Q. Birdie, eagle, terrific start in the circumstances in the conditions. Pretty happy?
JOSE LUIS BALLESTER BARRIO: For sure. My ball-striking was amazing today, and I noticed as soon as I hit the range this morning, I was hitting the ball great and I took advantage of it. I hit many good shots in the first six holes. I was 4-under through six.
Then I kept playing well. Just had one bad hole, one bad drive on 13. Made a good bogey there and then just hung in there and waited for my opportunity on the last two and made a good birdie on 17 and hit an amazing two shots on 18. Happy with the finish and happy with the round.
Q. What did you hit in on 18?
JOSE LUIS BALLESTER BARRIO: 3-iron from 275 yards.
Q. To how far?
JOSE LUIS BALLESTER BARRIO: Nine feet.
Q. Second eagle of the day. How did you get the one on 4?
JOSE LUIS BALLESTER BARRIO: It was playing quite easy today, downwind. I hit driver and 9-iron. That one, I made a long putt. I made like a 40-footer. So I was rolling on the greens, as well. I didn't make a ton of putts but I was feeling quite confident on the short ones. Made a couple good ones as well, and yeah, I feel like the putts that I had to make, I made them.
Q. Nice when you're on the range feeling good, and you take it on to the course?
JOSE LUIS BALLESTER BARRIO: Yeah, sometimes you feel good on the range and then you don't really play that well. I'm excited for tomorrow. Hopefully I keep my ball-striking the same.
Q. You have a great pedigree.
JOSE LUIS BALLESTER BARRIO: Yeah, it's always exciting to come back from the U.S. and play the European schedule. I love these kind of championships.
Q. Obviously Sergio won this many moons ago. Is he somebody that you've always looked up to and tried to emulate?
JOSE LUIS BALLESTER BARRIO: He's actually a close friend. His dad is actually my coach. I've grown close to his family, and so he's always been a guy I look up to. It's just the beginning of the tournament. A lot of golf left but it's a good start.
Q. Same college at Jon Rahm, as well, two wonderful pioneers to follow, isn't it?
JOSE LUIS BALLESTER BARRIO: Yeah.
Q. Is that the ultimate dream for you?
JOSE LUIS BALLESTER BARRIO: Yeah, try to follow the steps of the big names from the Spanish nation. So we had Sergio and now we have Jon Rahm there. It's always a dream to in a couple years be in their position. Excited for that.
Q. I know you're coached by his dad, and he's obviously played a huge part in your development.
JOSE LUIS BALLESTER BARRIO: Yeah, I started working with him when I was 13. I grew up in a small course in Castellon, and he coaches with a club -- like Sergio at his club and we started working together when I was 13. Yeah, from that time to now. He's always been a good guy to me, and he's one of these coaches that when I'm out of my swing, he always finds something to put me back. He knows what to say, and it's been working.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports