Media Center Interviews

COREY CONNERS: Particularly in the first round my short game was great, hit a number of really nice pitches and was able to roll in some putts. Second round I felt like I hit it pretty well. Maybe a few more missed tee balls and iron shots in the second round, but the wind was pretty tricky starting out this morning. A lot of good things, felt like I missed it in the right spots. Tried to avoid the areas outs here that are very challenging and can give you trouble, so was able to do that. Yeah, control my misses and overall everything was great.

Q. It became a long day with the delay yesterday. How did you handle kind of the fitness and endurance challenge of it?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I like to consider myself a reasonably fit individual but certainly a little bit tired, looking forward to a good rest this evening and get recharged for the weekend.

Q. Thinking back to your win here a couple years ago, what is it about this course or this venue that allows you to have this success like you're seeing today?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I think it's really demanding from tee to green. Some really challenging approach shots and it's tricky around the greens. Especially after winning, I have a really high comfort level with this place and feel like I see the shots well and certainly know where you can miss it in certain situations. That seemed to be helpful.

Q. You had a pretty spotless first round, but you ran into some trouble on Round 2, 16 with the double bogey there. Was there anything in particular that was missing or that went wrong on those putts?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, it was just really windy. Yeah, just caught a bit of a gust on the first putt. Yeah, a little mindless trying to knock in my bogey putt and it got away from me as well. They both seemed to turn a little right from opposite sides of the hole. I think the wind kind of got the first one a little bit and the second one maybe wasn't the best putt. It happens. I feel like I'm rolling it well. I made a nice bogey putt on the next hole to kind of get back in rhythm, good birdie putt on 18. Yeah, that was an unfortunate blemish on the card, but it happens.

Q. Does it take anything to kind of regroup from that or how do you get refocused after that?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I feel like I've hit a lot of really good putts throughout the first couple rounds and before that, so I just try to think more about those than I really dwell on the couple misses I had there. Just stick to my routine, see it and try and roll it in.

Q. How have you felt about your season so far? You've been in the top 25 mix very regularly, but haven't cracked the top-10 yet.

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, it's been a little bit inconsistent. I feel like I've been missing certain parts of my game each week, whether I'm not hitting it great or the short game's kind of let me down. I haven't really been able to put it all together. It's been a bit of a struggle, but I've worked hard and I have confidence in my game. It's just a matter of time before things kind of get into place.

Q. Do you feel like that's been happening over these last couple days, that you're pushing that direction?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, definitely. I took a lot of confidence from last week, the Dell Match Play Championship in Austin. I didn't end up making it through my group, but felt like my game was really solid and liked a lot of the things that I was doing there. Just tried to keep those thoughts going this week. Halfway through and in a decent spot, looking forward to keeping it going on the weekend.

Q. I wanted to ask you real quick about staying here on site. How nice is it to be finished up and just head right across the road?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, it's amazing. I can pretty much see my room from here. It's a beautiful resort. Have my family here and it's an awesome spot to be. Obviously a very special place getting my first win here, but it is beautiful. Pretty warm out this afternoon, so may check out the water slide or splash around with my little daughter. Yeah, it's an amazing setup and beautiful place.

Q. You've got to show up early in the morning, finish off an 8-under par 64, then shoot even par in the second round. Are you happy with the day?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, you know, was really happy how I finished up Round 1 this morning. Things were really challenging beginning the second round. I did a lot of good things. Made a couple sloppy errors out there, but after that, battled really hard and overall happy with the day of golf.

Q. I guess by sloppy you're referring to the 16th hole where you had a four-putt for double bogey. What's somewhat not said is a 36-footer for par that you had at the third.

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, definitely, I hit a really good approach shot into the third, a 6-iron. I knew it was pushing it for maybe too much club and kind of bounced over the green, hit a great little bump and just caught a funny part of the hill and scooted way by and that was nice to make that one.

Yeah, 16 the wind was really blowing there and got a little out of sync. Certainly like to have that over, but it's how it goes. I battled back, did some things to make up for it.

Q. Some things like six of eight scrambling, that is really good. Also your par 5 play, you played eight par 5s in 7 under par, including birdies on all four of them in the second round.

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, that's important to take care of the par 5s, especially out here. It's a demanding golf course, the par 5s are no gimmees, you've got to hit really solid shots, but Live left myself in good spots. Not really been able to go for the green on 8 and been on the green Round 2 and just in front Round 1. Put myself in good shape on No. 2 into the wind today, just in front of the green. Then 18 I don't remember really ever going for it and had a hybrid and 4-iron in, was able to convert the birdie. Those were definitely important holes and doesn't hurt the score.

Q. You know what's nice after an early start on a long day of work? A nap in the afternoon. You deserve one.

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, thank you. A little tired, but excited for the weekend.