Q. Alex, how would you assess the round and what you were able to do to put up a good score to start the week?
ALEX NOREN: Most of the day it was good. I putted pretty good. Hit it pretty good, especially there from like -- starting on 5 started playing pretty good. Before that a little rocky in the beginning. From 5 on I was really pleased and able to hit the fairways on the back.
No more birdies than on the 10th, but otherwise good.
Q. The eagle on 9.
Talk through that.
ALEX NOREN: Hit 9-iron to was it ten feet maybe. You know, managed to hole it. It's a good wind on 9 today; 9 and 10 played short. Some long holes as well.
Q. On break how did you spend the off-season? How much time did you take off?
ALEX NOREN: Well, I took -- it's been a weird fall I thought. I took some time off, but then the kids go to school, my wife is working. What should I do all day? So I've been on the golf course a lot. Just play, practice, try to see if I can improve on some things.
Just kind of enjoy my time. Not over-practice, but trying to be in the gym, on the golf course, and also have some fun with friends and stuff, yeah.
Q. When you come back to start this being the first start for you of this season, it's a condensed January through August, does it feel like the start to the season more than it would before with the wrap-around? Do you feel like a fresh start in a way this week?
ALEX NOREN: Yeah, I mean, yeah, I agree with you. It feels maybe more like distinctive, the season, but then also like not trying to focus too much on everything. When I focus on where to get in, am I in this one, am I in that, it's like too much.
Just trying to enjoy it and sort of enjoy the tournaments more than putting too much pressure on me. Just do -- focus on my game, not so much on the scoring. More on the game, yeah.
Q. Was there one thing in particular that you tried to work on over the month off?
ALEX NOREN: Yeah, I mean, few things. Like some sort of stuff in the short game. Tried really to hit enough shots a have not way so I would actually change my habits.
Then tried to lift some more weights, get the ball speed up. Yeah, otherwise pretty much the same as in the fall. I got some good advice from my coach that I kept at and haven't changed anything, which is unlike me.
So that's been good.
But just more trying to just change some small like bad like habits that I've had.
Q. You've been close a couple times in the fall.
ALEX NOREN: Yeah.
Q. How much did those kind of fire you up to -- being so close to a win, fire you up to try to get it?
ALEX NOREN: Yeah, I mean, that's all we're trying to do is win. Definitely understanding like what makes me play good and understanding what shots I need to hit to be able to win, that's more of a -- that was more like probably worth more to me than seeing that I can do it.
I hit these shots, it makes me win, like makes me up there. If I can't hit those, I struggle. It's more of a receipt on how for me to play it.
Q. It's like certain things you just don't know until you're in the final few holes with a chance to win.
ALEX NOREN: Yeah, and you got to know yourself and understand what works for you.
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