Q. Erik, +14 on the day. How would you assess your second round?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Finally making some putts. It's been a trying season in that regard. My dad told me like two weeks ago, change is as good as a holiday, and I finally made a change. Got a new putter in the bag and it's finally going in.
Hit it great the last two days and just made some nice putts.
Q. What did you change to on the putter and from?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: It was a Toulon San Diego; it's same the head but it's got a longer neck so it's a bit more face balanced. It's a bit heavier so I just feel it more in the hands. It's a small change and making a huge difference.
Q. The change was literally from your dad commenting on it?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Yeah, months of putting rubbish will do that. Last week at the Scottish I think I was seventh or eighth in strokes gained iron play and 140th in putting and missed the cut.
I'd just kind of had enough. Something had to change. Yeah, it's working. (Smiling.)
Q. How nice is it to see when you're working on something like that translate into competition?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: It's incredibly gratifying. Yeah, this game is crazy. Nothing else really changed. Just a bit of a different look and feel, and the mind is incredible how all of a sudden the ball goes in. I can see the reads really well.
Everything else is the same, so it's mind bogglingly weird.
Q. From when you won 2021, you've been in this position before where it's final couple weeks of regular season. How comforting is it to know that when push comes to shove you can perform the best?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Yeah, I've done it before. I prefer to be higher up the FedExCup and not be in this position, but I've done it before.
The game has been there all year. I just haven't been getting it in the hole. So it's been a game of incredible patience knowing that everything is just kind of waiting. Like you said, I did in 2021; maybe I'm peaking at just the right time.
Q. I know would like to stay across for The Open, but what's it is like to be back at a course you know very well?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: If there is one place you want to play golf if you're not in The Open, it's here. So, you know, staying right by Lake Tahoe. It's beautiful this. This course is all. Doesn't get better than this.
Q. Past two days been playing with fellow countryman, Jacques. What was that like playing with him?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Yeah, cool. I've known Jacques for a long time. He finally got his first DP World Tour win earlier this year in Kenya, so I'm really happy for him. He played great as well. Couple putts here and there and he would be right up there, too. It was a lot of fun.
Q. Third time here; you've had success the last two times and you are in good position now. Do you think playing well here is due to the format or you think the course fits your game? Anything you can put your finger on?
ERIK VAN ROOYEN: The format doesn't really sort of come to mind because I'm still trying to do the same thing. Perhaps the course just suits. Perhaps it's the vibes. It's really chill. In a beautiful area. It's all of it I think.
So, yeah, I think the course really suits me. Like I said, I've been hitting it really well all year; just not making putts and finally making a few.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports