Q. Last time we talked was after day one and you were sitting outside the cutoff.
FORD MARTIN: Uh-huh.
Q. Came down to the wire a little bit yesterday and snuck in there. Talk to me about the adjustments you made. Talk me through the last couple holes yesterday. Were you aware where you were at?
FORD MARTIN: Yeah, it's funny. I was hitting the ball well on Monday. Just put myself in bad spots.
And then I knew I needed to put a round together yesterday to make the cut. My caddie and I had a game plan that we needed two shots -- our goal yesterday was 2-under. We started on 10. I made the turn after 18 at 2-over for the day, so not going in the right direction.
It was is a similar story last year in Kansas. He told me after the turn on the second day we needed two shots to make the cut. I knew I needed at least two shots to have a shot yesterday on the front nine, our back nine. It was a Jordan Spieth-like nine holes for me.
I had one par yesterday on our back nine, and luckily five birdies and a few bogeys thrown in there. So it was a rollercoaster of emotion. On our last hole yesterday we hit the fairway, and in the fairway we were in the shade waiting on the group in front of us and we looked at the leaderboard. I was at plus 6-over, on the cut line.
Hit a good shot. Had 90 yards into the green on our last yesterday, and just took a hard bounce on us and I had -- I paced it off yesterday on No. 9; seven paces, so about 18 feet for me.
I knew I needed a two-putt par to make the cut. I hit a good putt and luckily it dropped, so I gave myself some breathing room yesterday to make the cut.
We were definitely aware the last couple holes. The early days I tended to not look at leaderboards, but when the cut is in play I like to know where I stand.
But maybe next year we start at looking at the leaderboard. That seems to get me going.
Q. Yeah.
FORD MARTIN: When I know what I need to post.
Q. I think every day of the tournament you posted a better back nine than first nine. Do you feel like that's a strength of yours, resiliency, adapting as the day goes on? Both times you were closing better than you started.
FORD MARTIN: Yeah, 100%. I would like to put two good nines together definitely. Yeah, I pride myself on staying in the fight and being able to grind as much as I can.
There are some tough, really grindy up and downs I had out there today, which I'm proud of. Yeah, we got to look at how we approach the first day next year, because last year I started with 3-over; this year started with 5-over. Just not how you want to start.
I would love to start in the red numbers after day one next year. Yeah, I do pride myself on always sticking around, giving myself a chance to go low when I need to.
Q. Three days of 18 holes. How are your feet feeling?
FORD MARTIN: You know, it's super beneficial that they have -- we have access to the locker rooms here at Woodmont. I've been doing the cold plunge and hopping in the Jacuzzi every day. That's definitely helped my legs. Been staying off my legs at much as I can at night. I was a little sore definitely when I got up in the morning yesterday and today.
Again, we have access to the gym here at Woodmont, so I've been able to get in there and stretch and feel good by the time I tee off.
Q. I was able to follow you for a couple holes today and see your entourage following you around.
FORD MARTIN: Yeah.
Q. How cool was that? How did you respond to having people walking all the holes with you and cheering you on?
FORD MARTIN: Yeah, it was so cool. I definitely feel like I have to play better with the entourage following along, especially my wife, my caddie's wife, and my good friend from high school's wife are all pregnant. They're out here with their bellies in the sun, so I had to put on a show for them a little bit.
No, I really appreciate all my friends and family coming out. I think I play better when more people come. They always ask, they're like, do you like not want us to be there? Do you feel the pressure of us there? I love it when they're here so I can feel like I'm showing off.
Q. Obviously starting at 11 today, hole 13, 14 the tournament was broadcast on the Golf Channel.
FORD MARTIN: Oh, awesome.
Q. What does that mean to have that exposure, any kid across the country maybe has the same condition as you, maybe a different impairment can watch you play, maybe I can do this too?
FORD MARTIN: Absolutely incredible. My family told me -- I didn't get to meet him, but yesterday my family met a guy who saw my segment on Golf Channel Monday night who was born with the same condition I think in one foot and had the same triple arthrodesis surgery I had.
He woke up at 5:00 in the morning and came from Baltimore. My family got a photo with him. I thought that was the coolest thing ever.
Q. Anything cool to share about this experience and being back home for this?
FORD MARTIN: Oh, my gosh, huge thank you to Woodmont and David Dorn and the USGA. This is incredible. It feels like a major out here with every single detail taken care of, even the U.S. Adaptive Open coffee cups. Can't wait to get back next year.
Huge shout out to my friends and family for coming out, especially my wife.
Q. Is it weird or hard to go back to real estate in Nashville after this?
FORD MARTIN: Oh, my gosh, 100%. I've been at night looking at my emails making some calls. It will be interesting to go back to real estate in Nashville. Luckily the people I work with are super supportive. So thank you to them for letting me come out here for a week and take my vacation, practice last week at Congressional.
It's been the least amount of pressure on me. Hoping to play as much golf as I can the last couple weeks to get ready for this so their support has been great.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports