Q. What was the biggest difference between round 1 and round 2 for you.

GARY WOODLAND: I just put everything together. It's been awhile. I think that's the lowest round of golf I've shot on TOUR in a couple years. It was nice. It was nice to have all aspects. I drove it well, iron play, controlled the ball really well, and short game was nice and made some putts. It's been a long time since I put it all together. I've had some rounds this year where I putted it well or drove it well, but not together. That was a big change for me. Will definitely make lunch and dinner taste better today.

Q. What do you feel like has been missing in some of those rounds where you've done one or two things well and just putting it all together?

GARY WOODLAND: It's been a process for me, just coming back. I probably came back too early. Then I still just don't feel how I want to feel. Charlotte was the first week I went back to where I had a tournament where I had symptoms the year before and it was eye opening for me just to be, like, I don't feel great, but I don't feel like I did a year ago. Like, how bad I really was, I think I've forgotten about some of that because I was just so thankful to be back. So the last three weeks has been a lot more pep in my step, I think, a little more excitement. I needed that.

Q. How bad were the symptoms in Charlotte?

GARY WOODLAND: I still don't -- I mean, it is what it is, but it's just not what it was. I'm still battling, still on medication, still battling all the stuff, but probably a little more positive, I would say, the last three weeks than I was earlier this year. I think I was getting down on myself just because I didn't feel well. There's a lot to be positive about because I'm in a different position than I was a year ago.

Q. After two competitive rounds at the new Colonial what do you think?

GARY WOODLAND: It's firm out there. I love the golf course. I grew up on a Perry Maxwell design, so I've always enjoyed coming here. I think they did a very good job. There's definitely some things that visually I think look really well. They have lowered the greens, which now it really helps us, with how firm it is, if you miss the fairways, you got to run it up, and they have allowed us to do that. So I think they did a very good job.

Q. There can always be a little anxiety when you come to place you've known so well and you kind of wonder if they're going to mess it up or do it different. Do you get a sense they did it right?

GARY WOODLAND: I think they did a lot of great things. This is one you didn't want to tinker with too much because the golf course was so good. I don't think they tinkered with it, I think they made some change, like 8, that visually look awesome. I think they did a very good job.

Q. Do you think -- you talked about feeling more positive. Do you think that positive energy translates into your golf game?

GARY WOODLAND: Oh, there's no doubt. There's no doubt. Negative energy's contagious. I've been thankful, but it's been hard on myself just when you wake up and you don't feel great, and that's not a good attitude and energy to have. It took me to going back to a place where I remembered how bad it was a year ago and I'm like, Oh, wow, I'm getting better. I think the energy's changed for me the last three weeks and something I'll continue to build on.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

144427-1-1044 2024-05-24 17:34:00 GMT

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