THE 154TH OPEN

July 18, 2026

Kazuma Kobori

Mixed Zone

Q. How special was it for you out there today?

KAZUMA KOBORI: Yeah, very special. To be honest, to make the cut is very special. I'll take 3-under any day of the week around here.

Q. Just to the bogey on the card today, how do you keep the mistakes off the card?

KAZUMA KOBORI: Bunker game was pretty strong actually. Dumped it in the trap on 12 but hit a really nice one there. Other than that, I hit a lot of greens in regulation, a lot to 20 to 30 feet.

Yeah, speed was relatively okay. Nothing too crazy. I just keep hitting the middle of the green and tried to give myself looks from there. So that plan worked out.

Q. I have to ask you, Ryan Fox today out there on the course tied the major championship record for the lowest score in a round. You were out there on the course at the same time. Were you aware what was happening? Could you hear the roars? Did you see it on the leaderboard unfolding?

KAZUMA KOBORI: I teed off, and Foxy was already on 6 by the first leaderboard, and he was already 4-under there. I was like okay, like I already saw him in front on the leaderboard. I just saw his name like creeping up.

It was pretty gettable out there this morning, but at the same time, like it's still hard, like it's still a major championship. That's a hell of a round for Foxy. You've got to give it to him.

Q. Could you hear some of the roars on the course when he was making birdies? Was it that loud out there when he was making some birdies out there?

KAZUMA KOBORI: I reckon he was too far in front actually. I didn't hear much. He would have been five holes in front. This course is good because it goes in different directions. You're actually quite far away from some of the action sometimes. No, I didn't hear it, but that's a hell of a round.

Q. How much did that fuel your own performance seeing another Kiwi up there? Would you describe this as one of the greatest days in New Zealand golf, two Kiwis in the top 20 at The Open?

KAZUMA KOBORI: Maybe. Foxy has been knocking on the door for a long time. Everyone knows he's capable, and he just showed that today. I'm very happy for him.

Q. Looking towards tomorrow, you're obviously in touching distance of the lead at the moment. How are you going to go out, execute your plan tomorrow, and make your preparations going into a Sunday at The Open Championship?

KAZUMA KOBORI: Yeah, nothing too crazy honestly. Like I said, everything from here on out is a bonus now that I've made the cut. I'm just going to go enjoy myself. No matter what happens, it's another year until the next Open Championship. I'm just going to have fun, and then yeah, go from there.

Q. That sounds great. We're all rooting for you back home. Have a great time. Enjoy it out here.

KAZUMA KOBORI: Thank you.