SONY OPEN IN HAWAII

January 14, 2023

Hayden Buckley

Waialae Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Nice eagle there, Hayden.

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: Thank you. Good to see you again.

Q. Another 64, another day. You're making it look pretty easy out there. Is it as easy as it looks?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: No. I think the firmness of the course is very difficult. Just because you hit it straight doesn't mean it's going to be in the fairway and the rough is up pretty heavily, so I think I've just hit the right shots at the right time.

I think the putter has been there. I know I've made a lot of feet of putts, but I just put it in the right places.

Today I felt like I was kind of getting away from that, putting it in some tougher places to make birdies. Pars are a lot better than you think when you get out here. The wind kind of switched on last few holes, which made it a little difficult.

But just kind of put it in the right places and just kept my head down and kept playing.

Q. Sometimes when people win they say that things have to go your way, one or two things have to go your way. Right behind you here you holed out from 133. When was the last time that happened for you?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: I did it at Sea Island actually. Pretty much the same shot, same club. First hole of that tournament I think I had a similar number with a mudball and holed out to start that week.

It's been a while before that, but it was nice to see that. I did pull it a little bit and wasn't sure where it was going to land. It looked like it landed right behind the hole and came back in, which is always nice.

Q. When was the last time you were either at your hotel or out at a restaurant and somebody said, oh, you play on the PGA TOUR; I got to get your autograph? Does that happen for you?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: Probably never. Doesn't happen much. I'm enjoying that while I can. If it is like that forever, I would be just fine.

Q. But if you start winning on the PGA TOUR that ends pretty quickly.

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: You got a lot of perks from playing well out here, and whatever those are I'll happily take them.

Q. What will you draw on tomorrow?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: You know, just nothing changes. Obviously the situation is huge, but nothing really changes. I know the conditions might be a little bit tougher tomorrow, so I'll just be patient.

But, yeah, our strategy stays the same. We try our best to keep the ball in the fairway because that's where we can play well. We feel like anywhere inside of 180 almost from the fairway is almost scoring for us, and so we do what we can to get the ball in the fairway, and when we have looks, if they go in, they go. If they don't, we just deal with it.

Q. Have you had the opportunity to think about winning this tournament?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: No. I think I've done the hard work of just getting here. I had a good fall and feel very comfortable. I think we just keep doing our game plan. Just like today, seemed like a pretty slow round besides two eagles, but we did exactly what we were trying to do and got away with two shots, had two big eagles.

Our game plan stays the same. If we play well enough, that's great. If not, we just deal with it.

Q. Did you watch any of the tournament last week in Maui? Did you ever think, I wonder what it would be like to start the year there?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: No, I don't watch golf. It's just not for me. I like to hang out at home and play with our dog and do just about anything but golf. I haven't touched a golf until last week and haven't thought about golf for a while.

Q. You how many weeks in a row did you not touch a club?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: Just from whenever Sea Island ended, I guess late November to January 3rd or 4th was the first day I practiced I think. Last Monday was pretty much the first day of golf for me.

Q. Is that typical or maybe one of the longer layoffs you've had?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: I did it last year with injury. My foot was hurting a little bit last year so decided to take a good month off. I came here and played well, so I figured I would try it again.

This off-season was a little busier getting married and trying to relax and enjoy that. I think it's probably something I'll do -- I would hope -- for most of my career.

Just still being active, going to the gym. I got a new trainer, and just doing things that I feel like will benefit me more than practicing.

Q. When did you get married and where?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: December 3rd in Fort Myers, Florida. It's been I guess over a month now of marriage, which has been great.

Q. Was there a honeymoon?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: We went to Antigua for our honeymoon. It was kind of a quick flight from Miami, which was nice. Weather was beautiful and we had a great week there.

Q. I read something about you enjoying playing pickup basketball. Imagine you don't play pickup basketball anymore.

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: Funny, where we just moved to in Jupiter, Florida there is a little basketball court at the park. I think we just bought two basketballs, me and my wife, and we've been shooting a little bit the last couple weeks.

I don't do pickup basketball anymore, but I like to get out there and try. I'm not anything special. I really enjoy playing, yeah.

Q. When did you move to Jupiter?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: We moved to Jupiter sometime right before we got married. I think the Houston Open week. I took off that week and we moved over there.

Q. And you were where again?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: We were in Fort Meyers, just other coast, so of the west coast of Florida. It wasn't too hard after move.

Q. Who's a better shooter?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: I would get in trouble if I said it was me. We got her a smaller ball so she could hit it from deep. She's getting there. We both really love it.

Q. Have any hurricane damage?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: We were lucky. Our house, we were renting a house in Fort Myers, and pretty far inland, so not much damage. I think the water was cut off for two weeks.

I think we were in Mississippi and Vegas those two weeks. We were lucky. Some others weren't. It was definitely a tough time for everybody around.

Q. Are you buying in Jupiter or renting?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: Still renting in Jupiter. We're working on building a house and starting fresh there. Looking forward to it.

Q. Where did you keep sharp? Bear's Club?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: I don't have a membership anywhere, yet. Again, I think I spent three days practicing in Jupiter before I left for San Diego before coming out here. I just kind of bounced around at a few courses.

Q. They've got to vie for you.

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: Hope so. That would be great.

Q. What club did you use on 18?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: It was a 5-iron. We weren't sure if it would get there, but got to the front, which is all we really wanted. It's nice to have one bounces up and get a good bounce.

Q. You've had a lot of good rounds in the here. Does this course fit you?

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: I feel like my driving has helped a lot with that. If you hit the ball in the fairway it's pretty receptive greens. Again, that goes to our course management and strategy of just hitting it in the right spots.

I didn't necessarily hit it close to the hole today, but I had plenty of opportunities and missed a few putts. You know, still had a few of those go in and obviously had two good breaks on 10 and 18.

Q. (Regarding the group tomorrow.)

HAYDEN BUCKLEY: Yeah, I mean, David and Ben are great players. I've played a lot more with David than Ben, but we really enjoyed playing together. I'm sure it'll be competitive, but a great time tomorrow as well.