THE 154TH OPEN

July 17, 2026

Pierceson Coody

Mixed Zone

Q. I know it wasn't the way you wanted to finish the round, but can you sum up your first two days out there?

PIERCESON COODY: Yeah, I haven't finished well the last couple days on 17 and 18 there. I'm hoping to make amends there. I feel like I played the rest of the course fairly well. I would love to hit my irons better. I would love to be able to be cleaner off the tee.

I know everyone is going to have that same feeling that they left a lot of shots out there, a few here and there, but if I cleaned up my ball-striking -- just kind of making some sloppy mistakes with irons off the tee and some short, mid irons into the greens and made some easy bogeys.

Q. Is the course getting firmer and faster by the day?

PIERCESON COODY: Yeah, the greens aren't necessarily that firm or that fast. They've kept water on the course the first two days. The pins are cut really difficult today, so they definitely need a touch of softness and give to be able to play the course with some of the slope that's on these pins today. I have a feeling this afternoon it's going to turn a little bit, and they might cut off the water for Saturday and Sunday and really let things burn out.

Q. Now, 55 years ago, your grandfather actually played in this tournament. It was his only Open Championship, and finished fifth. You're right in contention on the same turf that he played. How meaningful is that to be competing and in contention at a major where your grandfather competed as well?

PIERCESON COODY: Yeah, I mean, if I'm doing the things that he did over his 25-plus-year career, I'm doing really well. Yeah, I know he played well here. I know it was his only British Open, unfortunately. Just as he says, back then the expenses didn't make sense to come play and whatnot. It's unfortunate because his game was really good for this style of golf. Just a really pure ball striker.

It is really special. I understand the meaning of it and have thought about it quite a bit. It's definitely a moment to kind of relish and think about maybe on Sunday walking down 18.

Q. Have you spoken to him at all leading into this week, entering the week as well? What would he say to you after the first two days to see you sitting here in the top 10?

PIERCESON COODY: Yeah, I talked to him -- Tuesday was actually his birthday so I gave him a call Tuesday afternoon. I was telling him about some of the holes when he played them and asking how they're different and whatnot now and some of the lines. He remembers a decent amount of the holes. He has a great memory for golf.

Yeah, I'm sure he's very invested, and I know he's been watching on ShotLink. He's going to say we need to get the ball in the fairway a few more times and hit a few more greens from that short to mid range. Giving away some easy bogeys there. Luckily I'm still doing some of the things well, so hopefully I can have a hot 36 holes with ball-striking.

Q. What does a moment like that mean for you and the family? Golf is such an engrained part of your family. Obviously your father was a pro golfer as well. Do you have those memories growing up, watching The Open together over in America as well?

PIERCESON COODY: Not necessarily sitting down and watching it together. We obviously have a tremendous amount of golf memories together. I would be lying if I said they evolved around The Open, just kind of with the time change, I was always at the golf course with it on my phone maybe when I was playing or practising. I have some limited memories of watching The Open. Obviously more recent than growing up with my family watching the tournament.

Q. What's your goal going into the weekend now, right there at the top of the leaderboard?

PIERCESON COODY: Yeah, I mean, I don't know what the number is going to be, but I could hang my head pretty high if I felt like I struck the ball well and played my good golf. I think I could move up and have a chance on Sunday.

If I can say that at the end of Sunday, I would be pretty happy and feel like I had a chance.

Q. Have you got a nickname for your granddad, something special that you call him?

PIERCESON COODY: Yeah, we all call him "Pro." Parker and I are the youngest of all of our cousins, and so I guess when our cousins that are 15 years older came up with a name for granddad, Pro was somehow when they came up with, so yeah, it's always been Pro.

Q. Does he still have the framed homework on the wall of you speaking about your favourite vacation going to the Masters with granddad?

PIERCESON COODY: Yeah, still in kind of the game room area of his house, kind of right next to his recliner. I've read it a few times, and it is cool that he framed it and put it kind of in a signed Masters flag and stuff like that. Yeah, really special.

Q. That's in Texas, and he's just turned 89 this week?

PIERCESON COODY: That's correct.