Q. What are you happiest with yesterday and today?
LILIA VU: I think I'm happiest with how I've been putting it to the hole. I think I'm giving myself a lot of chances for birdie, and that's what you need out here. That's the toughest part, just trying to play with the wind, not against it, and I've been trying to do that.
Q. Has that become clear to you in the practice rounds, or does yesterday's conditions and today's just completely change how you approach it?
LILIA VU: I think a little more during the round. Yesterday for sure I think you're able to zone in on the shot, what you're trying to do out there.
Q. Two birdies in your last three holes. What kind of momentum does that give you heading into the weekend?
LILIA VU: Yeah, definitely feels good to get those two birdies on the board. I feel like I was kind of pacing myself towards the middle of the round and was waiting for something to happen. Glad I was able to convert there, and hopefully I'll give myself more chances tomorrow for more birdies.
Q. How much of an advantage do you feel being such a solid putter?
LILIA VU: I think anything can happen. I feel like it's so tough that it kind of levels the playing field a bit. I think it's just all relative.
Q. Sometimes when you've won multiple majors in completely different scenarios, does it feel more validating in a way when you do it in conditions like an Open?
LILIA VU: Absolutely. I mean, you have to have the discipline out here. You're aiming 40 yards off the fairway. You're aiming at camera towers. You're aiming at bunkers that are so far away, but that's just your aiming point. It's just a matter of being disciplined and pulling off that shot and trusting in the moment that the wind is going to take it.
Q. When you win an Open like you did, does it feel like a stamp of an approval on your passport as a player, like I did that there?
LILIA VU: Absolutely. In dining they've been kind of replaying last year's coverage, and it kind of seems surreal to me that I actually did that because I just thought it was so tough.
Q. What about defending at the Home of Golf? Has it been a buzz knowing that you're in contention and knowing this is the place where the sport started?
LILIA VU: I think I haven't been able to think about it much. It's tough out here. You're kind of locked into a shot in front of you. But I'll definitely digest it later today. It's such an honor to play here, just to be in the presence of St Andrews. I'm very grateful to be defending here and I'm not thinking about it too much, I'm kind of thinking about it in the sense of it's a new week, how can I play the best that I can.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports