ISPS HANDA World Invitational

Friday, July 30, 2021

Northern Ireland

Galgorm Castle & Massereene Golf Club

Daniel Hillier

Quick Quotes


Q. Tell us about your day.

DANIEL HILLIER: Yeah, it was really good out there. Made the most of some pretty benign conditions in the morning and got off to a good start. Managed to sink a couple more near the end. But yeah, I've hit it really well. Made one bad swing on hole 11 and made bogey there, but apart from that it was really solid.

Q. 62 is an unofficial course record because it was preferred lies today. You had a course record at Hollinwell, as well. How high is your confidence at the moment?

DANIEL HILLIER: Yeah, I'm feeling pretty good. I've been playing well the last couple of months, just haven't really put four rounds together yet. Yeah, obviously in pretty good position at the moment, so yeah, just going to keep riding the wave and stick to the game plan and see how we go.

Q. Massereene yesterday and Galgorm today. Tell us the difference between the two courses.

DANIEL HILLIER: That's a good question. I didn't really get a full round in in the practice rounds. I only saw seven holes at Massereene and four holes here. I was sort of just going off the yardage book and I guess just playing each hole on its merits. I think that's really important out here. If you put yourself in trouble you can make number pretty quick. Yeah, just focused on keeping them in play. Both pretty similar courses in that regards. You've got to hit it well off the tee and then there's a lot of chances out there. So yeah, did that really well.

Q. You've had a couple of top 10s in Ireland before, I believe. What is it about here that just suits your eye?

DANIEL HILLIER: Yeah, that's a good point, actually. I have played pretty well in Ireland in the past. Yeah, I don't know. I guess conditions are somewhat similar to home. Yeah, I mean, just really love the place, and obviously, I don't know, something about it that allows me to play good golf.

Q. Assuming the other two were on links courses because one was Portmarnock --

DANIEL HILLIER: Yeah, the Irish Challenge there.

Q. This is slightly different --

DANIEL HILLIER: Yeah, definitely a little bit more receptive here than Portmarnock, and yeah, still it's not easy by any stretch and you've got to hit good golf shots to give yourself chances, but I've executed well so far, so hopefully just keep doing that over the weekend.

Q. Going out in the final group tomorrow hopefully. When was the last time you had a late tee time on the weekend?

DANIEL HILLIER: I'm not sure I've ever had one, on the European Tour at least. Yeah, I've been in contention a few times this year, just haven't quite pushed on over the weekend. Yeah, obviously in another good spot this week, so yeah, just got to stick to my game plan and executing well. I think I'm slowly figuring out the golf course, so we'll just keep doing that and see how we go.

Q. Did you ever think maybe 59 today or do you allow yourself to think about that?

DANIEL HILLIER: I don't allow myself to think that at all. I mean, I did miss a couple of good chances out there, but at the same time you pick up a couple along the way, so yeah, I guess today sort of evened itself out. Obviously some pretty good golf, but yeah, just trying really hard to stick to my game plan because I haven't seen a lot of the golf course yet. So yeah, not really sure what troubles are out there lying ahead for me, but yeah, I have a pretty sound game plan, so I'll just keep sticking to that.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
110900-1-1002 2021-07-30 12:37:00 GMT

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