THE MODERATOR: We're here with Ryder Cowan. 2-under 68 out there, Ryan. Great playing. Can you talk us through that round?
RYDER COWAN: Yeah, I started off pretty good. I feel like 10, 11, 12 is a hard stretch of holes, and I was hitting it good. I made a birdie on 12. I feel like I started well. I got some momentum from that. I knew, if I could get through those holes, I had a couple easy holes coming in.
So, I don't know, I hit it good all day, put myself in good positions throughout the day. But overall, I was proud of how I played, how I came back after bogeys.
Q. You went out in 32, had a couple bogeys. How were you able to put the wheels back on and birdie 9 there?
RYDER COWAN: Yeah, those holes are hard holes. I feel like I hit good shots. I just wasn't in the right spot. But yeah, on 9 I feel like I -- I don't know. I mean, it was just a good shot. It was right underneath the hole, yeah.
Q. So you're 68. That's tied for the lowest round at Shinnecock by an amateur. I'm sure you did not know that. That's pretty cool. What's that mean to you?
RYDER COWAN: I did not know that. That is very cool, very cool.
I think that I've really just been trying this week to focus on each shot, especially today. One at a time, not worry about what's going on in the crowds or everything. I'm not used to all these crowds. We don't ever really play with a lot of crowds.
I'm just trying to take it one shot at a time. That's a very cool stat, though.
Q. It is. And you're sitting in the top 5 going into this week. Could you imagined after one round you'd be sitting in the top ten?
RYDER COWAN: I mean, I believed I could, but as a younger kid, I don't think I would believe that.
Q. You said you believed it. Why did you believe it coming in, and just to finish there on the last hole, what did that mean to you to hit the shot there and birdie the last?
RYDER COWAN: I feel like all the work I put in every single day gives me that belief that I can come out here and play with anyone and the guys that I surround myself with. I get to play a lot with some guys out at my home course, guys that are playing out here right now. Max McGreevy, I think he's playing pretty good today. I think that puts me in a good spot.
Also, yeah, I think it's just belief in myself through that practicing and playing with those guys, if that makes any sense.
Q. Did you notice that at one point you had the lead in the U.S. Open?
RYDER COWAN: Yeah, I did. Yeah, through nine, I looked up and I was 3-under par. I definitely looked at that leaderboard, and I saw it up there.
But like I said, I feel like I was just trying to take it one shot at a time, not worry about what was going on. I could feel it for sure, but it felt good. It did.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports