THE 152ND OPEN

July 18, 2024

Brian Harman

Mixed Zone

BRIAN HARMAN: It's tough. It's really tough. Yeah, it's kind of like I found it how I left it last year kind of. It's brutal. Hard golf course.

Q. How much more difficult was it given the fact you guys hadn't really practiced in this?

BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah, played the back nine yesterday thinking that was going to be a little bit more like it was, but the front nine was the one that was -- the back nine is hard, but the front nine into that wind, it's just brutal.

Q. Bob said it's a lot firmer than it looks?

BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah, the greens are firm. The greens are really firm. We got the text this morning that they had gone up probably like 5 percent or so in the firmness, and it was very apparent, especially coming downwind. It's almost impossible to stop the ball.

Q. What's that process like for you when you're flying a little bit blind based on you haven't seen the conditions exactly like this?

BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah, it just makes it really difficult. Like I made a bogey on 8 that if I could have gotten a couple more looks on that hole, I would have known that lefties, fuller shots are going to get down into that bunker. I executed that shot just like I wanted to, and if you execute like you want to from 115 yards, you ought to be not making bogey.

There's some spots up there that certainly having a little more experience would have helped.

Q. Looking back, how did winning last year affect you, whether that's your life or how you've played or anything? How would your life be different right now if you hadn't won?

BRIAN HARMAN: I'm not real sure. It certainly gave me a lot of confidence. Certainly helped with some of the nerves, not getting quite as nervous and being in contention. Just having the knowledge that you can win a big one if it all goes your way and you play really well.

Q. Did you feel like you were maybe tapping into that a little bit today as you were -- it seemed like the ball was spraying a little bit more than it was last year, but you seemed to manage it really well.

BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah, I played some pretty good golf today. It's been kind of -- I've had some good tournaments this year, but I just haven't had the putter quite going. It's like it's not quite -- not all quite synced up yet. But I'm playing some good golf, so I've just got to stay patient and hopefully scratch out a few more tomorrow.