What they said: Tom Pernice, Jr.

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THE MODERATOR: We welcome our leader Tom Pernice, Jr. Thanks for spending a few minutes with us here. Why don't you just give us some thoughts on your round and maybe talk about some conditions out there.

TOM PERNICE, JR.: Well, the conditions are obviously perfect here. This is why people live in the southwest, enjoy this weather, and why I live on the West Coast. The first two days, Tuesday and Wednesday were not indicative of Las Vegas weather. It was out there. It wasn't too warm. Just an ever slight breeze, a couple of miles an hour, and the course was in good condition, the greens were nice. You hit some good quality shots, they were going to be up there by the hole, knock the putts in and take advantage of them. I got off to a good start which was nice and just continued on really throughout the round.

THE MODERATOR: Questions?

Q. Tom, every person who wins this tournament says you have to shoot so low to get off to a great start. Now that you've put up a number like you did today will you kind of maybe reassess your management of your game the rest of the way? My point is you've got some house money to play with, perhaps as you are in the hunt?

TOM PERNICE, JR.: Well, not a lot because if the weather stayed the same you got to continue to shoot some low scores here. Sure, if you come out here and the wind is blowing 20 miles an hour, you have to be a little more selective depending on where some pins are and stuff. But overall, if the conditions stay like this, you need to be ready to come out here and shoot some good scores and do some good quality shots and make some putts. You got to keep going. It's the way it's been here forever. I don't think anybody has a problem with it. You play under perfect weather conditions on a golf course that's in great shape. Nothing wrong with good scoring. I think a lot of people gotten off their rocker in terms of the course isn't any good and the tournament is not any good if the score is not around par. I think Augusta National has been criticized and not as exciting as it used to be. The PGA Championship has gotten that way with the course setups. And the U.S. Open is trying to come back more from the other way. I think people enjoy good scoring, the weather is perfect. You got the best players in the world, the scores should be perfect.

Q. Can you talk about your success on the par 4's today?

TOM PERNICE, JR.: Well, a good, quality iron shot first really sets it up. I don't know the rest of my putts, but they were all relatively makeable putts. I missed a short one coming in on No. 7 from about three and a half, four feet. Other than that I didn't have many long putts for birdie. I drove the ball and played. When you get some short irons in here you try to take advantage of it. I think the iron shots really were the key.

Q. You have had a tough time trying to find the rhythm out there and everything, why didn't it work so well today? You made a couple of adjustments to your swing?

TOM PERNICE, JR.: No. You got to putt good out here. I've usually been a very good putter. It's usually been one of my strengths, chipping and pitching and putting and my wedges have always been my strength. The first part of the year I didn't putt very well. Some weeks where I was playing okay, I would just play poorly on Saturday and Sunday and it kind of knocks you out of contention. I missed several cuts by a shot and a lot of finishes down the pack. But one bad round on the weekend can do that to you. If you are not putting great, it's not easy out here. Today I hit some good iron shots and was able to capitalize on the putts. That's what you got to do.

Q. (Inaudible)?

TOM PERNICE, JR.: You feel like that's a bonus. It's the first time we played it as a 4. It was downwind. I hit a 6-iron in. But, no, a birdie there, I feel is a bonus.

Q. Everyone talks about how it could be a pivotal hole in the tournament?

TOM PERNICE, JR.: Well, you know, today it was off the left and down. I'm not a long hitter. I hit a 6-iron in. If the wind went the other way you are hitting a 4-iron in there to that green, is a little tough, it could be. The little breeze was helping today. So it made it not too bad.