Q. How would you characterize the round today?
NICK HARDY: I just was in great rhythm. That's kind of been the name of the game for me since I came back. Just being in good rhythm. I think I'm swinging the club well and my mind is in a good spot.
Q. You talked last week that with the wrist you can't be as aggressive at the bottom, using your body more to turn. What's that translate to in your golf swing?
NICK HARDY: Yeah, so I always like to normally hit shots really hard and just iron shots just go for the club down and hit it hard. When I came back from the wrist injury, it made me swing a little softer, started hitting less shots hard and taking the extra club more often. It's definitely something I should have been doing earlier. But it really forced me to learn how to hit shots that way and trust shots on the court, hitting shots that way.
Q. How much confidence are you carrying from your performance last week?
NICK HARDY: Yeah, a lot, I think just knowing that I can win out here, I think that proved to me last week that I can do it if the cards fall right on the weekend. I think that's my goal now is to come out here and keep putting myself in position where I have the chance to do that.
Q. Not that you didn't believe it before, but did you have a little less belief that you could do that before last week?
NICK HARDY: There's no doubt. You've got to put yourself in these positions to really see it for yourself firsthand. I believed I could, but it's a lot easier to believe when you actually see it, and that's kind of how it's gone for me.
Q. What's one thing you feel like you need to focus on this week, whether it be mental or physical, to hopefully keep yourself in contention and hopefully be there on Sunday afternoon?
NICK HARDY: Yeah, it's just crucial that I stay in rhythm. I've noticed when I try to hit the hard shot like I just talked about, it kind of takes me out of my rhythm. When I lean on hitting the 5-iron instead of the 6-iron sometimes and just stay within myself out there, think it helps me go throughout the course of my round and be in the right rhythm.
Q. When you come out of college and you have good pedigree, University of Illinois, and you see some of your peers that have had a lot of success immediately and some others that haven't, you're in sort of the middle there. How do you manage those expectations and how do you stay patient managing those?
NICK HARDY: Yeah, it's cool see the Scotties and the Sam Burnses and all those guys start winning right away out here after college. I know how kind of hard it is to do, especially when you're that young and kind of inexperienced.
I feel like I'm just as talented. I just have had kind of always a slow growth. I don't think I'm one of those early sprouters, but I've always said I think my best year of my career are going to be in my mid 30s. I just think I'm going to keep getting better and better.
Q. You've got Jeff King on the bag. I think that's a fairly new addition.
NICK HARDY: It is, yeah.
Q. How many weeks has that been, and what does he bring to your team?
NICK HARDY: It's been about since I think April I had him started. Yeah, it's been really helpful. Jeff has a lot of experience, and I kind of lean on that a lot, just him caddying in so many events. Whether it's LPGA Tour, this Tour, he's seen a lot of great golf, and that goes a long way.
Q. Do you still talk to Coach Small a decent amount, and what kind of confidence, what kind of advice does he give you? So many of you guys have come out of Illinois, have had success, not just as a team when you were there but out here in the professional ranks, as well?
NICK HARDY: Yeah, he came out last week for -- there was three Illini in the field. He had one current Illini on his team in the field last week, so he came out Monday through Wednesday and helped us prepare last week.
I keep in touch with him as much as I can. He's a busy guy, but having him there last week was awesome because I think he's the best college coach in the country hands down, and for him to help us prepare for that type of golf course, just getting his thoughts on what to hit on each tee and stuff, and him physically being there was huge, but always I search him for advice all the time.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports