THE 153RD OPEN

July 17, 2025

Joaquin Niemann

Mixed Zone

Q. Pretty good day, especially the first 13 holes, bogey free. How would you sum it up?

JOAQUIN NIEMANN: I played great. Obviously I felt like I didn't take advantage on the par-5s in the beginning. I felt like you're going to hit bad tee shots on No. 7 and No. 2, and I did that and then I ended up making par on those.

After that, I felt like I kept playing really good golf. It was just tough at the end. It got pretty windy, left to right wind I feel like is always tricky, and there were some tough pin positions there.

Q. Especially that last hole with the tee shot.

JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, I got a good lie, and I felt like I hit a good second shot, and it was just a few yards off. That's the way it is.

Q. You like links courses?

JOAQUIN NIEMANN: It's fun. I really enjoy them. I feel like it really proves when you're hitting it good. It's a good challenge. Obviously there is a lot of danger off the tee, a lot of bunkers, second shots are tricky, you've got to think a little bit more where to land it.

Yeah, I feel like it's fun. It's kind of like a little chess game. You've got to go out there and deliver that chess game. It's fun, and it's just different. I like it.

Q. Was it tough to have a late tee time and then the rounds are taking so long to boot?

JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, we were talking about that. I was just joking with Brian that we're not used to have long rounds like this. It feels like a marathon. No, it was fine. Obviously the weather was nice, so in that way it was cool. It was fine.

Q. You like your position now obviously because nobody's really running away with it.

JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Obviously it's just the first day. I'm just enjoying being out here playing this golf course. I feel like it's a lot of fun. It's a nice tournament. Yeah, I've been enjoying it. I feel like the two times before I kind of have been too hard on myself of trying to deliver and put together a round. I took away the fact that it's such a nice tournament, enjoying the people, the crowds, enjoying the golf course, the conditions.

We just get this one time a year, so I'd better enjoy it.