THE 154TH OPEN

July 17, 2026

John Parry

Mixed Zone

Q. 68 today; what pleased you about your round most?

JOHN PARRY: It was just a lot steadier today. I think it was just the conditions; greens are softer, wind not up as much as it was. The fairways were easier to hold. It was just a nice solid day.

Q. What time did you have to get up to be here? You were in the first group.

JOHN PARRY: 4:00 a.m. I delayed it as much as I could. I let everyone else get in the shower first so I could stay in bed as long as I could. It was an early start but worth it.

Q. I know you're used to it as a professional golfer, but how hard is it to get going mentally when you're up that early?

JOHN PARRY: I actually found it -- it's tricky. Sometimes you're better just getting up. I try and get in the gym, get your body woken up. But I think the mental bit is probably the hardest bit. You're sometimes a bit switched off because you're not used to being up, but it was good.

Q. Good crowds again today; it's been brilliant this week.

JOHN PARRY: Yeah, unbelievable. I think we finished before they've all got out there. Yeah, with this weather and the British fans, it's unbelievable. You forget -- even on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday it was heaving. So it was really good.

Q. You've finished early so you've got a bit of time before your third round. How will you fill your time?

JOHN PARRY: A bit of sleep. I will actually see one of the trainers here who forks for the DP World Tour so I'll do a little session with him and then relax.

Q. Like a physical session?

JOHN PARRY: Yeah, I've been doing a couple of years, 18 months with them. They put strength and conditioning guys on, so he sets me a programme and I try and do it.

Q. Strength and conditioning for the core and --

JOHN PARRY: No, more just deadlifts and some explosive stuff. We do heavier stuff early in the week and then just more lighter weights and try to move quicker in tournament days, so that will be the plan this afternoon.

Q. Is that something that's changed over the last decade, the fitness side, having to be an athlete?

JOHN PARRY: Well, Tiger was probably the first one. And then the research, when you chat on the research and you understand what exercise you should do -- you look at Rory, he hits it miles. He hits it further now than he did when he first came on Tour, and you look how fit he is and all the kids in college, they all do it. I understand I'm getting older so I need to do it, even if I can just maintain my speed. I'm 40 this year, so if you start dropping off then you're in a bit of trouble, but fingers crossed I can get a bit quicker.

Q. I know you're one of those who works with a sports psychologist.

JOHN PARRY: I'm not actually. I've used him before. I'd like to think I'm reasonably -- it's usually quite straightforward. It's more when you get a bit lost. But I feel I'm in a good position at the minute, so fingers crossed I don't need one.