What they said: Steve Marino

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MORE INTERVIEWS: Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial transcript archive

CHRIS REIMER: We'll get started. Steve Marino here at the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial. I just want to start off maybe talk about 2007, 2008, 2009, you've gotten a little bit better finish here each time; 24th, 10th and second last year. Start with some comments.

STEVE MARINO: Yes, it feels good to be back here. It's always a special tournament for me. My mom grew up around here. You know she comes down every year with all of her friends and it's a good time. I love the golf course. I love playing here. I'm looking forward to this week.

CHRIS REIMER: Questions for Steve?

Q. How big is the mob going to be this week? What's the latest running total?

STEVE MARINO: You know, I'm not really sure. I haven't really gotten into it with my mom but I'm sure if I'm playing good like I did last year it will be huge.

Q. I'm just curious, what is it about, and obviously with the local tie with your mom and everything, but what is it about this course that you truly love that obviously it shows in your game every time you come here?

STEVE MARINO: You know, I'm not really sure. I think a lot of holes where guys are laying back off the tee with irons and fairway woods, I go ahead and hit the driver. If I'm hitting it well, which I've been every time I've been here, it's a huge advantage because I'm coming into holes with wedges where they're coming in with maybe 5, 6-irons. That's purely what's been key for me here is driving the ball real well.

Q. With the type of field they have this week, does that add a little extra buzz, all of the Major champions, that many Top-5, Top-10 guys in the field, do you feel that when you're out there yourself?

STEVE MARINO: Maybe a little bit. I think you see it in the size of the galleries when every tournament where you get a really good field, you can tell because a few more people come out. There is a little bit more buzz around the tournament. And, you know, I'm not surprised that a lot of top guys are coming here to play this week because this is a great old school golf course and a great tournament. I would expect to see the field like this pretty much every year in the future.

Q. Tell us what's working, not working for you right now as you come into this week, what are you focusing on and what are you doing well?

STEVE MARINO: My putting and short game has been really good. I've been a little bit off with my ball striking pretty much all year. It hasn't been terrible but it hasn't been great. So I'm just trying to, you know, I feel like I'm real close to hitting it real good, so I'm just trying to find that one thing to key in on that really kind of puts me over the top. But other than that, my game has been pretty solid.

Q. Can you talk about just last year and getting into a playoff and what that meant to you. Obviously you said this is a special place. Do you need pressure for you? You wanted to win, but maybe you can go through your mindset then.

STEVE MARINO: Right. I really wasn't thinking about being in contention until after I shot 62 on Saturday and all of a sudden I just leap-frogged everybody. I was right up there either tied, or a shot or two behind Tim. Sunday was just awesome. I played great. I hit the ball great. I had a lot of putts that almost went in but didn't. It was just real exciting. I was glancing over every now and then seeing my parents, that made me feel really good. Unfortunately, I didn't win but I did really well and I was really proud of the way I hung in there and handled myself.

CHRIS REIMER: Any go-to home cook meal you will get from mom or dad this week?

STEVE MARINO: Well, they don't live here anymore but they'll be staying over at a friend's house so I'll probably go over there a couple of nights for dinner.

CHRIS REIMER: Talk about your year this year as a whole. Some of the goals you have, and looking back, maybe the way you played this year so far.

STEVE MARINO: Obviously, one of my main goals is to win. It's pretty much the only thing that I haven't done so far in my short career. I'm in all of the Majors this year via my Top-30 FedEx finish, so pretty much I'm trying to just get better every day and hopefully find myself in the winner circle some time this year.

Q. Do you feel like this is a pretty logical place for you to make that happen?

STEVE MARINO: Yes, probably. I have had good success here. Like he was saying, I've gotten better every year. I like the golf course, and I feel real comfortable here. I guess this would be a pretty good place to start.

Q. Being in all of the majors this year gives you a chance to really step up, have the break-through year, do you kind of look like it that way now? What do you feel you are capable of with having that many opportunities in the high profile events?

STEVE MARINO: You know, I've played in four or five majors before this year. I'm just trying to improve on my finishes. I haven't done great. I've played pretty well at the Masters this year, I finished 14th. But I'm just trying to get up there and just be consistently in the Top-20 in the majors. You never know, maybe find myself Sunday with a chance to win. I did okay in the British Open last year, I was leading through two rounds, but didn't play all that great on the weekend. But the more you play in those tournaments, the more comfortable you get, the more you get used to everything. So I'm just real excited about you know being in all of them and having a chance to play in all of them, especially with the rotation. We got Pebble for the U.S. Open. St. Andrew's for the British and that Whistling Straits up in Wisconsin looks like a pretty cool place I'm excited about all of them.

Q. Of the three which one would fit you the best? Pebble is the first one up. Address how you set up for Pebble Beach.

STEVE MARINO: I think I finished fourth this year at Pebble Beach. That was the second time I played in that tournament. The only other time I played it was my rookie year; I missed the cut. I haven't played St. Andrew's or Whistling Straits, so I will say probably Pebble. Playing well there in the AT&T gives me a lot of confidence going in for The Open. I know it's good going to be totally different though, not even close to the same. Just being able to play well there and shoot some good scores just gives me confidence going into The Open.

CHRIS REIMER: Anything else for Steve? Best of luck this week.

STEVE MARINO: Thanks, guys.

Transcript courtesy of ASAP Sports.