LATINO SPORTS NETWORK
Q. A little quiet over there on the North course, hearing all the yelling and screaming
with Tiger, but it’s fun to play away from Tiger and have a great round of golf?
TONY FINAU: Yeah, yeah, it’s nice. I had a good time. We kind of did our thing on the
North. Sangmoon Bae played nicely in our group and had a nice little rhythm going there inour group. I got off to a great start and just kind of was able to ride that momentum. Themeat of the golf course is in the middle of the course where you really have to get after it. 5 through 11 you’ve really got to score. I got some numbers before that so I was able to kind of cruise through those holes and pick up a couple more, so I am really pleased with the way I played today.
Q. That’s key what you just said right there because 1 through 5, you could ruin your
whole day getting the tournament started on this golf course?
TONY FINAU: 100 percent. All those holes are tough, mainly 2, 3. No. 3 I hit a 3-iron
today 240 yards into the breeze so it’s there for the taking after that, but you’ve got to play those holes, it really gets your attention. The North, the way they set it up, it’s a lot firmer and the greens are a lot faster than the South. I think some of the scores reflected that not nearly as low as in the past and just for that reason, the greens are a lot tougher and a lot faster.
Q. Now you get to go to the South, which I know you like, you’ve played some really
good golf on it. You’ve got to be excited because you’ve got some rounds under your
belt and you’re driving the ball really nicely.
TONY FINAU: Yeah, I’m hitting it nicely. I look forward to playing the South, a golf course
where I can use my length to my advantage so hopefully I keep hitting it well off the tee. I
know I can score on that golf course. You’ve got to keep it in the fairway on both courses
and I’m happy I did that today.
Q. Pretty aggressive stuff, nine birdies out there on not an easy course.
TONY FINAU: Thanks. Yeah, it played a lot tougher than it did in the past. I think it’s just
credit to my start. I birdied 1 and 2 and from there I was just able to let the golf course come to me. The par 5s are very reachable for me hitting some irons in there. Again, I think it was just my start, I got off to a good start and was able to ride that momentum all the way through the round.
Q. Top 25 in every start you’ve had here. What is it about this place that makes you
feel good?
TONY FINAU: Yeah, the South sets up nicely for me with my length. I think length is a big
advantage on the South specifically, so I’ve been able to put some good rounds together
there. You know, it looks pretty good to me. A lot of the holes you can hit a fade and I’m a
fader of the ball, I like hitting the fade off the tee. So I think probably a combo of those
things off the tee and playing this golf course, I have some momentum.
Q. What’s it like to see your name up at the top?
TONY FINAU: It’s always nice. Always great to see your name at the top of the
leaderboard, that’s where you want to be no matter the situation, no matter which round
you’re in. That’s what you practice and play for, to put yourself in those positions, so happy with the start.
Q. You said you’re comfortable on the South course obviously because of your
length. They’ve redone the North course, isn’t that kind of in your wheelhouse as well?
TONY FINAU: Yeah, the North course is good, too, but my length is more of an advantage
on the South. It’s a little bit longer and not quite as firm so the balls don’t roll out as much, so my length is a bigger advantage I think on the South than the North. I was able to show that I can play the North pretty well as well.
Q. It has a reputation. I know you played well but did you expect that kind of round
out there from the South course?
TONY FINAU: Sorry, 6 under? Or on the North?
Q. Yeah.
TONY FINAU: Yeah, I don’t know. I know it plays a lot harder than it did in the past
because of how firm and how fast they were. You had to respect the greens a lot more and you couldn’t get short-sided or you probably were going to make bogey. I knew it was going to play tough, but I’m happy I was the one that put together the good one, a good round, 7 under I think is a pretty solid round on the North course now.