THE 151ST OPEN

July 20, 2023

Seamus Power

Mixed Zone

Q. Your assessment of the day? You finished level par.

SEAMUS POWER: Yeah, I played really nicely. One mistake on the greens and then didn't make any of kind of distance, but was one of those days when I made a couple of nice saves there towards the end on some of the tougher holes.

All in all pleased, but obviously a little bit disappointed. Felt like I had good chances. I was hitting it very nicely there for a while. But it's not easy out there. There's not any easy gimme holes. So overall not too bad.

Q. I think the course is playing a bit tougher than people might have expected considering conditions.

SEAMUS POWER: Yeah, it's just that wind direction is tough. There's not many obvious birdie chances, like you have 5 and 15 I suppose. Outside of that there's not many holes that are giving away too many easy birdies. Even 18 there, you want to hit driver, but then if you get in that bunker you're in big trouble.

I hit 3-wood, and you can't get the 3-wood far enough down because that pin you have no shot. I think it's a very well designed course, and I think it's just protects itself very well.

Even though you said conditions are breezy but nothing too crazy, maybe it's just that wind direction, north prevailing protected itself well tough stretch once you got to like 10 is downwind was a tough hole and 11 through 14 is going to play in off the left righty is going to find it tough drop shots there hopefully pick something up near the end.

Q. So 71, it's a steady start. I think it's kind of important because it's playing as tough as it is or not as easy as it might seem.

SEAMUS POWER: Yeah, I think so. Look, I think from what I've seen in other majors, you don't want to be giving yourself too much of a hole to dig out of. It's tough. You start getting impatient and you make some mistakes.

So I was able to avoid that and obviously getting in at even there was nice. Good save on 16, and then even 17 those short par-3 take par, and obviously good scramble for par on the last.

Yeah, I think it's in a decent spot. Obviously you'd love to be in the red figures. There is always something about that. But I don't think anyone is going to get too far away from me -- or hopefully. Maybe someone.

But for the most part I think I'm going to be right in there so a lot of good stuff to be done for tomorrow.

Q. Injury-wise you swung quite freely out there.

SEAMUS POWER: Yeah, it's a huge difference even in two days. I'm seeing that on the driving range; my speed is coming way back up out of nowhere. All that is very encouraging. Felt I'd say 90 percent, probably a tiny little soreness here and there, but really doesn't affect the game at all, so in a really good spot there.

Q. Last year at St Andrews when you had such great major seasons in America, how important is it for you to make the cut here, this being The Open?

SEAMUS POWER: I feel like especially in the Open, I know it's obviously extreme will you you see Paul Lawrie back in the day come from way back, I think the conditions you can get in The Open I think if get in there you will have a chance, so I think it's added incentive obviously at The Open.

But last year is disappointing. I grew up -- everyone grows up watching The Open. There's so many cool memories, so not to be there for the weekend was definitely disappointing.

Obviously you're not aiming just to make that, but first it's the step. We'll see if we can get something good tomorrow and for the weekend.