Q. Bailey, this isn't exactly a Georgia summer out here. How did you shoot a 3-under 69?
BAILEY TARDY: Just stayed really consistent out there. I've been to Pebble quite a few times, so I just used my prior knowledge to my advantage this week.
And really today, I don't know, it's cold, windy, and you just kind of got to play one shot at a time.
Q. What did you learn about Pebble with your previous visits?
BAILEY TARDY: That the course might not be the same every single day. Just got to take advantage of the good weather. I think today was pretty fair; I think tomorrow could be a little bit more windy. So I just took advantage of that today.
Q. Is it fair to say the key moment in the round was 6 and 7? Can you tell us how you eagled the sixth?
BAILEY TARDY: Yeah, coming into 6 I had hit some really close approach shots and missed some good birdie putt opportunities, and, yeah, hit a really good 3-wood up onto No. 6 and made maybe a 15, 20-foot putt for eagle.
Then usually every time I've played 7 it's been into the wind and today it was just off the right, and you can just play a little draw into the back left pin. I hit it to maybe ten feet, eight feet and just drained the putt.
Yeah, super cool to play well on those two holes.
Q. You made a nice save on the 9th hole to save the round. Tell us about that up and down from the back of the green.
BAILEY TARDY: Yeah, right up against the -- I guess the second cut, the actual rough, and my putter was getting stuck so just had to decide to chip it. Didn't really catch it the way I wanted to and just made a really solid putt for par there.
Q. What was the most challenging part of playing today at Pebble Beach?
BAILEY TARDY: Honestly, I think it was just the nerves. You're teeing it up in the U.S. Open. This is my first U.S. Open as a professional, so just having that in your the back of your mind I think can hinder your swing.
But I think this is my fourth U.S. Open and I've just been using all my prior experience to Pebble and being in a major championship setting to calm my nerves.
Q. And then it wasn't easy for you to get here as a qualifier. Birdied I think the fourth playoff hole to get the second spot.
BAILEY TARDY: Yes.
Q. Can you tell us about that whole situation?
BAILEY TARDY: Yeah, I was in Minnesota. Just I forgot to sign up for a spot and that was kind of the only -- I think it was Minnesota St. Louis that were open for qualifying spots, and I didn't really know anything about the golf course but just went up there and played 36 holes.
The playoff was, I don't know, in the dark. There was mosquitoes. Missed probably a two-foot birdie putt on the first playoff hole, so I felt like I kind of missed my opportunity to make it out here.
Yeah, just stayed patient, stayed in the moment, and I was still in the playoff, so I ended up making a really good birdie only the 18th hole there and, yeah, that's what punched my ticket here.
Fastscripts by ASAP Sports...
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports