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THE MODERATOR: 7-under for the opening round. What did you like about your round?
HAYDEN BUCKLEY: Just kept everything in front of me. Got off to a decent start and kind of stalled through the middle of the round. Missed a very close putt on 10 for birdie; rattled off four in a row after that.
Hit some great shots. Obviously it's soft out. A lot of scores are pretty low. You know, kept the ball in play and gave myself opportunities to make some putts.
Putting has been probably the best of my career the last few weeks. If I just give myself chances, feels like I can rattle those four in a row off more often.
Q. What's been hot with the putter? Have you been working on something?
HAYDEN BUCKLEY: I switched to a putter I think at Colonial. Few weeks ago pulled it out of my closet. It's a putter I won with on the Korn Ferry TOUR and it's been collecting dust for a few years. I thought if it won once, it could at least play decent another time.
So it's just something getting back to what I know works. I've changed a lot of clubs over the last few months, but I think I've found the combination I like.
Q. With courses like this do you like where scores are out there where you have to go low or the more challenging?
HAYDEN BUCKLEY: I think it's a great golf course. There was just no wind today, which made it easy. I think if it gets windier the next few days the scores won't be that low.
Every time you get into a weekend the pins get tougher, more penalizing. I prefer when it's higher scores, like at some of the tougher golf courses, but I still think this course has plenty -- the rough is plenty thick and plenty of responsibilities to make bogeys. If I can avoid those, I'll be able to play well the rest of the week.
Q. Crazy to think we are down to the final five weeks of the season. What's the extra push and motivation for weeks like this?
HAYDEN BUCKLEY: I haven't had a good year, so it hasn't been the best -- it wasn't the best start. I've seen a lot of good things the last month, so I know I've got the next five weeks to make a push for the playoffs.
You know, if not, then I'll push it in the fall. I really like the way my game has been trending the last few weeks. I think it's all coming together at the right time.
Q. Red, white, and blue on your hat. What do you got planned for the rest of the afternoon and evening?
HAYDEN BUCKLEY: The 4:00 a.m. wakeups are enough to give me an afternoon nap. I'll go have some lunch and look for that nap. Watch fireworks from the hotel room tonight.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports