What they said: Brendon de Jonge

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MORE INTERVIEWS: Viking Classic transcript archive

JOHN BUSH: Brendon de Jonge joins us here in the interview room at the Viking Classic after 6-under par, 66.

Brendon, great start, 5 under through your first seven holes. Then you hit a little bit of a rough patch but then a great finish. Just comment on the day overall.

BRENDON DE JONGE: Obviously, very pleased. I hit the ball well, gave myself a lot of chances. Obviously, made some putts. It got a little bit tricky out there with the breeze this afternoon, swirling around a little bit. The golf course is in such good shape that, if you give yourself some chances, you can definitely make some birdies.

Q. Number 36 on the money list, so a lot riding on these last few tournaments for you.

BRENDON DE JONGE: I think anyone has a lot riding on it. You hit one snare or another. Everyone's going to play hard.

JOHN BUSH: All right. We'll go into questions.

Q. Tell me more about the wind. A lot more lower scores were shot this morning when it wasn't quite as windy. You were one of the few low scorers this afternoon. Talk about how it might impact your game and might impact the rest of the tournament.

BRENDON DE JONGE: I think, obviously, if it keeps blowing for the rest of the tournament, the golf course is only going to dry out more and more and play harder and faster. I wasn't out there this morning, but I would imagine it was a little bit calmer. It got to swirling around a little bit towards the end, and it was the hardest thing once we got on the front nine and got down through the trees, it definitely started bouncing around a little bit, and it was hard to pick a direction.

Q. Tell us what you did on 7. It was downwind?

BRENDON DE JONGE: Yeah.

Q. And then just kind of take us through that hole.

BRENDON DE JONGE: Yeah. 7 was playing straight downwind when I got there. I hit a good tee shot and hit a 5 iron about ten feet under the hole and managed to make that one there. I'd say the majority of the par 5s are playing a little bit downwind, and there's definitely scoring opportunities.

Q. Have you played this course before?

BRENDON DE JONGE: Yeah.

Q. You've been here, so you know it. And you played it under different conditions, though, right? It wasn't that hard and fast, was it?

BRENDON DE JONGE: Three years ago, it did. It dried out, and the weekend played very hard and fast. Obviously, last year was a little different, just slightly.

Q. Your thoughts on the way the greens were rolling today.

BRENDON DE JONGE: Phenomenal. The course was in great shape. The greens are definitely the best we've seen them, and I don't think you're going to hear a bad thing about the golf course.

Q. Do you keep track of the money, where you're standing this week as well as what number you're on?

BRENDON DE JONGE: No. You just go out and try to play the best you can, see where the chips fall at the end of it.

Q. Five top tens for you this year so far. What part of your game is working for you? What are you how has that been consistent with others where you finish in the top ten?

BRENDON DE JONGE: I've hit the ball solid pretty much all year, and I hit the ball solid today. Made a lot of chances. You know, if you give yourself a lot of chances and when the putter does heat up, you can shoot some good rounds.

Q. Been on the leaderboard a lot lately, probably getting some more attention than you've gotten. You're from Zimbabwe, is that right?

BRENDON DE JONGE: Yes, sir.

Q. You went to Virginia Tech, so you spent some time in the states. Do people recognize you on the street now? Are you getting a little more attention than you have before because of the top tens?

BRENDON DE JONGE: I wouldn't say I get that much attention. Only the loyal golf fans recognize me on the streets. But I've been here long enough. So it's been fun. It's been a good year.

Q. What does it mean to you what would it mean to you to win this golf tournament? What will it take for you to win this golf tournament?

BRENDON DE JONGE: You know, it's going to take four really good rounds. It would mean the world to me. Any golf tournament, it would be wonderful. Yeah, it would be great. I like it down here. I like the atmosphere. I like it in the South. I love it in the South now, and it's comfortable.

Q. Thanks, Brendon. Good luck.

JOHN BUSH: Brendon, let's go through the card.

BRENDON DE JONGE: The birdie on No. 10, played that straight down, hit a driver down there, and hit a long wedge about six feet under the hole. Hit it just through the back of 11, got it up and down. 13, I hit a wedge in there about a foot. 14, hit a wedge in from about three feet. 16, I hit a 9 iron in there about 12 feet under the hole. Three putted 18 to make bogey there.

JOHN BUSH: Number 4.

BRENDON DE JONGE: Number 4 I drove in the right rough, just through the green. Couldn't get it up and down, but a very good up and down on the green on 5 for birdie.

Q. How far out?

BRENDON DE JONGE: About 228.

Q. 228 on 5?

BRENDON DE JONGE: Yes, sir.

Q. On 11 you hit it through the green?

BRENDON DE JONGE: I hit it just under the green on 11, yes, sir. We played 11 down on the left.

Q. Was 14 downwind?

BRENDON DE JONGE: Yes. 14 we had it playing straight down. It was blowing pretty good when we got there.

JOHN BUSH: Anything else? Brendon, thank you, sir.

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