U.S. SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

July 1, 2023

Bernhard Langer

SentryWorld

Flash Interview

THE MODERATOR: Bernhard Langer, 3-under 68, 6-under heading into Sunday with the lead. How was your round today, and walk us through it.

BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, I felt really good. Got off to a dream start. My first five shots were as good as I can hit them, plus two really good putts. Started birdie-birdie, and had another birdie opportunity on 3, which I missed.

Hit the ball really nicely, and then missed the fairway on 4, which led to a bogey.

Then another dream shot into 5, the par-5. Had to go over the trees, sort of a blind shot with lots of carry and all that, and turned out great, so I had an eagle putt, which I missed.

Played really solid. Got a little shaky there in the middle and had to save a few pars. I think the greens slowed up a little bit somewhere along the line.

Left a couple of putts short, long putts, and then had to make four- to six-footers, which is not my favorite distance. But I was fortunate enough to make them.

Q. You've been great your whole career at putting on blinders and earmuffs, but how tough is it going to be with the home crowd and playing with Jerry?

BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, it's going to be difficult. I remember playing against Fred Couples in Seattle, actually in this championship, and if there were 30,000 people, there were every one of them cheering for Fred, and the only one for me was my caddie, who was my son at the time.

It was like a Ryder Cup match in America.

It's going to be similar tomorrow I take it. Hopefully the crowd will be somewhat fair and still appreciate good golf shots.

I understand. They want their hometown boy to win. I've been there myself.

It's going to be an interesting day.

Q. You had a long stretch of pars, especially on the front nine there. What were some of the keys for you to grind out those pars and keep your score where it was and not have a blowup hole?

BERNHARD LANGER: Well, pars are usually good at the U.S. Open, so it's not a bad thing. I did misread one putt somewhere, I think it was on 11, a short birdie putt. It was a good putt, just misread it.

It's often a grind. You have to hit the fairway, have to hit the green hopefully, so you don't make it too hard on yourself. If you don't, you've got to get up-and-down from the bunker or from the rough or wherever you end up, which puts a lot more stress on everything.

I was fortunate to hit most of the fairways and most of the greens which left me a few longish putts, but I'm usually a fairly good long putter.

Q. Jerry came in and said he thinks you're past worrying about 46, No. 46. I'm guessing that probably won't be on your mind much tomorrow.

BERNHARD LANGER: No, it's not on my mind at all. Hopefully my mind will not wander anywhere but on the next shot. That's the secret to playing the best golf.

Q. I noticed your shoes with the American flag. Have you had those for a long time, or are those for this weekend with 4th of July?

BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, I haven't had them very long, a couple of weekends, but I had that in mind, yeah, just for the celebration of what we're celebrating July 4th.

Q. Can you talk about the pressure there is for a player when they have a lead, a 54-hole lead and you're playing for a major title? It's different than if you're chasing someone. What's it like playing with the lead?

BERNHARD LANGER: Yeah, I don't mind it. I always said, I'd rather be in the lead than three behind because if I'm three in front I can make a mistake or two and still be in the lead. If you're three behind and you make a mistake or two, you're five behind, something like that.

It's very true. It can be a different mindset. Some people love to chase. I've been in positions -- in both positions multiple times, and I'd rather be in front.

There's always pressure, whether you're going in with a lead or whether you're a couple behind or wherever you are. You always feel pressure, I think.

Q. What do you know now at 65 that you didn't know when you were 50?

BERNHARD LANGER: When I was 50, I didn't know how bad the body falls apart once you turn 60. Hopefully everybody will experience it.