THE 152ND OPEN

July 19, 2024

Jon Rahm

Mixed Zone

Q. Jon, how would you assess today and your position going into the weekend?

JON RAHM: Obviously it was a fantastic day. I would have signed anything around par, under par, and I told my dad, let's see if I can get back to even par for the tournament today.

Got a chance. I'm just a little frustrated I couldn't finish off the round. It's always a bad feeling to not make a bad swing on a par 6 and end up with a 6 and just not making that putt on 18. But overall it was a very good round. It's very important to remember that on 9 I could have left with a 5 or a 6 and left with a 3. I guess it evens out.

Q. Did you think when you hit it that the tee shot at 16 had any chance of rolling out into the burn?

JON RAHM: No, no chance.

Q. You thought you played for like 50 yards of runout?

JON RAHM: I did not, no. I also didn't try to hit it low. It was decent height, let the wind take it right. I thought if anything it would maybe run out of the fairway right. I didn't see the bounce. I didn't see where it went. In hindsight after seeing my playing partners hits a driver, but if you don't hit it on that fairway, that rough is quite thick so you can end up in problems.

Yeah, I never thought it was going to be an issue.

Q. How tough was the Postage Stamp playing in that wind that you guys had?

JON RAHM: Oh, God. What can I say? We got to see plenty of people miss the green and hit their shots. I was in the right rough on 7 so I got to see the group two groups in front of me and then the group in front of me. A couple guys hit it close. A lot of them missed the green right.

I think it's just a testament to what a great designed hole that is. What is it, 115, 120 yards today? We're all very thankful if we hit the green or if we just leave with a par. That coffin on the left, it makes its presence felt, and with that wind today, you know you have to start it left. But it was just very difficult to do.

In my case I tried to hold a pitching wedge and drove it towards that bunker, and the second it got past the grandstands, no chance.

But to that pin, if you don't get really lucky in the bunker, it's somewhat doable because you have that backstop, and that's what me and Bob MacIntyre did. You just hit it up high, and hopefully it comes back close enough to make a putt.

Q. 400-yard drive on the last. Was that a tricky putt?

JON RAHM: No, it was just on an extreme downslope and probably got caught up too much on the break, which unfortunately was perfect read. But I was standing on such a downslope, I didn't think I could leave it short, and I hadn't really left any putts short. Fell in love with the line and just forgot to hit it.

Yeah, it's just too bad to miss two putts on the last few holes. The only three I really missed all day. I made a lot of good ones, though. Overall still a really good round. Hopefully I can keep this play on the weekend and keep making up shots.

Q. You're in it at a major; how does that feel after a couple ones where you didn't really --

JON RAHM: Again, I think it's a little fresh to not have finished the way I wanted. Like I said, it's just -- just a feeling I have overall, that I didn't miss a single -- I didn't one bad swing on the last three holes and played them over par. That's just the only thing. But this is links golf; things happen. But it's nice to be up there. I think top 15 going into the weekend, eight shots back, and with the weather conditions that we're having, if the wind stays up like this, anything can happen.

Q. What number do you think you have to get to?

JON RAHM: No idea. I can't tell you because the golf course is firming up, so if we get two more days of wind, you never know. No lead is safe. I still think obviously you need to get to double digits. In my case I'll get as low as I can. But we'll see.

I would not be surprised one single bit if it's single digits under par, which happens often in this event, on this golf course especially. So I just can't give you a number.

Q. When things get really tough in that scenario, do you like your chances chasing the pack?

JON RAHM: Yeah, if you have to make up shots, you almost want difficult weather where if you can post a 1-, 2-, maybe 3-under-par round, you can make up more shots than in a regular event.