Q. Matt, in contention once again here at this tournament. First take us through the back nine and though that closing stretch to get you within one of the lead.
MATT McCARTY: Yeah, just hit a lot of good shots. Got a few putts to drop. Hit a good putt on 15, too. Just kind of bumped a little bit.
But, yeah, it was nice. I think kind of fed off that energy I had on that nine yesterday. If we can figure out the front nine I think we'll be fine for tomorrow.
Q. You mentioned out there you got off to a slow start on the front nine. Everybody around you seemed to be making a lot of birdies. Did you feel like as you made the turn you needed to press at all? What was the mindset?
MATT McCARTY: I did good staying patient today honestly. I know this course will yield some birdies if you hit some good shots and just kind of stuck with it and didn't try to do anything different.
I wasn't hitting it great on the front nine. Made some good pars and hung around and gave myself a chance. Happy to do that.
Q. How much will you take with you into tomorrow, the great experiences of last year on that Sunday and take it and run with it?
MATT McCARTY: Yeah, it'll help a lot knowing I've been able to do it out here before. It'll be great. Yeah, just looking forward to it. That was the goal. Just give myself chance again.
Happy to be in a good spot and hopefully we can get it done again.
Q. Wasn't your 28 on the front nine yesterday or was it on the back?
MATT McCARTY: On the back, yeah.
Q. Now that you're in contention again but the chaser this time instead of being out in front, does it feel any different? Do you have to change the approach? What's the deal for tomorrow?
MATT McCARTY: I don't know. I played the golf course strategy-wise the same every day as I played it last year. I don't think anything will change there.
But I think I, yeah, chasing sometimes it's easy to kind of press and try to get it all in one swing or whatever. So just stay patient, which I think I did good today. So more the same build not get into any extra pressure.
Q. Trying to stay out of your own head.
MATT McCARTY: Yeah, exactly. Golf, you're playing a lot of other guys and kind of playing yourself on the golf course at the same time. Just keep with that.
Q. Two wins, same place. Good luck.
MATT McCARTY: Thank you.
Q. You have a unique perspective of being someone who had the three victory promotion and immediately contended. Michael Brennan is in that same spot. Talk about what it's like it have come through a pathways tour and to be contending right out of the gate?
MATT McCARTY: Yeah, it's crazy. I saw him leading after two days. It's nuts. To be able to play well today and be in that spot is impressive.
I think just how competitive Americas, Korn Ferry, everything is now, you can win out there, kind of shows you can win out here. I think I kind of proved that out here last year.
Hopefully he's got a little bit of that motivation from myself last year and maybe helped him with that a little bit. It's all right.
Q. Quick follow up on that. Knowing you had that experience on those Sundays, winning on those Sundays on Korn Ferry, were you able to draw on that?
MATT McCARTY: Yeah, I think 100%. No matter what tour, who you're playing against, winning a golf tournament you feel that same thing. I felt very similar out here last year on Sunday and probably tomorrow as I did those Korn Ferry Sundays.
It's trying to win, and winning is a great accomplishment no matter what level. The feelings are very similar for sure.
Q. Do you know Michael? Have you played with him before? Is this your first time?
MATT McCARTY: No, never met him. Meet him on the tee tomorrow.
Q. It's not a ton of experience winning on the PGA TOUR on the leaderboard. Do you think that gives you an advantage having won here?
MATT McCARTY: Yeah, I mean, I hope so. Yeah, I don't know. It's tough to win. I understand that. I won my second start and I haven't really been too close all year. It's very difficult.
Happy to be in that position and awesome for me that it's at the same course as last year, too.
Q. Is it awkward at all like trying to beat a guy you don't know him at all?
MATT McCARTY: I don't know. Should make it a little easier. I think it's cool. His story is awesome. I wouldn't -- I don't know, trying to beat everybody all the time. That's why we're out here.
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