BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: Just didn't get anything out of it. I kept it 1-under through 7, through 8, perfect drive on 9, and this golf course can come up and get you pretty quick and you've just got to be on your game, and it got me, and I wasn't fully on my game. Pretty disappointed with how I played.
It's not too far off. Just got to get the putting a little bit more dialed, and I'll be right there because 3-over could have easily been 2-under today.
Q. Is the putting the biggest thing you need to straighten out a little bit?
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: Yeah, for whatever reason, just couldn't get the speed of the greens dialed in. I was in the collar a couple times, just three-putted on those holes, and three three-putts and doing whatever happened on 12, then No. 9, three-putting there, too. I mean, it could have been a couple-under round pretty easily.
Q. What was the thought on the first chip on 12?
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: I was on a 45-degree upslope so there's really not much I'm trying to do. I'm hitting like a semi half flop, and it came out like a jumper and just shot and knuckled right. I'm like, well, horrible decision, but life goes on.
Q. It was buried?
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: Yeah, just a horrible lie. It should have been a 7-iron. I should have just ran it up there instead of trying to get cute with it. That's the U.S. Open for you. I've got to be more dialed in than what I was today.
Q. Do you think Sunday, plus 3 could be the winning score?
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: It depends on the conditions. If it doesn't rain on Saturday, there is probably a decent chance. But I'm looking to shoot under par and give myself a better chance going into this weekend.
Q. Did it play as difficult as you thought it would?
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: Yeah, absolutely. I think the rough is incredibly penalizing. Even for a guy like me, I can't get out of it some of the times, depending on the lie. It was tough. It was a brutal test of golf. But one that I'm excited for tomorrow. If I just tidy up a couple things and get some momentum going my way, we'll see where it goes.
Q. Did the course get harder as you went along or will it continue to?
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: I'm sure, yeah, for sure. It was pretty difficult in the morning. It was so firm and fast, freakily the 1st hole. It's not like it was slow. I just think tidying things up and getting my head back in tiptop shape for tomorrow is what I'm focused on doing.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports