hit a lot of good putts that didn't go in, but I'm very pleased how I rolled it. I sort of messed up 18 with a terrible first putt, but it was nice to make that putt, bogey-free round today.

Q. You've been working a long time with Dr. Bhrett McCabe, a noted sports psychologist who's talked to you about letting it go. How are things going so far?

HENRIK NORLANDER: Yeah, there is a lot of bad voices in there, I'm not going to lie. But I think the key for me is to like accept that and then move from there. When I get bad, I try to avoid those voices, but they're there.