THE MODERATOR: We welcome in Brooke Henderson, 4-under on the day, five birdies. Just take us through your round and what was working for you today.
BROOKE HENDERSON: Everything was working pretty well. I would like to hit a few more fairways tomorrow, but when I needed to I was able to get up-and-down a few times and the putter was rolling, and it's nice to make five birdies out on this golf course. Hopefully just do something similar over the next few days.
Q. Walk us through the birdie on 9.
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, I hit the green, it was just at the front. I was looking for a little bit more release, but happy to hit the green. Greens at majors are good. It was a long putt, like 12 paces. But had a good read on it. Brit was tending the flag, and it was nice to see it fall in and climb the leaderboard a little bit more.
Q. What did you hit in at 9, what club?
BROOKE HENDERSON: 6-iron.
Q. Then a great birdie at 1. You're not seeing many people birdie that.
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, 1 is another tough hole but it was nice to find the fairway, which is another big key out on this course is to hit lots of fairways, which hopefully I'll do more of tomorrow. Then I hit the green, and really only had maybe like 12 feet for birdie, which was really nice, and kind of a rare opportunity on that hole, so it was nice to capitalize.
Q. In Michigan you seemed to feel your game was in good shape. You said you just weren't scoring. What felt different today?
BROOKE HENDERSON: I scored today, so I got up-and-down when I needed to, and I was able to make those birdie putts that seemed to rub the edge the last few weeks. It was nice to get a solid round in on Thursday, and hopefully just three solid rounds to finish out the week.
Q. 5 of 14 fairways. Obviously want to hit more tomorrow, but to be able to grind that score out not having your best with the big dog. Talk about what that tells you about where your game is at.
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, for sure. I was able to hit a lot of greens after not hitting a lot of fairways, so that felt really nice. I wasn't too far off with the driver, so I think tomorrow hopefully I'll find a few more fairways and continue to hit that many greens because it makes it a lot easier on the putter.
Q. How good does a low one feel out here? This golf course is just ridiculously challenging.
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, it is a really tricky golf course so it is nice to get a round in solid and underneath par. I feel like you've just got to take it shot by shot and just kind of play your way around this course and try to be smart and aggressive when you can.
Q. Walk us through that birdie on 16. That's a heck of a birdie on a challenging par-3.
BROOKE HENDERSON: 16, yeah. I've liked that hole the last few days. It's really long but I've been able to hit some close ones on the practice rounds, so I was feeling pretty good over it today, and I was able to hit it to like three feet, so it was an easy birdie that way. It's tricky, especially when the wind picks up.
Q. Obviously had good control of your game today, but in terms of the golf course, do you like it? Can you talk about the design and how enjoyable it is out there?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, it's amazing to get the opportunity to play here. Everything is in such amazing condition, and with it raining a little bit overnight and then this morning, the conditions were a little bit softer, which made it, I think, a little bit easier to score today.
But we'll see what tomorrow brings in the morning. Hopefully it's softer again and can go out and make a few more putts.
Q. With you consistently playing so well in this major championship, regardless of where they have it, what have you learned that you have to do well in this championship to continue to be so successful?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, I love this event. I need more of this event. But I think it's really demanding on all parts of your game, and I think coming into the week I'm prepared for that, knowing that it's going to demand a lot. I'm not always able to execute, but most of the time in the past I have been able to, just knowing that it takes a lot of solid shots around the greens, getting up-and-down when you need to, making those birdie putts when you have those opportunities, and just trying to find as many fairways as you can.
It really takes a lot both mentally and physically, these events, but I think it's just the energy that this event brings every year is what makes me really excited. The great venues and the increase in purse sizes and there's more television coverage, too, so there's a lot of great things going for this event, and it's nice that I've been able to play well in this.
Q. What does that extra preparation look like that you did coming in to prepare knowing this is going to be a tough test?
BROOKE HENDERSON: I knew I needed to get the game rolling, so I don't normally play five weeks in a row, but this is five for me just because I knew I needed to get the game in shape. Been just trying to work with my dad and my sister and just trying to get the game a little bit sharper.
Q. You said yesterday that you thought you were close. Where was it today in terms of closeness to what you wanted it to be?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, today was good. I just need more of days like today. I haven't been far off all year. It may seem like I have been, but to me, it has felt very close. It is nice to get a good day in today, and just hopefully more of that over the next few days.
Q. I saw some analytic that said in majors you have the best opening round score of some players. I'm just wondering, do you like the lead in a big tournament?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, anytime you're near the top of the leaderboard, it's a lot of fun, especially on the weekend. Hopefully I can play well tomorrow and get in those final groups and then just go out and try to play good golf.
Q. How did you manage to conserve your energy having to hit some of those shots out of that really thick rough out there?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, I'm pretty tired right now, so I'm pretty excited to go to sleep. It's another early day tomorrow. But just trying to conserve energy where you can and trying to eat a lot and drink a lot. Fortunately it's not very hot, so that's a saving grace, I guess, so that's good that way. But I look forward to getting some sleep in tonight.
Q. Any good par saves out there that kept your momentum going?
BROOKE HENDERSON: Yeah, one early on 13. Was able to make -- well, it was probably around 15 feet for par, so that felt really nice. I did give one back on 15 a couple holes later but was able to bounce right back with a birdie, so that was good.
No. 4, the tough par-3, I was able to make maybe like seven feet for par, too, so just clutch putts like that throughout the round that just kind of kept the momentum rolling.
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