Q. Denny, great finish. Talk about your day.
DENNY McCARTHY: Yeah, played really nice. Somebody just told me I hit all 18 greens. I didn't know that, but I knew I hit it pretty well today.
Made some nice putts early, had some good looks in the middle of the round I didn't capitalize on. Like you said, finishing birdie-birdie, was nice to finish that way. Nice to make a putt on 18. Nice to see something go in going into tomorrow.
It's a good feeling to kind of feel like I got something out of round birdieing the last two.
Q. Tied within striking distance. How do you keep your emotions in check and just go out and give it everything you got and not think about all the things that could be life changing?
DENNY McCARTHY: Yeah, I haven't thought about them. I mean, contended at the U.S. Open a couple weeks ago and I wasn't thinking about it. I was really calm and comfortable coming down the stretch. I felt like I could win the U.S. Open. I wasn't nervous or scared about any particular shots. I felt really good about them.
I think doing that at Memorial and U.S. Open, it just really freed me up, and I've just been playing really committed golf, making some really free swings, which is where I love to be.
Q. How much can that experience help you tomorrow?
DENNY McCARTHY: Yeah, it's huge. I've now been in this kind of spot for two of my last three tournaments going back to Memorial and U.S. Open where I was in the mix on the weekend having a chance to win. The more and more I put myself in this situation, the more comfortable I'm going to be.
Q. You're going up against a guy who has led from the start here. Is that something you look at? It's hard to do. You have done that. Is that a benefit on your end?
DENNY McCARTHY: Not really, no. I played with J.T. today. He's a playing really well, so I know he's going to come out and make some birdies tomorrow, so I can't expect him to make a bunch pars tomorrow.
I know the way he is hitting it and the way he putts as well he's going to make some birdies tomorrow. I'm going to have to go out and be aggressive and make some birdies early to maybe put some pressure on him.
Like I said, just if I keep doing what I've been doing, making committed, free swings, that's the headspace I've been in, and I look forward to the challenge of doing that again tomorrow.
Q. I understand you guys are staying at the same house now.
DENNY McCARTHY: Yeah, we are. It's me and J.T., Brendon Todd, Greyson Sigg, Ben Kohles, and Patton Kizzire. We got a nice house. We've been having fun at night, going to some dinners together.
It's been a fun week.
Q. No golf talk tonight?
DENNY McCARTHY: No. We've been playing a lot of cards, some dice games. We've just been relaxing and having fun, so probably won't talk too much about golf.
Q. Not exactly Animal House?
DENNY McCARTHY: No. We're not -- we haven't had any alcohol or anything. Haven't been throwing parties, that's for sure.
Q. What's the card game?
DENNY McCARTHY: We've been playing gin. Yeah, it's a good, fun card game. Gets the brain activated in the morning and at night before we go to bed.
Q. J.T. running away with those, too?
DENNY McCARTHY: I actually beat him. We played a couple card games this morning. We both woke up at a similar time so and I took him in the card game this morning, so there at least something I got out of today.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports