THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome the captain of Fireballs GC, Sergio Garcia. Sergio, you fired off a 1-under 71 today, which was actually an incredibly impressive round considering how the lowest score of the day was 3-under. The scores today were even crazier than they were yesterday. Yesterday was the second hardest round of golf in LIV Golf history, only surpassed by a round of Andalucía. So the conditions are impossible out there today. You're currently sitting in solo second. Tell us about your round and what it was like out there.
SERGIO GARCIA: Yeah, obviously very pleased about the way the day went. I felt like other than a couple of swings here and there, I felt like I played really, really well. I hit a lot of great shots on very challenging conditions, even tougher than yesterday.
It's funny because this morning, I woke up and I told my wife, I said to Angela, it look like there's a little bit less wind today, and then I got here and I was like, no.
Yeah, very happy. Very happy to shoot 1-under par today, the way I played, and it's challenging out there. So very pleased.
Q. Did 1-under par feel like a better score than what it shows?
SERGIO GARCIA: Well, 1-under par was a great score, and that's what it felt like. It probably felt like a 6- or 7-under par any other conditions. But yeah, there was a lot of fight in there. A lot of smart playing to some of the pins that I couldn't go after, and then a couple of really good up-and-downs in there. So that was nice.
Q. You're only two shots within catching Bryson tomorrow, who's currently sitting at 5-under. I imagine the conditions tomorrow are going to be similar to what they have been the last two days. What's your plan going into tomorrow?
SERGIO GARCIA: More of the same. Just keep doing things the way I've been doing it. Just keep believing in myself. Then you can only control what you can control, so I'm going to try to put the best score I can put there and then we'll see what happens.
Obviously Bryson is playing very well, too, so it's not going to be easy to beat him, but we'll give it our best.
Q. We talked a lot all week about how this course really prepares you guys for next week at Augusta. I know you've got to get through tomorrow first, but how much is that on your mind as you're playing really well, in second place in really tough conditions? How are you feeling?
SERGIO GARCIA: No, it's good. It's definitely a strong test coming into next week. We're going to need to rest on Monday, that's for sure, after this week. But yeah, it's definitely an amazing test.
This course at the moment, the way it's playing, it's testing every single part of your game, and that's what Augusta is going to do next week. Hopefully we'll be able to keep doing more of the same.
Q. I was going to ask you about the team leaderboard. You guys are in third, tied for third. Obviously you've got a shot at four in a row now. How have you felt about the team play this week, especially in these tough conditions?
SERGIO GARCIA: Unfortunately I haven't even seen the scores today. But it's really hard out there. For four guys to keep it together on this golf course the way it's playing, it's very difficult, but like I said, I'm very proud of all of them. They're all amazing players and even better people.
We'll give it a shot tomorrow and see what happens.
Q. I wanted to ask about your dad. He coached the girl that won at Augusta National today. You probably haven't had a chance to chat with him yet, but how fun is that --
SERGIO GARCIA: I mean, super proud of Carla. To be able to win the Augusta Women's Amateur, it's unbelievable. Yeah, she came from our academy obviously before she moved here to the U.S. and played in college.
But yeah, it's an amazing feat and super proud of her. Can't wait to tell her well done.
Q. Make it two in a row next week for the crew?
SERGIO GARCIA: That would be nice. But there's still a long ways to go.
Q. After two rounds of competition, have you had to make any adjustments mentally or technically for you to maintain at the top of the leaderboard?
SERGIO GARCIA: No. It's just hard. It's difficult out there. You just had to try to play very well and as smart as possible, and that's pretty much what I've been trying to do, kind of try to keep it together as much as possible, which is not easy. I'm proud of the way I've played the first two days, and excited for tomorrow.
Q. You're definitely familiar with this course; you have three wins with the Fireballs. Hopefully it's a fourth win. Is the length of the course challenging for you? Do you think you'll have to adjust anything going into tomorrow?
SERGIO GARCIA: No, it's just a difficult golf course. You just have to try to play it as well as possible and be very patient out there because it's just tough. It's as simple as that. It's the Blue Monster; that is just not a name. It comes with something. You have to respect it.
Q. I've been watching you play for probably 25 years, and it seems like you're in complete control of your golf ball right now. Do you feel like this is the best that you've played in your career or you're close to that top level?
SERGIO GARCIA: I don't know. I mean, I obviously feel pretty comfortable about the way I've been playing the last year and a half or so. I still think that 2008 was my best year, the way I felt there with my game. I felt really, really good. But obviously I'm super happy about being here, competing hard at 45, and trying to take it to these youngsters that are really, really good.
I'm just enjoying it.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports