Q. Talk me through the round out here today. You had a nice string of birdies there on the back to get in with a 68.
COLE SHERWOOD: Yeah, it was a good round. Our expectations for the course, Scott and I's expectations really shifted when the wind started blowing. Pretty difficult golf course overall, but when the wind is blowing some holes are just a little tougher.
So we played it pretty similar to how we played Oakmont. Just hit it in the fairway, find the uphill putts, and just create a pretty stress-free round. That's kind of the key in long events like this.
Q. What were your thoughts on Longue Vue today? Assuming this or the practice round was the first time you played it.
COLE SHERWOOD: Yeah, I played it in the practice round. It's a great golf course. The staff here did an amazing shop. It's in excellent shape. It's really good test. Even though it's only 6600 yards it plays every bit of it.
You really have to hit a lot of demanding golf shots, and if you let your mind slip it's easy to get out of position. My caddie, Scott, did an amazing job just keeping me focused on every shot and really locked in, especially on the back nine when we knew we had to finish strong.
Q. When it's all said and done here today, you're going to be somewhere near the top of the finishers here and be on to match play. Playing in your first USGA championship, what does that mean to you and how do you feel about these first two days?
COLE SHERWOOD: No, it's been amazing. I've always just watched in on the other events supporting my friends, and it's so cool to actually be here. USGA has done an amazing job just making it feel like a tour event. It feels like everything that the tour players go through week in and week out.
So it's just really cool. I'm just trying to really savor every moment here. Just being at Oakmont, Longue Vue, two great courses, it's not very often you have opportunities like this, so I am just trying to enjoy my time here no matter how long it is.
Q. Thoughts going into tomorrow, match play, shifting from stroke play to match play.
COLE SHERWOOD: Yeah, it's pretty similar for me. I think the hardest opponent is Oakmont, as you saw the scores it's playing really hard.
And so biggest thing is staying focused, locking in on every shot, and just really playing the golf course, because that's about as tough an opponent as you'll get out here.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports