U.S. Open Championship 2017
Thursday, June 15, 2017
Brian Harman
Flash Interview
Q. Could you sum up your day for us?
BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah, it was pretty good all around. Drove it well, ironed it
pretty good, made some putts. And when I got in position, I was able to get
back in position to make par.
Q. How does today differ from the
normal U.S. Open first round?
BRIAN HARMAN: Not much. I mean, I played
-- this is my third Open. It's a difficult golf course. It is. If you don't
drive it in the fairway, you're in big trouble; and if you don't hit it on the
green, you're in big trouble. That's what the USGA is hoping for.
Q.
You come in here and shoot a great opening round. What's kind of made
the difference or adjustments you've made this year?
BRIAN HARMAN: I just
think time. Time sort of grows you as a player a little bit. I've just tried
to get a little bit better. I'm not trying to reinvent. I'm not trying to hit
it 350 yards, just trying to hit a little better every shot.
Q.
Do you have any conversations with Sauers this week?
BRIAN HARMAN:
Yeah, yeah, I talked to Gene a couple weeks ago. We were both up here on the
weekend of Memorial. Got to see him. I hadn't seen him in years. He's been
playing so good. I've been so proud of him.
Q. Sunday, when
you were here practicing, what did you learn from that day that translated to
today?
BRIAN HARMAN: When you're preparing for this tournament, Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday can be kind of a whirlwind. So for me to come in kind of
early and see the course made the last three days a little easier on
me.
Q. What's most challenging about it out there? If you had
to pick one thing.
BRIAN HARMAN: I just think the length in places. You
know, I got a hammer drive on 4 today and I've got a 5-wood into the green. So
I just think that it sort of tips you into overswinging. If you get into the
hay, you're just chipping out.
Q. The key moving
forward?
BRIAN HARMAN: I would just think just trying to keep doing what
I've been doing. Not get ahead of myself. Just play the course for what it
gives.
Q. Did you see that blimp go down?
BRIAN HARMAN:
I did not. Everybody all right? I hope so.
Q. The pilot got
hurt, yeah.
BRIAN HARMAN: Oh, geez. Oh, no. Was it wind that took it
down or what? Golly. Well, I hope everybody's okay.
Q. Having
won twice, do you look at your major championship record more and give yourself
more chances? Do you focus on that anymore?
BRIAN HARMAN: No, not
really. I just -- it's obviously not just another golf tournament, but at the
same time, this is what we do for a living. You just have to take the course
for what it is and try to play the best you can. I don't know how else to do
it. I don't know what else. I can't try any harder than I already
try.
Q. Of all the majors, though, is one particularly of more
interest to you or more fun or whatever?
BRIAN HARMAN: Well, growing up
in Georgia, I always wanted to play The Masters, obviously. That's what a
Georgia boy always grows up. But for me, there's something special about all of
them. The USGA Championships, I feel, are the most difficult, but at the same
time, British Open golf, they're all great. There's something great about all
of them.
Q. I didn't realize this until today, but as I
mentioned, no left-handers. The U.S. Open is the only one a left-hander hasn't
won at. Does that make this at all more appealing?
BRIAN HARMAN: Well,
you forget. Like I don't watch myself play golf, so I forget I'm left-handed
because I see righties all day. So I look like everyone else according to
me.
Q. How many times have you hit driver today?
BRIAN
HARMAN: A lot. I think I only didn't hit driver once. So 13 times. There's a
couple par-3s I could hit it on too.
FastScripts Transcript by
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Rev #1 by #170 at 2017-06-15 18:16:00
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