Q. Nice way to finish there with the birdie on the last. How do you assess the round?
MACKENZIE HUGHES: It was a nice day. I mean, I hit a few loose ones that I'd like to have back, but I did so many good things that it's kind of easier to forget about those. And yeah, when I made those mistakes, I tried to tell myself that I was swinging it really well and that there was really no need to panic or worry about those misses. And just made a commitment to having a nice attitude today, and that along with hitting the ball nice was a good combo.
Q. I know you were in the afternoon wave today, but some of the guys from the morning wave were talking about how they found the greens softer, more receptive than they had in practice rounds. Did you find it that way? Do you feel it firmed up a little bit this afternoon?
MACKENZIE HUGHES: It was definitely softer comparing it to last time I played Tuesday. Tuesday afternoon it was firm and bouncy, and then today I was able to hit a few shots that just stick a little bit better, a little easier. Like playing into 16, like 16's usually a very firm green, and today you weren't really worried about the ball chasing through that green and going bounding.
So it was definitely a big help. I think by tomorrow afternoon, they're going to start to dry out and get back to firm and fast.
Q. We talked a lot recently. You've been playing well, swinging it well. Confidence seems to be very high for you especially as we're into this big part of the season with majors, big events like Truckee Meadows. Do you feel your game is trending in the right direction at the right time?
MACKENZIE HUGHES: Yeah, coming off -- I missed the cut in Dallas and in Tulsa and I felt like my game's been -- when it's been up this year, it's been good but it's been down as well. And so it's been a bit of a topsy-turvy year. But I don't feel like I've ever been that far off. And sometimes it's something as small as a little attitude check and a little kind of recommitment to that.
I was getting kind of frustrated and down on myself after Dallas and Tulsa. And took a week off and I was able to kind of reset and just making a commitment to really being clear with my thoughts. And often the hardest thing to do is to shake something off and be positive when things aren't going your way. And so I had a couple of those moments today I was able to kind of overcome, which felt good.
Q. Is it hard when you feel like you're that close but yet the results aren't showing?
MACKENZIE HUGHES: Yes. And that's kind of where I got myself to where I was getting frustrated with myself. But it wasn't like my game was bad, but just compounding things by getting frustrated and just can't afford to do that. Can't toss away shots or go the wrong direction just because you're getting frustrated or getting down on yourself. So there's no time for that. You're just going to get run over.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports