Q. Just quick thoughts on the round; you got off to a pretty hot start and that helps you kind of coming in.
HUDSON SWAFFORD: Yeah, I played really solid today. I did a lot of good things, gave myself a lot of chances, hit a lot of good putts that went in. Super satisfied with the day. I played some really nice, solid golf in the heat and made two great par putts coming in just to kind of keep where I was at.
Really happy the way I was stroking it and ball control today.
Q. I was talking to other players and they mentioned in terms of their ranking of goals that getting to East Lake is oftentimes above winning. Do you feel that way just because of everything that comes with getting to the TOUR Championship?
HUDSON SWAFFORD: I mean, it's hard to replace winning. That feels pretty good. Obviously did it earlier this season.
Yeah, getting to East Lake obviously opens up your whole next season, but man, winning takes care of all. I would rather -- I would like to win.
Q. How difficult is it to block out kind of those ancillary things like Masters berths?
HUDSON SWAFFORD: I mean, go win and you'll be where you need to be. That's really the only thing I'm focused on. East Lake is a bonus. I know if I win then I'll be in East Lake. So I'm going to try to get in the mix, going to do everything I can, going to play aggressive to have a chance to win and see where it stacks up.
That's kind of the first goal is to win.
Q. Do you know what finish you need to --
HUDSON SWAFFORD: I don't.
Q. -- make it to East Lake?
HUDSON SWAFFORD: No. I know it's probably pretty high. You finish a little higher the first event it would have been a little easier, but I'm playing good golf and I'm just going to give myself a chance, and like I said, I'm just trying to get in the mix late on Sunday to try to win. That'll take care of everything and put me in a place where I want; actually have chance to compete at East Lake as opposed to starting 12 shots back.
Q. This is a little random, but how long is your driver shaft?
HUDSON SWAFFORD: 45 inches. It's pretty standard.
Q. Have you ever swung anything above 46?
HUDSON SWAFFORD: I've swung like right at 46 a couple times. I lost a little bit of control. I like hitting my second shot from the fairway. I don't think I'm the shortest guy out here. I'm definitely not the longest. But I hit it decently far. Everybody is kind of searching for distance, but I'm pretty comfortable kind of where I'm at.
I tried to get a little bit of distance earlier in the season, and everything else kind of got a little off. I'll kind of stick to where I'm at right now.
Q. Do you know anybody that plays longer than 46 besides Bryson?
HUDSON SWAFFORD: I mean, that's the only one. I know guys that tinker with it obviously. I remember talking with J.T. in Maui this year and he said he had been messing with it at home, and he said he was smoking it. So I kind of tried it in the desert a little bit on the range and practice round, and it does go farther and it's pretty cool, but it's not always in play.
Q. Was that 46 that you tried?
HUDSON SWAFFORD: Yeah, 46. But yeah, it is what it is. I'm not -- I'm kind of satisfied where I'm at.
Q. Those finishing par putts, tell me how important they are for you going into the weekend.
HUDSON SWAFFORD: It was huge. I made a really nice stroke on 17 and 18 after running it by on 17. I couldn't believe that putt was quite that fast up the hill. But made a good one coming in.
Really the putter felt great all day. I made a lot of putts, hitting my irons. Gave myself a lot of chances. It was quite nice to hit two good solid putts coming in just to solidify what I've been doing all day.
Q. The greens seemed a little slicker today, didn't they?
HUDSON SWAFFORD: Yeah, a little bit early in the morning. They definitely were. But I really felt like I had the speed all day, and 17 was the only one that kind of slipped away from me. It just kind of got me off guard. Maybe a little combination of the heat and whatnot.
But no, it was a great day on the greens. Really hit a lot of solid putts, hit a lot of solid golf shots and played nice.
Q. Fair to say this weekend each round the mentality is you've got to go super low because everybody is going low out here?
HUDSON SWAFFORD: Yeah, absolutely. Give yourself as many chances as possible. I feel like I'm giving myself a lot of chances. Just keep hitting solid putts and see where it stacks up here back nine on Sunday.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports