BAILEY TARDY:
Q. Here with Bailey Tardy. What a round. Round of the week, 7-under 65, on what's been a challenging golf course, challenging conditions. I know yesterday was of bit of a fight. What changed?
BAILEY TARDY: I definitely hit more greens than yesterday. I think I hit five greens yesterday, which is -- usually my approach shots and iron play is my strength, so just not having that to bank on was very difficult yesterday.
Yeah, I probably got enough chipping practice for the whole field on the course yesterday.
Q. I was talking to your caddie, Billy, had some bad breaks. How do you kind of reset, recover and then shoot this low one today?
BAILEY TARDY: You know, you can't really, I don't know, harp on the bad breaks you get out there. They're going to happen. I did hit a lot of good shots yesterday that bounced off the green or a lot of good putts that just didn't make it.
You just come out here, it's a brand new day. I think I didn't have the greatest attitude yesterday on the golf course, so really focusing on my attitude. Whether it's good or bad, I'm just trying to stay level minded, and that's what I did today.
Q. Seven birdies and no bogeys. Very rare feat at Hoakalei. Tell me about some of those birdies out there.
BAILEY TARDY: Yeah, my ball striking was really great today. Hit 16 greens, so I think you're probably going to shoot low if you hit that many greens.
Honestly, I stuck probably four or five within three to five feet, so I had some short birdie putts and really took advantage of those.
Q. I know we've only had a couple full field events so far. I know it hasn't been the start you've been looking for, but to play like this today, to make the cut this week, and now be inside the top 10? I know there is still some golf to play and Saturday looming large, but how confident are you right now?
BAILEY TARDY: Yeah, I'm pretty confident. Just being able to play well in 20- to 30-mile-an-hour winds means I know how to hit golf shots, not just how to hit the perfect shot.
Really the placement out here is so important and you can't really be on the wrong side of the hole or it's a bogey at best.
So, yeah, just, I don't know, from my practice, my chipping, and just going with that and, yeah, it builds my confidence.
Q. Played well today. Going for broke. Nothing to lose. What's the mindset? You're going to be chasing, but in contention though.
BAILEY TARDY: I think I'm just going to go out the same as today, same mindset, focusing on one shot at a time. You know, if coming down the stretch I'm in the lead or in contention then I'll probably have a lot of nerves.
But, yeah, just kind of focusing on my game and one shot at a time and just enjoying the moment.
Q. Does Billy help you mitigate those nerves? Joined up last year at the Epson Tour Championship.
BAILEY TARDY: Yeah, he definitely keeps the mood light out there. We just kind of crack jokes all day. I don't know, I mean, we just talk about some of the pointless stuff. Probably not appropriate to say on here.
But, yeah, we're just cracking jokes all day and it's really fun having him on the bag.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports