Q. Looking at the scorecard, it looked like you were kind of grinding it out there today. Did you have many other opportunities besides this last one?
CHAN KIM: I think I probably had about two or so birdie putts like inside the 20-foot range. Hit a lot of good putts today. The pace was a lot better. I had some really good two-putts today.
But yeah, for that last one to go in, it's going to make food taste a little better.
Q. Your striking is very even keeled, but that's got to turn the frown upside down?
CHAN KIM: Yeah, to finish with an eagle on the last is a bonus. Would have loved to have made a few more putts today or hit it a little bit closer, but the conditions were so tough. The guys that go low are going to go low regardless. If they're on their "A" game, these guys are so good, like I said yesterday, some guys are going to go low in the wind, and some of us, we just have to try and hang on and just shoot the best number we can.
Q. This has to help your confidence because of the patience, and also for your situation, your status.
CHAN KIM: Yeah, like I said, if I can play one good round tomorrow, I could potentially finish at a pretty good number, and as the season opener, just to start off getting some points, that's a really big boost in confidence.
But yeah, I've worked on some stuff this past off-season, and it's slowly paying off, so I'm seeing some improvement in my putting and in my short game. Yeah, I'm excited for --
Q. Nice second shot to get you in that position.
CHAN KIM: Yeah, needed that one. It was a tough one. Luckily I got it on the green.
Q. What made it tough?
CHAN KIM: The wind was so gusty out there today, I either had to really try and hit a low 4-iron to get it to run up or I could hit a normal one if the wind wasn't too strong.
The danger is you don't time it right, you could hit one that comes out a little lower and then instantly it's over the green. It was just all about timing and really knowing how to judge the wind.
Q. I did hear a little roar, and this is your first Saturday at this tournament --
CHAN KIM: It is, yeah.
Q. More friends and family perhaps?
CHAN KIM: Yeah, I had a few more of my family and friends come out today, which was awesome. The support always helps. Playing in front of a hometown crowd kind of keeps me in the moment and just helps me to grind it out.
Q. Anyone in particular --
CHAN KIM: Gosh, there's so many. Just some of the parents of the junior golfers I used to play with, they're all out here. I know Ryan Kuroiwa, he's out here, as well, with his parents. We're very close family friends, grew up playing golf together. It's just nice to have that support behind me. Or if I go anywhere else, I'm not really known yet, so hopefully we can change that this year.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports