Q. A double bogey unfortunately, but then you turned it on. What's the mental frame of mind that gets you going again?

MAVERICK McNEALY: Well, I turn 26 today, so I didn't want to let a double bogey ruin my birthday, I guess.

No, I birdied 4 with a good putt, and then I think the shot that really turned things around for me today was the second shot on 5. I told Travis walking up that fairway it was probably the most flush shot I've hit all year, just came out perfect, pin high from 260 with a utility iron, made eagle. Then I almost holed out a 9-iron the next hole, hit 3-wood up on the front edge from a long ways out on 7. Almost holed my wedge on 8 for birdie and then made a 30-footer on 9. Well, this is pretty fun.

Q. Yeah, holes 4 through 9 you were 7 under. That's a nice little run there.

MAVERICK McNEALY: Yeah, it was good. At this point, honestly, I had nothing really to lose. It's kind of fun about going off early on Sundays, you pin your ears back and just keep trying to make birdies.

It was a lot of fun playing with Thomas Detry, too. He got it going early, birdied the first three and he didn't let me have it by any means, he kept playing good, made eagle on the 13th and we both kind of pushed each other the whole way.

Q. So the leaders are out here getting ready to tee off. What do they expect when they get on the golf course, because obviously the hole locations like at 15 I thought was pretty hard. Some of the hole locations can be pretty dicey.

MAVERICK McNEALY: Yeah, it's going to be difficult, especially if this wind stays up like it is. There's going to be a lot of downwind holes and then those last -- 15 you kind of turn back into the wind. Really the second shot on 14 is the first into-the-the-wind hole you have and then you're playing against the wind the rest of the way in.

No. 16 is really challenging, that pin is way back there. I think on the front of the green I had a 126-foot putt, stepped it off just for fun today. Then 17, no bargain to hit that fairway, and then 18's a beast, driver and I had 180 yards in. There's going to be a lot of birdie opportunities those first I guess you can call them 13 holes and then it's going to get really challenging at the finish.

Q. All right. So what do you do on your birthday? What's the celebration tonight? You've got to be getting together with somebody tonight?

MAVERICK McNEALY: No, I'm going to go take a quick shower, head to the airport and I can't wait to get to sleep. I woke up and body was hurting this morning. I was like, is this what it feels like to be 26? I'm getting too old. No, it's a lot of fun. I'm excited to call my family and say hi to them.