Q. You've added a 5-under parch to yesterday's 71. What was the difference in your play today?
SHANE LOWRY: I holed a couple more putts early on ask got myself going. Felt like I played great yesterday. I missed a lot OF chances early on but I felt like I was hitting great putts and from there, the hole starts to get a bit smaller, and I struggled to make birdies.
But today, yeah, I felt like I rolled the ball really well. Put it all together over the weekend, should be good.
Q. How did the course play today compared to yesterday?
SHANE LOWRY: Pins are probably a little bit easier. I feel like this is what happens in this tournament where people get off to slow-ish starts from this morning, it gets better from there. I knew today I needed to shoot a good score.
Happy with what I did. The rough was up there if you hit it in the rough, which I did a couple of times today. It's very, very penal, and the golf course is set up really well for good golf.
Q. You're in the final group last weekend. You've been in the Top 15 seemingly every week, and you told me it was a question of a few putts dropping and you'd be dangerous. Are you feeling dangerous?
SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, I'm hitting the ball well. I really feel good. You know, I'm happy out there. I feel like in control. Yeah, give it another one this weekend hopefully.
Q. A lovely round. You're where you want to be for the weekend, seven birdies and two bogeys, very satisfactory day?
SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, very happy. I knew I had to shoot a decent score if I wanted to get myself back in the tournament. I did that, and hopefully I can keep that going on the weekend.
Q. You were 4-under after seven, and you mentioned the rough yesterday bit you?
SHANE LOWRY: I know my tee shot on 9 was in the rough but my tee shot on 8 was only six inches from the semi-rough and had to chip out sideways pretty much.
It's very, very penal out there. You need to drive the ball in the fairway, but when you do hit it in the fairway, there's a lot of chances the greens are receptive and rolling really well. Hit fairways over the weekend and it will be all right.
Q. The rough caught you on 14. Very good round of 67. You parred both of the par 5s on back nine?
SHANE LOWRY: Yeah, I mean, 18 is a fairly tough hole for me. I got fortunate on my tee shot but I don't carry a 3-wood. Even if I do hit a good tee shot, I can't reach the green in two. It's a three-shotter. Try to make birdie that way, which I didn't.
14, obviously I just missed the fairway by another, you know, I was a yard right of where I wanted to be, and I was lucky to be able to advance it 120 yards.
Yeah, the course is set up brilliant. This is the way golf should be. It should be penal for missing fairways, and there should be a premium on driving the ball in the fairway and that's what it is this week.
Q. Hard to believe this is your 12th year playing this tournament and you've had a couple of close shaves but this is one you'd like to tick off, I'm sure?
SHANE LOWRY: Yeah. I haven't played it every year since 2011 but I've been in the tournament every year since 2011, so that's something to be proud of. It's been a long, decent career so far. I finished second here once before, so hopefully I can go one better this week.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports