RBC CANADIAN OPEN

June 11, 2022

Corey Conners

St. George's Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Can you just explain the big difference from the last couple days into today?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, a lot of similarities for how I played. I was able to hole some putts at key times, especially in the beginning of the round, made a couple nice par savers. Yeah, didn't make too many mistakes after that. Felt like I played pretty solidly. Just took care of a couple of the par-5s with 2-putts and was able to make a couple other birdies. Still feel like I left a few out there but happy with how I played. Can't really force things out there, the course is still playing quite tricky.

Q. Is it getting some familiarity with the course, with the contours on the fairway and the undulations of the greens, do you feel you picked up on some of that throughout the week?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I feel like I've continued to learn every day. I feel like I had a good game plan starting the week, but there's a lot of little tricks and slopes, like you said that I'm continuing to learn about. Nothing I would say really surprised me the last couple days, but definitely getting to know the course a lot better.

Q. Is it satisfying to have a round like this on Saturday here?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah. It feels good, happy with the score, for sure. I felt like I played a little better than my score the last couple days and, yeah, nice to get in the red numbers again today.

Q. You had a really strong back nine today. What were you seeing on the back nine that made it a bit easier, gettable?

COREY CONNERS: I got the ball in play off the tee, which was the main thing. Was kind of in the fairway every hole. Got off to a good start on the back nine with a nice putt on number 10 from the back fringe. A couple 2-putts on the other par-5s and kept it really simple the other holes. Felt like I gave myself some decent looks, had a couple nice 2-putts when I needed 'em.

Q. There's a lot of demands made on Canadian golfers at the Canadian Open in the days leading up to the tournament and even the first and second round. Did you find it easier today since you're through all the media appearances and stuff, aside from this one?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, it's been a great week so far. I enjoyed every moment of it. I would say probably felt a little bit more relaxed today going out early in the morning. But it was awesome to have the continued fan support and really enjoyed the last couple days. It's been a thrill for me to be back up here and do all the extra stuff and feel all the love from the fans. It's been great.

Q. Following up on that, how would you describe the pressure you feel this week compared to maybe other weeks on TOUR?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, obviously I have high expectations of myself. I'm not out here feeling like I need to prove anything, I'm out here trying to have fun and play golf and see what happens. I feel comfortable with my game and starting to feel more comfortable in these situations. But try and take the energy from the fans and the people around me and turn it into a positive and not really feel like anyone's putting pressure on me. I feel like if you asked any of the fans out there, they would say, oh, he doesn't really need to feel, he doesn't need to feel pressure, like we're happy to watch him play kind of thing. So yeah, just trying to be relaxed, have fun.

Q. You putted with the Leafs jersey on, on 16. Was that in the works this week or why today to do that?

COREY CONNERS: Well I hadn't hit the green. I didn't really want to chip or bunker shot and chip on Thursday, felt like that would have been a bit of a challenge. So I was waiting until I knocked one on and was able to do that today. Felt some positive vibes when I was over that putt. I thought I was going to drain it and hit it pretty good, just stayed a little high. But, yeah, huge Leafs fan, something fun. Not really usually a guy that will do something like that, but huge Leafs fan, so it was cool.

Q. Back out again tomorrow if you hit the green, with the jersey?

COREY CONNERS: We'll have to see. Might be doubling as a raincoat tomorrow, but we'll see.

Q. We're hearing a lot of guys come off and say how they think they could have been just one or two shots better, a couple shots better, which I guess all of us golfers always think. But is there something in particular about St. George's that is affecting that?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I think pretty much on the greens the guys would think about and I think about a couple putts that just slid by. But the greens are pretty severe with the slope and some of the putts are a little faster than they look, a little slower than they look and the speed can be a little bit tricky as well.

So yeah, just a couple shots on the greens where you feel like you hit a really good putt and it should go in and it just misses. I think those are the sort of lingering shots that you remember. I have certainly had a lot of those, I had a couple today again, but it's just a little bit tricky.

Q. You mentioned earlier about being a little more relaxed this morning. Is it also a little more relaxing not being with Rory and JT out there in one of the feature groups?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I had a lot of fun playing with those guys, they're great players and great people. So I thoroughly enjoyed the pairing the first few days.

I guess there was probably a little less going on today, so it was maybe a little easier to be relaxed. But it certainly was fun for me to play with those guys the last couple days.

Q. Rory yesterday was saying basically St. George's played almost like a major championship, a U.S. Open course, aside from maybe just the length of the course. Is that something you as a Canadian take pride in that our National Open is playing a stern test like that?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, it's pretty amazing and all the guys that I talked to this week love the golf course, think it's a great test of golf. You got to do everything well. So, yeah, definitely take a lot of pride in that and I think the course is in fantastic condition, certainly resembles a major championship test.