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PGA Championship Friday, May 21, 2021 Kiawah Island, South Carolina, USA The Ocean Course at Kiawah Paul Casey Flash Quotes

Q. Even par on 14 through 18; how would you THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Paul Casey, who describe that? posted a second-round 1-under 71. He's 2-under for the championship. Pretty clean round again, and you've got PAUL CASEY: Today? quite a streak going. That's seven straight rounds under par in the PGA Championship. Are you finding a comfort Q. Yeah. zone in our championship? PAUL CASEY: Yeah, I didn't expect that, actually. Almost PAUL CASEY: Clearly. Even I'm quite impressed with built into my mind that I'm going to give one or two up myself because this is one of the hardest courses on coming down those last few. Yeah, that's pretty strong. the planet. Extremely happy with 1-under today. I was happy with 1-under yesterday. But then again, as you know, sometimes the downwind holes can be more difficult because you can't stop it, and I mean, I played in 2003 in the and then I the into-the-wind holes you can use that element to hold played in 2012, so I knew what to expect, but I didn't quite the . If you're striking it well into the wind, quite remember how difficult this place was and how demanding often you end up hitting it, your proximity to the hole will be all the way through the round, every single shot you hit, better if you're given the same kind of distance, even you have to be focused and diligent and not take anything though it'll be five clubs different. But that's still strong. for granted. It's a piece of work. 17, thank goodness they moved the up because I But I quite enjoy it in a sick and twisted kind of way, so played it a couple of times in practice from the back, back happy with it so far. tee and haven't found the green yet. It's still a beast of a hole from that up tee that we're playing. Q. What part of it do you enjoy? Obviously the results are solid, but what about the challenge? What facet of But no, I take a lot out of that, level par through the last it gets your gears going? four or five holes.

PAUL CASEY: It's just -- I don't know, I like flat-out Q. You mentioned '12. I know today was difficult and difficult. everyone is saying the same thing, but you also played on that Friday in '12 and had a hard day. Can you I don't necessarily -- we get to play a lot of very difficult golf compare that Friday to this Friday? courses, but sometimes they can be difficult because of setup. This is a difficult because of PAUL CASEY: I don't remember. Honestly, that was architecture, which are two very different things. It's probably one of the lowest points of my career when I was actually been very well set up. It's very fair. The greens struggling with my golf game. So I'm just happy I'm still are -- I don't want to say they're firm, but they're receptive competing and competing with the best. to well-struck shots. They're not particularly fast greens. Fairways are wide -- I mean, everything about it. It's just I genuinely erased that week from my memory. I couldn't the architecture that makes this difficult, and that's probably remember much about this golf course when I turned up. what I enjoy the most. Pieces sort of started to come back to me the more I played it. But unfortunately that time in my career, I wasn't I just tend to play well on difficult golf courses. I'd rather it enjoying my golf and wasn't playing particularly well. wasn't a 30-under par kind of week, which obviously we're not going to get. Q. When you look at the leaderboard, I don't know if

107644-1-1182 2021-05-21 22:48:00 GMT Page 1 of 2 you've had a chance to -- endure on this golf course?

PAUL CASEY: This week or -- PAUL CASEY: To be honest it's a little self-inflicted, isn't it, the pain? I don't know if it's pain, it's just a great challenge. Q. Right now. When you look at that leaderboard, is That's what I'm calling it. Others might not use that there one name that surprises you? phrase.

PAUL CASEY: ? No. Are you trying to Look, it's why I think most of us play is to be challenged. get me to say Phil? We play to win. We want to win championships, major titles, trophies, big or small, and to play not only the Q. Yeah, I am. greatest golf courses on the planet but the toughest golf courses on the planet. I've got many a mate who are great PAUL CASEY: Why does it surprise -- it doesn't surprise golfers when we play at our home club, but they couldn't me. break 100 around this golf course, and I'd almost kind of like to expose them to this. Q. Why? So I take a lot of enjoyment out of it knowing this is one of PAUL CASEY: I mean, Phil is one of the greatest short those places you get to show how good you are. game magicians that's ever lived. You don't know what's going to -- recently he's maybe not had the control he's Q. Do you enjoy it during the four and a half, five wanted with the longer stuff, but it doesn't surprise me. hours you're out there, or does the enjoyment come in And to be honest, the creativity and challenge that this finishing with a good score at the end and the feeling produces actually makes it more expected that he would of accomplishment? be at the top of the leaderboard because you have to be so creative with your decisions and your shot-making choices. PAUL CASEY: It can be both. It can be both. Moments You have to be incredibly diligent with the decisions that when you hit great shots in difficult settings. I was very you make and then how you piece that shot together, and happy with my shot on 17 just getting on the green. There knowing the way Phil operates, he's got a way of taking a you go. Good example. yard off or putting a yard on or hitting -- he's got this ability that frankly one or two or three guys maybe I've ever seen THE MODERATOR: Thanks for being with us, and you have that ability. Phil stands out. have a great evening.

So no, it doesn't shock me at all. He's a great touch . FastScripts by ASAP Sports No. Maybe just because he hasn't played the level of golf he's wanted to recently, you might say that, but I'm quite enjoying it. It doesn't surprise me, and I hope he goes all the way, and if he doesn't win, he's a threat all the way through because it's brilliant. It's great for the championship, and I love it.

Q. You mentioned two things. One is you were preparing yourself to shoot over par today, which looked like mentally worked for you, and that's something --

PAUL CASEY: Well, mentally for the last like four or five holes, hopefully not -- it's almost like you try to get 1- or 2- or 3-under -- holes like 10 can be a great opportunity. Let's be honest, from when you turn, so like 6 to 13, make hay, and then it's just like cling on if you can those last five holes. But I'm mentally preparing to be under par, but it's just you're going to get kicked the last five.

Q. That also connects to the masochistic what you like about this golf course. How much do you have to

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