MORE INTERVIEWS: Viking Classic transcript archive
Q. Can you just tell me a little bit about your round. Obviously, 7 under 65. Was it six birdies in a row, from 9 till 14, 15?
JOHN MALLINGER: Yeah, I think so.
Q. Can you just tell me about the stretch.
JOHN MALLINGER: I played solid. Obviously, I holed some putts. Overall, I wasn't playing deep. It was just a good stretch of holes. Made a lot of putts today. Nine birdies, couple bogeys, but overall it was just all day golf. You get the ball in your hand, and it's a little bit easier.
Yesterday was a lot more firm. Today with the rain and everything, you know, it's just a little more aggressive.
Q. Was it the same place everywhere or just on the fairway?
JOHN MALLINGER: Just the fairway.
Q. You hit a lot of fairways too, didn't you?
JOHN MALLINGER: I don't think I missed one.
Q. Really?
JOHN MALLINGER: That kind of helps. When you get the ball in the hand all the time, you can be a little more aggressive at the flag.
Q. So it was a little bit softer today than it was the past couple days?
JOHN MALLINGER: For sure.
Q. Overnight rain?
JOHN MALLINGER: Yeah, I'm glad I picked the ball because we're getting a lot of mud on the balls.
Q. So pretty much throwing darts out there at the flag?
JOHN MALLINGER: Yeah.
Q. You say the longest play you made all day was 25 feet?
JOHN MALLINGER: Yeah, 25, 30 putter. But back stretch, I wasn't outside 20.
Q. I know it's early, but how does it feel to get off to a good start?
JOHN MALLINGER: It's always good to get off to a good start. I've been playing well. Just haven't been scoring that well. Trying to get putts to fall.
Q. Have you had an opportunity to enjoy any of the barbecue out here?
JOHN MALLINGER: Not yet. I think I might in just a second.