BLACK DESERT CHAMPIONSHIP

October 11, 2024

Kihei Akina

Quick Quotes

Q. Kihei, what did you tell yourself in the middle of the round to regroup?

KIHEI AKINA: Yeah, I was struggling pretty good from, I mean, like from probably hole 6 to like 11. I made a bunch of bogeys. I was struggling pretty good.

I just told myself I belong out here, and on hole No. 2 after I made -- sorry, on hole 3 I told myself if you just play the best golf that you've ever played then you'll be fine.

So I played good. I just kept telling myself I belong out here and just try to feel as comfortable as I can out there. There's a lot of the people here, but it was a good experience. Hopefully got a couple more rounds here.

Q. Let's pick up on that idea that you belong here. For those of us who have known you a long time it's not a surprise. Of course anybody paying attention to what you did on the Korn Ferry this summer, not a surprise. But what does it mean to you now? You're likely making the cut, playing the weekend. To do that on this big of a stage.

KIHEI AKINA: Yeah, I drew a lot off the Korn Ferry event. It's not the same obviously, but there are some similarities. I draw a lot off that Korn Ferry experience.

I don't know, just some of the fans out here. Was similar to the Korn Ferry TOUR. Just using that experience kind of helped me here.

Q. Were you conscious of what it might take to make the cut?

KIHEI AKINA: I thought I had to get to 5 just to be safe; 4 will probably be pretty close. I'm not sure yet. Hopefully 4 is the number. I thought I had to get to 5 just to be safe. The putt on 18 I thought I had to make it, but hopefully 4 is all right.

Q. What are some of the differences you see between this event, PGA TOUR and the Korn Ferry TOUR, this year at Oak Ridge?

KIHEI AKINA: There is Jay Don. That's pretty cool.

Some differences, the course here is a little bit harder. The setup is a little bit harder. Obviously the field is a lot better. So you have to play really good golf just to compete out here.

I didn't really know what to expect coming into it, but the Korn Ferry kind of helped just know what to expect. They're definitely different, the Korn Ferry and PGA TOUR.

Q. Sometimes the Korn Ferry setup and event will be a birdiefest whereas a PGA TOUR event par is more meaningful and you have to protect against losing shots. Did you experience that?

KIHEI AKINA: Oh, yeah. Oak Ridge you had to score really low. You still have to score pretty low out here, but it's not the same. It's definitely harder on the PGA TOUR.