ISPS HANDA World Invitational

Thursday, August 11, 2022

Northern Ireland

Galgorm Castle & Massereene Golf Club

Richard Bland

Quick Quotes


Q. Richard, well played. 5-under to start the week off here in Northern Ireland. How do you reflect on your opening round?

RICHARD BLAND: Yeah, very pleased. Pretty stress-free golf. I think I missed one fairway and two greens. You know, the two greens I missed were pretty simple up and downs.

So, yeah, you know, kind of how you want to start the week off, yeah, easing into it. Yeah, whenever you sign your scorecard for 65, you got to be a happy boy.

Q. That run of birdies on the back nine, talk us through those as well.

RICHARD BLAND: Yeah, where was it, at 3 I had a nice wedge shot about 12 feet right of the flag; rolled that in.

Hit it close and 4 and 5.

So, yeah, to sort of put three in a row through the middle of the back nine, because, yeah, I was playing really nice and not really holing anything. Putts just sort of shaving the hole.

I felt like even though I was 1-under through 11, something like that, felt like could have been maybe a couple better. It was nice to get something out of to coming in.

Q. Coming up when we were chatting, we were talking about the weather. Obviously the weather does help here because this place can be tricky at times.

RICHARD BLAND: It is. I've played here when it's not very nice. Yeah, when you get a day like this in Ireland, yeah, they probably are few and far between, so you got to take advantage.

Me being a bit older now it's always a bit nicer when it's warm. Body works a little bit better. Yeah, I like these temperatures.

Q. Heading into tomorrow, different test, different golf course. It's kind of in way the slate is clean.

RICHARD BLAND: Yeah.

Q. How do you approach that?

RICHARD BLAND: Yeah, Galgorm is a completely different test. Yeah, much more drivers off the tee for me.

You know, kind of around here I think I hit maybe driver three or four times in the round. It's a positional golf course.

So, yeah, I think the weather is going to be very much the same. If I can just keep doing what I'm doing, hopefully I'll give myself some chances and try and take a few.

You know, now I've got three rounds at Galgorm, so if I'm going to be there Sunday afternoon I've got to play some good golf.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports
123628-1-1041 2022-08-11 13:30:00 GMT

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