THE 152ND OPEN

July 18, 2024

Jaime Montojo Fernandez

Mixed Zone

Q. Can you tell us about your round today, that first hole.

JAIME MONTOJO FERNANDEZ: No, it was a magic start, a dream start, because the first tee shot is hard. Once you get on the course, I feel like it's a little easier, but the first tee shot is tough, so I put myself in a good position on the first hole, and I don't know, I just hit a great shot.

I saw how it landed with side spin and just saw it disappear. It was unreal, an unreal start. It's probably the best moment I've ever had.

Talking about the round, well, front nine I feel like I didn't play bad. I played some solid golf. Missed some shots, but I think I got some bad breaks on the front nine with some bunkers, and then on the back nine I kind of suffered at the end with the left-to-right wind. I hit some shots to the right, but I made the most out of it, and I finished kind of strong, which puts me in a good position for tomorrow.

Q. When you had a vision of playing your first major, did you imagine it was going to be like this?

JAIME MONTOJO FERNANDEZ: I mean, I wasn't expecting to start like that. It's pretty special to say for the rest of your life that your first hole in a major championship you started holing out.

Q. You're plus 3 in a major, still in a good position. What's your attitude for tomorrow?

JAIME MONTOJO FERNANDEZ: Well, I think tomorrow is going to be a tough day for me with the cut on the line. I think it's just -- of course my goal is to make the cut and to fight the most that I can to do it.

Q. What you said before, if you could react to what that shot was like. You said it was one of the best moments you've ever had.

JAIME MONTOJO FERNANDEZ: Yeah, I mean, it's pretty unbelievable. I didn't know if it was going to be recorded or not. I thought it would be on TV, but to watch it now and to see my reaction, because at that moment you have so much adrenaline that you don't even know how you react. To see how I react with my brother and to start like that, to see the ball disappear from the fairway, it was such a special moment.

Q. Do you black out? Do you sort of remember?

JAIME MONTOJO FERNANDEZ: Kind of, yeah. I don't really remember. Three seconds after the ball goes in, it's just kind of like a blackout, yeah.

Q. Your birdie at the Postage Stamp, what was that like?

JAIME MONTOJO FERNANDEZ: I've seen this hole from TV -- on YouTube because I watched the film from 2016, and I knew how tough this hole was. I think it's the shortest for the Open, but it's really tricky. It's a scary shot. To birdie it today was really special, and to make two 2s on the front nine was even better. It's pretty cool.

Q. Apparently the vote is out for shot of the day, and you're winning the shot of the day vote from Open fans.

JAIME MONTOJO FERNANDEZ: So cool. My first round in a major and to have the best shot of the day, it makes me really proud of myself, so very happy.