Q. You said a couple weeks ago that expectations are a hell of a drug. What would you say your expectations were kind of today and this morning after kind of a shaky first round?
MAX HOMA: Yeah, I don't think I had very high expectations. Played really well yesterday and didn't get anything out of it, which is kind of the theme of the year. It was nice to make a couple putts early and get going in the red early, which helped kind of just take care of some of the things that went wrong yesterday.
Q. When you're a couple outside the cut line, how would you describe how aware you are of the cut line starting the day and then throughout the round?
MAX HOMA: Yeah, I guess more so last night, but once I started playing I wasn't really thinking about it. I think I just knew if I played well, I'd get to play the weekend. Just felt like it was much easier in the morning, so kind of felt like yesterday was quite tricky. Today felt a lot -- at least the first 10, 11 holes felt more like if you hit good shots, you'd make your fair share of birdies.
I was aware a little bit last night but kind of threw it out this morning.
Q. I know the scenario like today going from outside to inside, does making the cut feel like a small win?
MAX HOMA: Yeah, especially just kind of how down I was yesterday about it. It felt like a win for sure. I was really happy with the way I played, too. I felt like I played too good yesterday to be outside, so it was nice to bounce back.
Q. Is that what you were down about, the score not reflecting --
MAX HOMA: Yeah, the whole season just been playing a lot better than the numbers are showing, but I just haven't really holed any putts or done anything great. It was nice to -- I got some bonuses out there and then played some good golf.
Q. Four guys on the cut line, hole 17, how would you describe what makes 17 here difficult?
MAX HOMA: Yeah, part of it is the big buildout. You can't really feel the wind. You know where it's supposed to be, but it's such a precise shot, I think it makes you uneasy. I do think it's easiest when the wind is off the right.
If you're on the cut line, there's a freedom to it. If you're one inside it, two inside it, you probably are more likely to hit it left. It's nice to play it on your first nine holes because you can kind of just swing it.
But it's a very great finish here, 15, 16, 17 and 18. And 14 really. 14 is a good hole. It'll make you think for sure.
Q. Having a clean card is always nice. Was there a hole out there today where you made a really memorable par save that stood out to you?
MAX HOMA: No, just the first -- what was it, on 11 I made a good up-and-down from 70 yards and then on 13 I had a really good up-and-down from nowhere. I had a good one on 2, I guess, to keep it going. But I love not making a bogey; it's like the greatest feeling out there. 2 wasn't the hardest chip in the world, but it was nice to hit it down there to gimme and kind of move on because that's kind of the last of the very hard holes for at least a little while.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports