Q. Another solid day. Currently in the lead. How do you feel about your game so far and where you stand through two rounds?
JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah, I'm pleased with how I played. I didn't necessarily hit it that straight any of the first two days, but seeing my misses were in good spots and when I did miss it seemed to be in bunkers where you can still reach the putting surface. The rough's pretty thick. Yeah, it was pretty good. I chipped really good all day. Made the putts that I needed to. Yeah, solid day.
Q. How did the conditions compare for you out there today compared to yesterday?
JACOB BRIDGEMAN: A lot colder. North wind's chilly and then take also like 60 degrees. We were wearing jackets for probably the first nine holes. Ball was not going very far at all. I seemed to miss short on the first five or six holes it seemed every time and we finally made that adjustment.
Q. How do you think that runner-up finish a few weeks ago, did that reshape your mind or give you any more confidence? Obviously you have confidence you belong out here and can contend, but what did that do for you?
JACOB BRIDGEMAN: I've been a lot more comfortable this whole year. Being my second year, knowing the courses and familiar with where to travel and what to do. Not having the stress of getting to know the course, not knowing what to expect the week before. I kind of know which ones I need to go early and prep and which ones I can kind of just chill. So that's been good. But, yeah finishing second was just a confidence builder for me. I haven't done anything like that yet in my career and doing that was kind of nice to get that one out of the way.
Q. When you think of that day, it was unique, coming from back, you weren't necessarily one of the final couple groups, but then you had a chance, what do you remember from that day?
JACOB BRIDGEMAN: I was probably 20th or so to start the day, I don't remember how many shots back I was, but I remember saying if I could shoot 6-under I would feel like I had a pretty good chance at finishing high. Because out there it was getting difficult, I thought 6-under would be a really good score. And then I got to 6-under on I think 15, so I was just -- anything from there was a bonus. I just remember putting really good, hitting the ball nice, feeling really comfortable on that last little bit, which can be dicey at times in the wind. There's just, yeah, it was a very good day.
Q. This week in particular is there anything new you've tried or implemented this week?
JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Pretty much the same. I rolled in late Tuesday night, I flew in got here like 9 o'clock and just did the pro-am on Wednesday. So I was comfortable with how my game was and translating to this course. I did -- only thing I worked on was chipping. I worked on these rough shots with my coach Scott Hamilton and at the PLAYERS I told him, I don't really know how to hit the ones that are elevated in the rough. The ones sitting on the ground is pretty easy, you can just dig it out, but the ones that were sitting a little bit up I just tend to hit 'em high on the face and leave 'em short. So he gave me a tip. I don't know how to aim it yet, I haven't figured that out. I'm hitting them the right distance, I don't know how to aim 'em, but we'll work on it.
Q. But the chipping has been pretty good?
JACOB BRIDGEMAN: I had some great up-and-downs today which some of them were a little bit fortunate, but a lot of them are just knowing how to hit the shot that I didn't know how to hit before.
Q. When you think about this spot, you'll be in one of the final groups tomorrow on the PGA TOUR, what's it mean to you to be in that position, national TV, get to test your game on this spotlight against the best players in the world?
JACOB BRIDGEMAN: That's what everyone here wants to do we want to be in the last group on Saturday and Sunday. Yeah, it's kind of expectations are being in that group and finally I'm there, so hopefully, we'll see how I handle tomorrow, but today I felt super comfortable, so.
Q. How old were you when you first wanted to do this for a living?
JACOB BRIDGEMAN: I started golf tournaments when I was seven. And I wasn't that good. I didn't really win that much. But then I started to a little bit after that. I think after that point seven, eight, nine, I started to tell my parents that I wanted to be a pro golfer and it's been history ever since.
Q. Is it pretty cool thinking of that kid and you're in that position now into the weekend on the PGA TOUR?
JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah, I haven't really thought about it any bit like that, because I expect to be where I am, I expect to get better every year, and I'm kind of progressing the way I want to. But, yeah, it's nice looking back. I'm sure my parents would have a better answer for that one than me.
Q. What is the game plan tonight and in the morning, are you going to practice, work on anything?
JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah, I'm going to hit a couple balls. I hit some shots that I didn't love into some of the wind. So I'm going to try and fix that for a few minutes and then head to the house, eat some dinner, relax.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports