THE 152ND OPEN

July 18, 2024

Joaquin Niemann

Mixed Zone

Q. Can you just kind of walk us through your round today? I assume you're fairly pleased with it?

JOAQUIN NIEMANN: I hit the ball really nice. I was in two bunkers today where I was able to make par on both of them, which is nice.

Yeah, No. 8, I felt like there was only one -- two bad shots during the day. It was on No. 8, a wedge shot. It was still a tricky hole. I didn't hit the shot I was looking to.

What was the other one? The chip on 17, I ended up making a great putt.

So, yeah, I'm pretty happy with the way I played today. It was an enjoyable day.

Q. Did you three-putt on one today?

JOAQUIN NIEMANN: I made three-putt on 9. It was a tough two putts. I was on the front of the green all the way to the back pin. I hit a good putt. I hit it through the hole probably seven feet, and then I hit a great putt and it just broke more than I thought.

Q. The birdie at 7, talk about that.

JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, I putted. I was just on the fringe, and I was a little lucky there. I hit the second shot, and it was kind of rolling towards the bunker. I ended up just on the first cut, and I made that putt, which it was nice.

Q. You probably don't have a ton of experience on links courses. How challenging is it for you to come here and have that kind of experience?

JOAQUIN NIEMANN: I think it's a lot for everybody. I feel like it's more about how much you know your game and how much you trust your game. I feel like you've got to hit a lot of different shots during the round with different winds, different bounces. You've just got to adjust to that.

I feel like it's fun. It's different. We only play this type of golf probably one or two times a year. So I'm just trying to enjoy this moment.

Q. Did you have fun today?

JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, I had fun.

Q. Obviously you're leading in points. When you come to a major now, is it as much, not just winning, but wanting to prove yourself on the big stages?

JOAQUIN NIEMANN: I don't think I've got to prove myself at anything. I feel like I just need to play my game and try to do my best.

I think, if I keep playing well, I'm going to obviously maybe do something. Yeah, it's just fun. Playing on LIV and being now here in the majors playing against everybody together is a lot of fun. This type of golf is completely different than what we're used to, so I'm enjoying it a lot here.

Q. What's the most enjoyable aspect of links golf for you?

JOAQUIN NIEMANN: You got to be so creative in your mind in trying to hit those shots. There's a lot of shots that you go with different trajectory, or it could be two different clubs at the same time.

Yeah, just sticking to one of those shots, and hopefully it will be the right one and you just commit to that. I feel like that's a lot of fun, and that's the way I like to play.