U.S. OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP 2023

June 15, 2023

Brian Harman

The Los Angeles Country Club

Flash Interview

Q. 5-under 65. What about this course suited your game today?

BRIAN HARMAN: Finally found a little bit of ball-striking. It's been a tough go the last few months. Really had a great fall and was really hoping to kind of springboard into this year, and it's just been kind of hit or miss.

So just trying to rededicate myself and get as mad as it as I can and try to hit some good shots. Finally did came through today.

Q. Did you feel that in your prep this week ahead of today?

BRIAN HARMAN: I felt like it was pretty close, like I was just one thought away from getting it right, and it just kind of worked out for today.

Q. Guys threw a couple of 62s up early. Does your mindset change at all? Is there some pressure to push it a little bit, or did you just figure, it's gettable, I'll get mine, too?

BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah, it's really easy to feel like you have to get going when you've got a couple guys that are at 8-under, but I was kind of fortunate where I started off with a couple birdies early so I was able to settle down early and not feel like I had to chase it.

Q. Did you say you had to get mad?

BRIAN HARMAN: I just didn't feel like I was giving it my best. When I say get mad at it, I just try and do my best and work real hard at it.

Q. What do you think it is that clicked? Is there one thing or just your anger?

BRIAN HARMAN: No, I finally started hitting it a little bit better. I hadn't really been putting well, either. I knew my prep this week, I knew I'd putt pretty good just by the way is ball is rolling. The ball-striking has been hit or miss, and today was a good day.

Q. What do you think was the hardest shot on the course today?

BRIAN HARMAN: I think the tee shot on -- either the tee shot on 12 or the second shot on 17 for me are the two hardest shots.

Q. I know it's only one round, but how validating is it to come out with a U.S. Open and start this way given your form hasn't been where you've wanted it to be?

BRIAN HARMAN: I mean, it's a big golf course, and that's kind of where I've been struggling. I've been playing where I'm supposed to play well, Colonial, Harbour Town, stuff like that. I've played well on big golf courses, I just haven't this year.

It's nice to come to a hard place and put up a decent score.

Q. Can you identify a particular moment of frustration the last couple months, anywhere where it really felt like, I've had enough of this?

BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah, I had a really good chance the last day at Colonial I felt like, and just got out there and just had nothing on Sunday.

Played what I felt was really good golf Saturday, and then Sunday just had nothing, and so I was really, really upset.

Q. Obviously you're playing 20, 25 tournaments a year, for your case, probably 15 years at least.

BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah.

Q. Do you get complacent, or do you just get frustrated?

BRIAN HARMAN: I think you just get tired. It's hard to be on all the time and you're constantly trying to grab motivation from places.

For me, I'm 36. I've got three young kids. So that temptation of wanting to be home all the time is real. I miss them.

But I do love playing golf and I love competing. I have to remember that, and I have to remember that this is what I love to do.

Q. Even though this is a big ballpark for you, what do you like about it?

BRIAN HARMAN: I like that the USGA does a pretty good job of giving you scorable holes. There were plenty of scorable holes today. Even though there were holes that were extremely difficult, holes like 13, and even a hole like 12 is normally a scorable hole, but where the pin was today it wasn't scorable.

I feel like they do a pretty good job of mixing and matching. Like sometimes you'll get to a super long hole but the pin is in very accessible spot.

Yeah, I thought the setup was fantastic today.

Q. That 6th hole is one everyone talks about. Does it favor righties or lefties, lefties over righties?

BRIAN HARMAN: I wouldn't know. I only played it left-handed today.

Q. The way it looks do you think it --

BRIAN HARMAN: I don't know. I don't know. I guess you could -- where the pin is today it's a narrow spot, so whichever way the ball is spinning doesn't really make much of a difference.

If the pin is over there on the right and you lay up far, it may be a little bit better for a lefty. Trying to say the only reason I made birdie was because I'm left-handed? There's plenty of righties that made birdie today.