Q. Here with Ruixin Liu. I want to start with this front nine. It seemed to be the most perfect front nine that's been going right for you in a while. Take me through what was working so well there.
RUIXIN LIU: Basically everything is working. It's just something click. Driver was super good.
And it was kind of shorter on the front nine, so the first few holes just wedge in. Then I leave it short and then the putter has been so good.
Q. You had those two birdies and then four consecutive. You hit every single green. You made the turn in 30. What were some the birdies that stood out to you the most?
RUIXIN LIU: I think it will be will hole No. 7, the par-5. Because I hit my driver into the right bunker, and then the second shot was thinking about laying up but I hit it very heavy so my third shot is actually like 160-something with a 6-iron.
I was thinking about putting safe to have a par, but ended up only like two feet from the hole. Yeah.
Q. Got to walk away with that.
RUIXIN LIU: Yeah.
Q. What happened there as you made the turn? A string of pars, a bogey on the last hole. What is the difference for you between these back and front nines?
RUIXIN LIU: You know, it was longer on the back nine. This course is very hilly, so I try to save some energy.
It kind of feels like, you know, I played more safe on the back, but I actually have a double on the last one.
So my second shot I just -- you know, I just feel a little tired and came up two yards short in the bunker, yeah.
Q. What is it about this course? I'm assuming this is the first time you've played here.
RUIXIN LIU: Yeah.
Q. What was the game plan as you got ready for today's round?
RUIXIN LIU: Just fairway and green and be as safe as I can because the rough is not that easy to chip. I live in Florida so the green here is kind of tricky for me.
I'm kind of just trying to ease everything to the hole to avoid three-putts.
Q. I think you had a T18 finish at LOTTE; that's the last time you made the cut. What did you take away from a week like that with swirling winds and everything that was the challenge there that maybe you can bring into this week?
RUIXIN LIU: Patience. Yeah, the course condition is not that easy, and if I stay patient I can shoot something low.
Q. Absolutely. What will you take away from today's round as you look to catch some rest and go into day two?
RUIXIN LIU: You know, before this round I kind of a little nervous about this course, and now I know I can make birdies.
So I think I will be more confident tomorrow.
Q. When you say nervous, did you mean with all the hills and the energy you would have to exert?
RUIXIN LIU: No. I just feel this course is kind of hard before I started today from the practice round.
I thought it's going to be hard to score birdies like from 18 holes. Today I make six, so that kind of boosts a little bit of confidence.
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