TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP

June 22, 2023

Patrick Cantlay

TPC River Highlands

Quick Quotes

Q. Patrick, can you just talk about your round today? The rain hasn't started yet. Seemed like the greens were in pretty good shape. Obviously shot a pretty good round.

PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, 5-under today. Off to a good start. You know, I played really solid today. I don't think I got the most out of my round, but I got enough to put myself in good position, and off to a good start this week.

Q. What's the biggest challenge out here? Is the wind starting to be a factor? That's one of the defense mechanisms here.

PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, it can for sure. It was very manageable this morning. I think the wind will switch this weekend and we'll get the opposite wind of today.

I imagine with the rain the golf course may play a little easier after it softens it up.

But, you know, this golf course for me is just all about staying patient. You can make a bunch of birdies here if you're in position, but you can make a mistake real quick.

So just try and stay in position as much as I can this week.

Q. You talk about staying patient. At the same time, this is a course where and you a lot of other people have shot really low scores. When you come in you want to be patient and do the right things, but you definitely need to make birdies out here as well; how challenging is it to balance that?

PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, I think you can make a lot of birdies around this place staying patient. You play the par-5s well, hit the ball off the tee in the right spot on the 14th hole -- or the 15th hole, sorry. Those are four really good birdie opportunities if you just hit smart, patient, solid golf shots and make a short putt.

So, you know, I think this golf course will give you a lot of opportunities if you hit the ball in the fairway, especially if you hit as many drives as I do around here. So I'm going to try and play from the fairway and really, like I said, stay patient. I think if my putter cooperates I can make enough birdies that way.

Q. A lot of talk about the 15th. How do you play 15?

PATRICK CANTLAY: Depends on the hole location and the wind. In general, try and leave the golf ball on the front of the green just short and chip up to most of the hole locations.

Q. Driver?

PATRICK CANTLAY: Depends. Today I hit driver. A lot of times I'll hit a 3-wood.

Fastscripts by ASAP Sports...