Q. How would you describe your finish to that round birdieing your last four holes?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, obviously that's a dream finish. I finally rolled in some putts, and that was really nice to see going into the weekend.
It was a tough day out there, and I figured any round under par or around even par would be a win for today. So finishing how I did puts me in a great spot for the weekend.
Q. How would you describe your round as a whole? I know you finished with those four straight birdies, but there were ups and downs during parts of that round maybe.
PATRICK CANTLAY: I got off to a really nice start. It's nice to do that on a day like today where you just know it's going to be tough.
Obviously in the middle I made some bogeys, but that's just kind of what happens when you're playing in gusty 20, 30, sometimes more mile an hour winds. I thought I kept in a good frame of mind and really stuck to my game plan and just tried to focus as hard as I could.
Q. For you personally, what was the toughest part of the wind out there?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Just that it's gusting. So it wasn't blowing a consistent direction at all. So you have to kind of wait for your wind and really -- sometimes you hit good shots and they don't go to good places on days like today. You just have to accept that and realize you're doing the best you can and kind of be easier on yourself than normal.
Q. Your game was in a good spot, even with a tough week at Augusta, but that's Augusta. Do you feel you're trending in a good direction here heading into the last 36?
PATRICK CANTLAY: Yeah, for sure. This is a golf course I really like and have played well on. I've been hitting the ball well and just need to roll in a few putts like I did at the end today.
Q. This golf course kind of helps your creative side a little bit. I know you like to move the ball and you like to work it. Is that maybe why you like this course so much?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I think so. That's one of the reasons. I think it frames up the shots you need to hit on each and every hole and you can't just hit stock shots all day.
So I really like working the golf ball, flighting it in. Especially on days like today where you're getting 20, 30 mile an hour crosswinds, you need to flight the ball down and really leave your ball in a good spot. If you do that around this golf course, you get rewarded.
Q. What's your mentality heading into the weekend? Is there one thing in particular you feel has to be turned on even more to have success the last 36?
PATRICK CANTLAY: I wouldn't say turn anything on more. I think we'll get some more weather. It always tends to blow a little bit here. I think just staying with my game plan and continue to leave the golf ball in the right spots, which is paramount around this place, I think is the key.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports