American Century Championship

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Edgewood Tahoe

 

Tony Romo

Press Conference

 

Q. Congratulations to our 2022 American Century Championship winner, Mr. Tony Romo.

TONY ROMO: Thank you.

Q. How are the nerves right now? What a day.

TONY ROMO: It was great. I was talking about it a little bit after the round when they were doing the interview, but you work so hard to get in position at the end to be in contention. And once you’re there, it’s actually — that’s kind of fun. That’s what makes it enjoyable. The hard part is getting there.

But feels like once you’re there, you really lock in on exactly what you’re doing. You don’t do a little bit of this or that, you’re like a hundred percent, I call it. That’s what I did on the back nine and in the playoff, and just try and do that every time. But it just narrows your focus a little bit more.

It was nice to see all the hard work and stuff pay off. I was able to hit a tee shot that I’ve struggled with over the years on 18 three times in a row right down the middle. And that was the difference, just ball striking around this golf course to get me in position.

Q. Pretty solid, consistent round. Four birdies, one bogey, 25 points, score of 69. And it looked like on a couple holes you did struggle with par-5s.

TONY ROMO: My par-5 scoring is — needs to do a little better. I wish I’d say I just start to finish was amazing, but I had so many opportunities on putts that just skimmed by. And I hit a lot of good putts, it wasn’t just that I was putting poorly, I just wasn’t matching line and pace exactly.

And this course is difficult. It’s tricky. Everyone knows that. That’s why the scores — it’s hard to go low. But I was hitting the ball so good that I gave myself so many opportunities that the law of averages eventually took place, I guess.

Q. Well, 18, birdie, birdie, birdie, and I think you had — the longest second shot you had in was 150 maybe?

TONY ROMO: Yeah, that was — that makes the hole a lot easier. That was one of the biggest things going into this tournament, there were two things, hitting some of these 30 to 60 yard shots close and taking advantage. And I hit a lot of good shots there, and I still have to work on that and some other areas.

But I didn’t capitalize enough on those shots with the putter. But I improved there, which is what I want to ultimately do each year and each tournament. But the second one was 18. 18 is such a gettable hole and points, and I’ve just given away so many points through the years to the field on that hole.

And when I went back and looked at my scoring on 18, I’m losing nine points a year to people because I’m finishing with three, two, four, one, three. It’s just — that’s a — nine points should be a minimum there. Because you could make an eagle on that hole with the right pin position.

I played pretty smart on the second shot each time. And wind coming off the lake a little bit, pin is tucked, and I kept giving myself that look. And if it comes in, it does. I was glad just staying patient and smart with the conservative line, aggressive shot.

Q. The third stroke on the second playoff hole was how long? What distance?

TONY ROMO: The third —

Q. The eagle putt on the second playoff hole?

TONY ROMO: So the one that finished it.

Q. Not the winning putt, the winning putt was the birdie putt.

TONY ROMO: Yeah, but the last hole I played.

Q. Yeah.

TONY ROMO: I would say that was around 25 feet.

Q. And then the winning putt was?

TONY ROMO: Probably five.

Q. Five feet?

TONY ROMO: I always want to say it feels like three or four, and you’re like 12 feet, but the truth is you’re always further away than you think you are.

Q. Some of us were at Los Colinas, and on those 18th holes, the regulation and the playoff, I remember you saying you were happy with the swing, but the result of those shots into the green weren’t what you wanted?

TONY ROMO: As you could tell, every time you play, the goal is to learn yourself, improve. But it’s also about winning and you’re trying to win. But the ultimate goal is truly to — this week it’s to win, right here today. But I want to improve, I want to get better.

And 18 at Los Colinas taught me the margin for error on that was a little bit out of your control. I hit what I thought was a perfect shot that ends up hitting the bank and going back into the water there. That means it was probably the wrong club selection if I have to do everything perfect for the outcome to be that. Sometimes you have to attack it because you’re behind or situationally.

I was proud of the patience, and you could see those shots coming into the green, each one of those on 18, was an aggressive shot to a conservative line. And I never gave anything away. And you make people have to beat you, and it gives you a chance.

And if you have to make a putt — and I thought I made the one in the first playoff hole, and I gave it a chance, and it was too firm. If it was a little softer. But when you have a chance to win a tournament, you go for it. But you have to still be smart with your approaches and things like that.

Q. Today your shot in on the winning playoff hole, you’re comfortable, middle of the fairway, other guys were already not in great shape. Did you feel like you had things under control at that point?

TONY ROMO: Yeah, I mean, it’s just once I hit, the biggest shot on that hole is the tee shot because it’s a lot tighter than people — like TV doesn’t do it justice because you have trees on the left. So if you pull it a little bit, even if you fade the ball, if you pull it five yards, you hit a tree 80 yards, 100 yards in front of you. And then if you come out of it, now you’re over in all these trees and you have to punch back out. So either one is wrong.

You have to hit through a really narrow and tight window. You could hit a Rescue, you could lay back, but you’re not gaining the advantage that it provides with a driver.

I’d always struggle with that, just from start lines and shaping the ball. But I started to drive the ball really good the last month and a half. That’s allowed me to step up and trust it under pressure. And to be able to do it three times in a row on a hole that has not been some — not a hole that I’ve actually done well on is rewarding in my brain.

Q. The difference in the feeling today versus the first couple?

TONY ROMO: Well, I made a couple more putts. And the thing that’s crazy is I still had one, I missed it on 17. I had another putt on 14 that I missed. Putt on 12, a putt on 10. Putt on 9. 6. 6, oh. I mean, these are like 64s or 62s if you’re making this. And each day was like that. It was like I’m hitting the ball close enough.

The number of times I was inside of 10, 12 feet for birdie, each day was — it’s frustrating because I’m just playing even par-ish, whatever, couple under, 1-over golf, but I’m hitting the ball in positions to where you should have six to eight birdies or nine on any other course that I would play. But it just wasn’t happening.

So I just had to keep the patience, just stay — just a matter of time before it happens. Then once all of a sudden I made the putt on 11, that was the first one today where it was like — it’s not even a hard putt, it’s like seven feet, left edge.

But when it went in, it was like, whoa, they can go in. I hit the same putt five times today, they just didn’t go in. But then it made me feel like I could do that. Then I made the putt big on 12, and then obviously 18 just making the comeback for birdie was big in the first playoff hole.

Q. And the personal satisfaction versus 2017 and ’18?

TONY ROMO: I think they’re all special. I think one of the things I would say that’s a little bit more special about this one is my boys, too, that are older. Jones is four, so he’ll have glimpses and memories of this a little bit, but the 10 and 8-year-old, Hawk and Riv, they were just so into it.

They were so nervous. They were following me around, and they were like, Let’s go, Dad. Come on. If you do this, we have a chance. He’s like, You could finish third if you keep playing good, Dad.

And I was like — because we’re going to the back nine, I was like, Well, I’m still trying to do better than that, son. I’ve played this game long enough to know it’s not over yet. He’s like, Okay.

Afterwards he’s like, I did not think you could do better than third. This is crazy. I was like, I know. You don’t get to eat ice cream tonight out of the trophy then, son.

Q. When you first won, did that feel kind of like vindication for you, okay, I got over the top, it’s been a couple years, I’ve been in the hunt, now I finally did it.

TONY ROMO: Yeah.

Q. The second year was like you were closing the door on everybody. Your game had really progressed, you had retired.

TONY ROMO: That was the year that probably made the biggest leap. I made some changes since then, and it’s taken till now. But even the second year I was starting to progress where I was better and I was getting to the point where I could hit a lot of shots close. And just even if you putt average, you’re going to be in contention at the end.

But I was making putts. And that kind of was the difference there. But I still wasn’t driving the ball good enough to compete consistently.

And that’s what I was excited about this week, I’m like, well, I hit driver on holes I never hit driver before this week. 8, I hit driver every day. Hit two right in front of the green. Today off to the right, but it was fine, made par. 10 today, these are very tight holes. You’ve got trees in the middle of the fairway, and I’m just hitting driver because I’ve worked really hard at that.

And it was nice to see, you know, that kind of show up in a tournament under real pressure. That’s the enjoyable part of sports.

Q. I looked over the stats, and 33 years, only five — no more than five winners have not been — five winners have not been either a major league pitcher, an NFL quarterback or a hockey player. A lot of times from the podium in past years, when those positions won, they said for quarterback it’s game management, for a pitcher it’s game management, for hockey players it’s eye-hand coordination. Subconsciously, does your game management skills, as being an NFL quarterback, come into play consciously or subconsciously as you’re thinking about the next shot?

TONY ROMO: Well, it’s almost like when somebody says they’re going to specialize in one sport in high school. Well, these other sports also help you, like you talk about. Every time you’re in a difficult situation, a pressure situation, when your teammates depend on you, when you fail big, when you succeed, all these things help grow you and help you to learn yourself and how to be better the next time.

It’s not — doesn’t mean that you’re going to better as far as the outcome, but it does show you that you can always just continue to improve and be a better version next time.

And when you talk about those guys who win, I mean, the game management side of it is correct, but you almost can’t do it unless you can control your ball. And through the years I hadn’t been able to control the golf ball as well.

I’d have good runs, I’d have good weeks through the years, I’d have a good month here and there, but truly being able to step up and be like, I’m going to drive the ball pretty good today, might miss a couple drives, everyone does, but I also know more than likely I’m not losing a golf ball. And if I want to eliminate a side of the course, I can eliminate it now.

Whereas that helps the game management side. I can make sure I’m not going in the water on 18 on the second shot, and I’m not worried about going in the water. Whereas before you might be kind of in between hitting here, and then you’d be off the green. It’s like, no, I’m aiming eight yards, ten yards to the right, and I’m going to draw a yard. And if I pulled it two yards, it’s next to the flag. If not, I’m right there with a 15, 20, 25-footer over and over again.

And that’s where I always felt like, well, it’s easy to be mentally strong when you can control the ball. The hard part is to get to that point. And to get there requires you to think about your own flaws, where your weaknesses are and go to work on them.

Who likes to go do something you’re terrible at? Who wants to go out here and chip when you’re a terrible chipper and put them in really bad lies with everyone around watching? No, you’d rather have it in fluffy and you’d feel good about yourself.

But the guys who improve the most, they do it, they look silly, you’re embarrassed, But you also are learning data so that way, when the time comes, you can actually do it.

Q. Mardy Fish is in that group with tennis players and game management and eye-hand coordination?

TONY ROMO: I feel like each one of those guys you talk about, though, I call it like it’s a right-sided sport. In other words, they have a ball. They have racquets. Mardy is a lefty, so it would be left-sided. But in other words, it’s a one side that’s coming through.

And so each one of those guys is taking something from their right side and they’re actually bringing it that way and they’re sending it that way. So tennis, it’s going that way. Pitching, it’s going that way. Throwing a football, that way.

So it makes it easier than being a cornerback or a receiver because we’re so used to sequencing the body that direction.

Q. Two months out from the NFL season, my first question is: What are you looking forward to next season? Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, volume 2. And my second question is: Any more golf from now until September?

TONY ROMO: Yeah, I actually have the U.S. Am qualifier tomorrow morning at 8 o’clock in Texas. Not in Dallas either. So I get back here late tonight and then get up pretty early tomorrow morning, get the back ready and get over there. So that will be a 36 hole in some heat.

But at least I won’t be exhausted. That’s a joke. And then — I’m very good at sarcasm. My wife loves that too.

I’m going to play in the Wisconsin State Am, go back and see my dad and everybody back there. And then I’ve got the Texas State Open the week after that. I got a few in the next couple weeks, and then a little break, and then one more in August.

As far as football season, I think it’s going to be a great year. I look forward to hanging out with CBS, our family there. That’s one of the most enjoyable things, getting to see them, have some dinners, and then do some good football games.

Q. What are your emotions after winning such an epic playoff?

TONY ROMO: Well, I feel — I mean, this one — coming from behind is a great feeling. It’s hard to do because you have to — you feel like you can’t miss a putt. You feel like you can’t miss a shot. Every shot is huge because one mistake makes you feel like you’re going to lose.

And just hitting shot after shot, I mean, I probably hit — I think I hit one poor shot in the last 11 holes. Like each shot was like where I wanted it, where I’m looking, pin-high, or if I got the wind wrong, it was short, but it was dead on line. Really good golf for me to be able to do that.

And that’s what it felt like. To be able to do it under pressure and come back, that’s just a special day. And it’s just really fun. And once you get in contention, though, nothing matters before. It’s almost like you’ve just got to get yourself into where you are actually are within a couple holes hole or a hole. Then it’s like, Boom.

And that’s what happened as the day was going on, it started to feel. And then you’re so locked in with trying to make this thing happen that sometimes it just does.

Q. On the second playoff hole, you said your first putt left about five feet for the tournament-winning putt. How confident were you that you could make that?

TONY ROMO: Well, I was pretty confident. I mean, for me, I knew because the first playoff hole I had to make, what, a 10-footer, 12-footer? That was a lot further than I wanted, I’ll say that.

And so the next one, you know, it’s to win. And so I know that you’re supposed to be nervous and all those things, but this is what you want. If you have a putt to win, it’s not like you’re going to be passive with it. You’re going to put a stroke on it.

What you do is you go with what you know. I always tell — someone’s like, well, what do you think about your play? I’m like, well, I’m probably the wrong guy to ask, first off. Second off, I’ve had really good putting stretches in my career, and then I’ve had a lot of really bad tournaments and bad stretches with it.

But the one thing I know is if I have a 10-footer for my life on the line, I know what technique I’m going to go with. Now, you practiced a lot to get the right roll, get your alignment, do these things so that it’s more consistent over time, but if you have to make one putt, one putt with everything on the line, I have one little move that I do, and I make sure this putt does this a hundred percent. And that’s held up time and time again. For me on those, I’m pretty confident when it comes to that.

Q. With this win, you join Mark Mulder with three victories here, and I think that ties for third among three guys over all the years, Rhoden with seven and Quinn with five. Any thoughts to that when you were on with Mulder going back to the 18th tee on the playoff? You’re thinking this guy has won this thing three times? Any additional pressure? You’re playing with guys that are pros, been under fire and know how to play under pressure.

TONY ROMO: It’s a good question. I think — I wouldn’t say I thought of it that way. For me, it just felt like once you get there, I don’t know why, it just feels like I’m just going to go win the tournament. That’s the feeling you have. It’s like now it’s time to just go ahead and do it.

And I don’t know how else to explain it other than you’re chasing and the shots — this just turns into match play. It’s like if I go out here and hit a drive right down the middle, I have a better chance of winning.

I know how good I’ve been driving the golf ball, I know how good I’m striking it. So I’m confident. If someone goes out there and beats you, they beat you. But you don’t want to beat yourself. And the only way to do that when you get there is to not, like, guide it.

Way back in the day, I’d done that before, and I learned, if you lose, you lose going. I mean, your body, the club head, you go. That’s why people talk about hitting the ball, not taking some off under pressure. It’s like take the lesser club and hit it. Because ultimately, in those moments, the more that everything is going, it’s going to be in sequence, and it’s easier to control.

And I just think it’s fun, like when you get there. When you get in a playoff, this is what’s enjoyable. Watch my kids live and die with each shot and putt? This is like, boy, this is what you practice for. I like that situation.

Q. What does this mean to win the whole thing? You’ve done it before, but what does this one mean?

TONY ROMO: Well, like I said a little bit earlier, they’re each different. All three are meaningful. The first one felt like I could do it finally. It’s like getting to that point where you actually had been knocking on the door over and over again, and then you finally actually do it and it’s like yes, I knew I could, and I kind of expected it, but it’s been taking a long time.

Then the next year you’re kind of expecting to do it, and then I played really well, and it kind of coincided. Then I had a wrist injury where I had hook of the hamate, and I broke my wrist, so that definitely didn’t help during this tournament, so I had to bail out.

And then Mardy shoots 63 two years ago? And that was as good a round as anyone is going to play here. You’re not winning that tournament when someone does that. If someone beats you, that’s just great playing.

I was also in that phase of adjusting from that swing and that time period of my golf game to where it is now. The last three months, two months, I’m getting to where I’m going lower a lot more often. I’m getting to numbers I’ve never gotten to, and I’m more consistent.

So hopefully this will continue, and just need to obviously make a few more putts going forward.

Q. Pretty soon I’ll be writing about the South Tahoe football team, the Truckee football team. I’m sure you have fond memories of high school football. What do you say to those kids who are gearing up for the football season?

TONY ROMO: What a special time in your life. It’s almost like this. One day I’m going to be really old. Kind of am already. But I’ll be way too old to win this. I mean, that will be like 84. At 70 I should still have a chance.

High school goes by quick. College goes by quick. Playing in the NFL for me went by fast. It’s a special time. Enjoy it. Don’t take it for granted. Just give it everything you got. Enjoy the people you’re with.

American Century Championship

Sunday, July 10, 2022

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Edgewood Tahoe

 

Mark Mulder

Joe Pavelski

Press Conference

 

Q. We have two of the three playoff contenders, Mark Mulder, Joe Pavelski. Guys, it’s always tough when you don’t pull it out, when you don’t win one. We know the feelings are raw. Mark, you had a tough back nine, tell us what was going on back there. You were struggling.

MARK MULDER: Gosh, I didn’t try to, but, man, did I get conservative. Like I said, I’ve been here before. I knew what to do. And for some reason, I just didn’t hit the shots I needed to make. It’s as simple as that.

It wasn’t — I wasn’t nervous, I wasn’t scared, I wasn’t anything. I had a lead. I just played very conservative, unfortunately. It’s as simple as that.

Q. Joe, you played a great round, I think you had the most points with 27 points, if not mistaken. High-point round. Nicely done. You really played well.

JOE PAVELSKI: Yeah, it was good. The first day I did not drive the ball good. That’s usually a strength. The irons, the putting was fine. Kind of going into those next couple days, it was all about driving the ball, keeping it in play.

And I did that. I hit the ball really good. Had some looks. Had a lot of good putts today too. Made birdie on 8 and 9 and got a few more coming down the stretch.

It was fun. It was fun getting into contention knowing I missed a four-footer for birdie, five-footer on 16, which we all do along the week, but I thought I was going to need that one and one on 18. Take a look at the board, and you’re there. Battled back and made one on 18, had to wedge one out and chip one out of the woods and hit a great wedge and made a putt. It was good. It was exciting to get in that playoff and have a crack at it.

Q. It’s the first three-way playoff we’ve had in tournament history, and it’s the fifth playoff total in the first back-to-back years where we’ve had a playoff. You were both clutch. What a great way to start a playoff. Was the confidence there? Were there nerves? What were you both thinking?

MARK MULDER: For me, I just got done, so I think it was probably a tad bit easier for me to just go back to 18 tee and swing. I know they were just a group of two in front of me, but it’s still a few minutes of sitting around and waiting and have to watch what I do, I guess, because if I made birdie, I’d won.

You got to sit around for a minute, but for me, it was no problem, turn around, hit another tee shot. So it wasn’t that big of a deal.

Q. Peter Jacobson mentioned that on the air. He said Joe finished first, and he said, If I’m Joe, I’m going to go hit a few chips and roll a few putts before I get going again just to get a little bit better feel. Joe, I don’t know if you had time to do that.

JOE PAVELSKI: I went to the bathroom quick. It was like there was no time. You’re waiting to see what’s going to happen, it’s exciting. It’s such a good event with everyone around, there’s excitement. You kind of want to be a part of it.

It was quick, but jump in the cart and get to the tee box. And you’re first up, grab that driver, and you’re like, oh, yeah, I haven’t even taken a swing yet. So you get a couple. You get in that position, you’re like, all right, make a swing. Let it go. There’s nothing to be worried about.

I think the one thing I wish I would have hit was probably a putt. I had that opportunity on the first playoff. It was good. These greens get rolling, and it feels like every putt you hit out there is downhill. And you don’t want to leave it short, and you want to give it a chance. And just gave it a little extra. It wasn’t as smooth.

Q. It’s tough to have an uphill putt where that pin was, unless it was your second one, in all reality. Everything is downhill and sloping towards the pond. On your second shot in the playoff, what were you hitting? How far did you have in and didn’t quite catch it? The second hole of the playoff.

JOE PAVELSKI: I don’t know what I had, it’s just kind of a feel, probably 30 — oh, I had I think 245 in, hit a 3-iron, driving iron up there, left it 20, 30 yards short. Hit a good shot, gave myself a chance. Would have liked to clipped a chip shot a little better, closer. But hit a really good putt. I thought I made it.

Q. Mark, was your second shot on the second playoff up against the pond, was that down deep in the grass? It looked like you had to whack one to get it out of there.

MARK MULDER: Yeah, I took — it was deep in the long stuff. So I just tried to take a full swing, hoping maybe it carries the water and lands on the green and rolls to the other side.

I didn’t have much of a chance. But I didn’t want to try and baby it. I didn’t want to try and hit the perfect shot. That way if the grass catches it, which it did, and it came up way short.

I put a good swing on it. What are you going to do? I had to try to go for it, and then obviously hit the next one on, but it wasn’t enough. That’s the way it goes. That’s what happens when you catch the tree on the left-hand side.

Q. Joe, you were bringing a lot of memories back, because if you would have won this, you would have been the second guy in tournament history to be an active player and win the tournament, the only other one being Mario Lemieux.

JOE PAVELSKI: I did not know that. It was right there —

MARK MULDER: Way to mess it up.

JOE PAVELSKI: That’s about how my boys said it too.

Q. Mark, what were the length of the putts on the regulation 18th green?

MARK MULDER: Of my — of the first time when I played it, when I just neat needed a two-putt to win?

Q. Right.

MARK MULDER: I probably had 50 feet, give or take.

Q. And then what?

MARK MULDER: The one I made was — wait. The first playoff hole was probably —

Q. I’m talking about regulation now.

MARK MULDER: Oh, it was probably 50 feet, and then I probably had 9 to 10 feet on the next one.

Q. Joe, how long was the putt that you had to win the tournament?

JOE PAVELSKI: I’m trying to think. 15, 20? I think it was about 18 feet. I would’ve had it 17, 18 feet. Kind of a little slider. Just need to get it going. Got it going a little bit too fast.

Q. I had an interview with TJ Oshie after he finished. I mentioned to him it seems like hockey players, football players, MLB pitchers do the best in the tournament overall. Eye-hand contact for hockey players, game management for pitchers, game management for quarterbacks. The three of you, all represent those fields, ended up in the first three-way playoff in competition history. So how — is that assumption that I make correct? Or I think it’s something I heard from one of you guys saying anyway.

JOE PAVELSKI: I mean, you got to play this game. You got to play it a lot to get good at it and maintain. I’ve seen some — I’ve had some bad teammate — bad golfers as teammates. But if you get guys that play, there’s some really good ones as well. There’s some guys that hit, they line up, get the reps.

It’s a great sport. I think it’s something — outside our sport, it’s another way we get to compete. It’s such a great event, go against all these guys that love the game and play it and compete. It’s great to be out here.

Q. When your season ended, did you get in as much practice as you wanted?

JOE PAVELSKI: Yeah, as much as I could get in a hurry. There’s always more golf out there to be played. Got enough in. The short game is where it shows up at times. But you’re always trying to get a little bit more, it’s just you got three months to play as much as you can.

Q. How does adrenaline of today’s playoff compare to anything you’ve done at the highest level of your representative sports?

MARK MULDER: For me 17 and 18, I’ll probably never hit certain clubs that far again. I’ve said it in years past. 17 and 18, I’ll hit less club from whatever number I have than at any other time during the year.

That adrenaline, I feed off that stuff. I love feeling the energy of the crowd. You try to swing easy, but there’s really no such thing on those last few holes. You’re taking that club that’s a little less than the number and hitting it hard. That’s how it works for me.

JOE PAVELSKI: I think with us, with hockey, you can go out, you can be physical, it happens so fast, it’s reactionary. Golf, there’s a little bit more finesse to it. And we don’t get to get the reps in to really dial it in. Anything can happen out there.

Golf has a funny thing of making you feel certain ways. On the first tee, your name is getting announced, hitting that first tee shot, certain putts. There’s times you have it all under control, and there’s time where it gets away from you. But you just grind through it and enjoy it. It’s great to be out there.

American Century Championship

Saturday, July 9, 2022

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Edgewood Tahoe

 

Adam Thielen

Quick Quotes

 

Q. 38 points. Walk me through your round today. So you finished with three straight birdies. So that’s got to give you positive momentum going into tomorrow?

ADAM THIELEN: Yeah, definitely feels good. I feel like I lost some gas in the middle of the round, I feel like I do every year out here. But so I was struggling a little bit, and I knew I had to finish strong to have any chance.

So it was good. It felt good to make some putts and finish the round.

Q. So tell me what — is there anything you’d be working on tomorrow, or is it relaxing this afternoon?

ADAM THIELEN: Yes, I’m working on my wedges. I got some issues with my wedge, I’ve been skulling my wedges, and I’ve had a couple doubles because of it.

Q. Tell me, so the fans here, so this is the first year back and with fans back. Tell me about the atmosphere out here today?

ADAM THIELEN: It’s unbelievable. It’s just so good to have a full crowd here. And this tournament is so special. There’s nothing better. It’s such a special event. And then these fans make it. When they come out to watch a bunch of guys that can’t play golf golf, that’s pretty cool.

American Century Championship

Saturday, July 9, 2022

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Edgewood Tahoe

 

Mark Mulder

Press Conference

 

THE MODERATOR: Our second round leader, Mark Mulder, great round today. Nice work. 25 points, a total of 45. You have a 3-putt lead over Mardy Fish going into tomorrow. You’ve never played with Mardy in a final round before. Tell us what was going on out there today.

MARK MULDER: Today was just kind of consistent. I had a few birdies, bogey or so here and there. Kind of untimely, but the eagle on 16 was huge. It was kind of disappointing to par 18 after hitting it on the front edge of the green.

But overall I was pleased with it. I didn’t hit it all that good. I putted pretty well, which helped. But overall it was like yesterday. Didn’t hit it great but made some putts when I needed to. Other than the birdie putt on 18, the only other one was 8. Hit it to about ten feet on eight and missed that one. The other ones, I made the ones I should have. And so — I 2-putted when I needed to when I hit it to 20, 30 feet. I was pleased with it.

Q. Long putt on 18. You were on the front and it was in the back?

MARK MULDER: It was, but all in all, it wasn’t that hard to get it into some four-foot circle. I hit it to about eight, ten feet. Left it a little short. That was disappointing. Overall pleased with the day. I also rolled in a 30-footer on 16 that maybe I shouldn’t have made.

Q. You were past the hole, that downhill breaking the other way?

MARK MULDER: Would have gone 10, 12 feet by had it not gone in the center. Gotta give and take right there.

Q. Overall, as far as the crowd was concerned, what did you think? Looks like we’re getting big numbers of people out there.

MARK MULDER: One of the post-round interviews I just did, I told you guys yesterday, I haven’t — I didn’t love it the last couple of years. I feed off of this stuff. I love the energy. I love the fans being out there and having them back.

I think for me, personally, has played a huge part of my focus and the energy that’s out there, because it’s been lacking the last couple of years. For obvious reasons. So to have them back, it’s felt really good and I’ve really enjoyed it.

Q. Are the greens tougher this year? Seems like everybody is commenting. I don’t know if they’re quicker or tougher pin placements, or what are you seeing?

MARK MULDER: I wouldn’t necessarily say they’re tougher. What I will say is last year, because of that heat, we had mid-90s, I believe, almost every day last year. So they were very dried out. So they were kind of crusty. And when I hit a good putt last year, it didn’t go in.

This year, I feel like when I hit the putt I’m supposed to, it is going in. And when I putted it on the line that I read, when I read it correctly, it’s a good putt. And last year, I almost felt like the ball kind of floated on top of the grass because it was so hot. And they almost had a little crust to them, dried out, almost. Just because of the mid-90, low 90s we had last year. So last year I didn’t make anything.

I made no putts last year outside of probably eight to ten feet. And this year I am. So that’s to me has been the biggest difference.

Q. Okay. A couple of years out of the hunt, but you won this thing three years in a row, obviously. What are you thinking the night before you’re going into it? You’ve been there.

MARK MULDER: You just gotta go play your game. Obviously I know how good Mardy is. I know how the first time I let myself look at the leaderboard was on 18. I wasn’t surprised at all to see Mardy’s name right there. Even though he didn’t play that great yesterday.

And I don’t know exactly who is in third, but it might be D Lowe or somebody. So if it is the three of us, it’s not going to be the first time we’ve played together, and we’re going to have a lot of fun.

Q. I think Adam Thielen might be in there depending on the pairings, because they’re tied going into it. Thoughts? You know Fish really well and D Lowe pretty well, you’ve all won. So you guys know how this is. Adam is the only guy who hasn’t, not yet anyway. So any nerves? You don’t look too nervous.

MARK MULDER: No, I’m not nervous. I mean, I don’t know, I have been here before. The first year, yes, I couldn’t even think straight walking down 18. The first year I won it. I know what I need to do. I know how I need to hit the golf ball. I can’t go out there and think oh, pars are going to win. That’s not how it’s going to work. Somebody’s going to put up 20, 25 points tomorrow, and I need to be right there, if I feel like I want to win this thing.

Q. Mardy had 27 today. You had, I think, 25. The guys that have been there are starting to score.

MARK MULDER: It’s out there. It is out there. Like I said, I mean, the two holes, I mean, okay, I could have been, what, technically four points better. But I also made an incredible bogey on 14 to save my round. Otherwise that’s minus two. Otherwise I’d be pretty much tied with Mardy.

So there’s those ups and downs in a round. We’re amateurs for a reason. We make mistakes and hit some terrible shots from time to time. So try to limit those tomorrow.

Q. What did you have, four birdies, four pars, an eagle today; is that right?

MARK MULDER: I don’t even know. It’s kind of a blur once I’m out there. I’m just focusing from shot to shot, to be honest.

Q. Mardy also said he didn’t look at the scoreboard all day. And you’re saying you didn’t look at it until 18, do you normally? Don’t you normally?

MARK MULDER: Not really. What good does it do? I always used to joke, I say this to my kids who play sports, too: When I gave up a three-run homer in the second inning, what good does it do? What am I supposed to do, throw my glove down on the ground in anger? You’re down 3-0 and go put up some zeros let your team come back.

Yesterday I had, what, five or six points through ten holes yesterday. I wasn’t angry. I wasn’t mad. I just put my head down and focused on the next shot and made a lot of birdies down the stretch. So sports are — that’s the way sports go. There’s a lot of ups and downs. If you can’t handle it mentally, you’re not going to be there on the last day on 18.

Q. You’re 11 points better than your second-day score last year. You don’t like playing in the heat?

MARK MULDER: No. I don’t mind the heat. I live in Arizona. That’s why I enjoy being here. Last year was just incredibly tough. I remember being in the tent last year and all of us were sitting around saying we can’t — we’re all kind of complaining, talking about how nobody can make a putt. And Vinny walks in. He’s like, I made everything I looked at.

So, I mean, that’s how it goes. This course does not play long. It’s a lot of little chip wedges and a lot of these par-4s. So it becomes a putting contest because we can all hit fairways, a lot of us can hit greens. Who is going to make the putt?

And for me that’s what’s been better this year over the last few years, is that I’ve putted better. So that’s the difference maker, that’s all it really is. And that was the difference maker with Vinny last year.

Q. We usually have — whether this is the correct phrase or not, the usual suspects come into the press room for the postgame press conference, is yourself, Mardy. This year, a lot of guys are showing up in the top, and we got two people tied for third. Two tied for fifth. Two tied for seventh. And among them, Joe Pavelski, Mike Modano and Kevin Lowe hasn’t been here in — not Kevin. Derek. And Adam Thielen. Any surprise that these younger guys, new faces?

MARK MULDER: They’re all good players. Obviously Thielen is still playing. Playing with Oshie today. These are guys that are still current players. So they have a season. They have a time where they’re not playing a lot of golf. Joe Pavelski, I played with him in the final group before.

So some of these guys, once their careers are finished, and you see them here, you might see them more at the top of the leaderboard come the end. So I know for me I probably improved by three, four strokes from the day my career ended within the next few years, because you’re starting to play year-round as opposed to very sparingly during the baseball season.

Q. 30-footer on 16?

MARK MULDER: Give or take, yeah.

Q. And how is your confidence level going into tomorrow?

MARK MULDER: Well, I feel great. I’m putting the ball good. In past years, I mean — it all kind of depends on putting. I’m not going to lie. If you’re rolling the ball good, you should feel confident. And when you’re not rolling the ball well, you’re probably not going to feel great about your game.

So putting is kind of the difference maker. Knock on wood, I haven’t missed anything that I should have made. Those two to four-footers, five-footers. The ones that you need to make I’ve put good strokes on those balls.

So those have been huge for me. Most of them par putts, obviously. So it’s just about accumulating points. And that’s the big part of this.

Q. So you’re hoping the kids will run onto the green again?

MARK MULDER: Yes, if I can do what I did today. Tomorrow I’ll be fine.

Q. You’re talking about the putting. Does your caddie read your putts or do you read them?

MARK MULDER: We kind of have an agreement, unless I ask him, he doesn’t say anything. So it’s just more of a feel for me. I think it was I had what the eagle putt on 16. I said, Just walk away. He goes, What? Like, No, walk away. It just felt right to me.

And to be fair, even if I missed it, if I believe in it, it might be a bad putt, but I’d rather trust it than let him possibly second-guess what I’m thinking at the moment.

So it kind of comes and goes a little bit. I don’t ask him every hole at all. It’s only it just depends on how I feel on the putt.

Q. From your years of experience here, have you noticed that with other players as well, or are they depending on the caddies?

MARK MULDER: I think everybody’s different, to be honest. There’s some guys who depend on their caddie for every single putt. Some guys who don’t ask him. But a lot of the TOUR guys I’m friends with, it’s a very personal thing. They’re all very different. Some of them don’t rely on their caddies at all.

And if you watch PGA TOUR broadcast, you hear the same thing. Sometimes you’ll hear them talk about how they depend on their caddies for every sing line. And I’m not that way. Sometimes it’s just a feeling.

And that’s the same way with a certain club into a green. We got to 13. No, 14. And my caddie — or 13. Sorry. And I was going to hit — I’m like, no, I’m hitting driver.

And it just felt right. So sometimes you just gotta go with what you feel.

Q. What happened?

MARK MULDER: It didn’t turn out great. It turned out good on 9 when I did it, too. All in all we were even, 1 and 1.

Q. Talk again about the energy out there with the fans.

MARK MULDER: Well, everybody’s different. But for me, I feed off of it. 17 and 18, I hit wedge on both shots. And I’ll go home, and I’ll never hit a wedge from 190 yards again. That’s how much adrenaline I have on 17 and 18. And the ball just goes.

I mean, it’s true. It’s always been that way for me. And these last couple of years, I think that’s why it’s been very difficult for me to kind of mentally lock into this tournament because there wasn’t the same energy. There wasn’t the same crowd. So I almost — I was almost distracted out there. I would hit a bad shot and it was like, oh, let’s go find it hit it again, and that was my demeanor.

To where I got on 18 today and you can see the fans lining the left side and the right side of 18. And it just kind of locks you in. Because you just don’t want to hit it over into the fans on the right. And for me playing a cut, when there’s not a lot of fans, it’s very easy to hit it to the right.

Q. Reading the greens, from what I understand, there’s eight local caddies that are out here with 87 players. And we’ve heard a lot of guys talking about how hard it is to hit the greens, and you mentioned it yourself?

MARK MULDER: These are very tough. My buddy, Kenny, he’s caddied for me every year we’ve been here, there’s been a few times where he’s changed my mind and the ball has gone in, and there’s been some times where it hasn’t.

Q. So was Xander mad at you because he’s not packing this week?

MARK MULDER: Yes. Incredibly. My son will be out here caddying for me someday, but we’ll see.

American Century Championship

Saturday, July 9, 2022

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Edgewood Tahoe

 

Mardy Fish

Press Conference

 

THE MODERATOR: We’re joined by Mardy Fish, now at the front of the stage. Great round today, 27 points. Everybody was talking who was going to have a big round today. 27 is a pretty good number. Take us through it.

MARDY FISH: It’s a good number. Certainly the eagle on 18 helps a lot in that regard. But you’re kind of just looking to finish the round with a 3-pointer and get out of there. And, yeah, so the eagle on 18 was a bonus.

Other than that, I played pretty solid. A couple of bad putting holes. I think I three-putted four greens. Those were my four bogeys. So get the speed down a little bit better tomorrow and hit it the same and we’ll have a lot of looks.

And these greens are really tough to read. They’re really tough to — sort of feel like sometimes you get lucky to make it. They’re just so fast, and in the afternoons, with the poa annua, it’s just hard to know where it’s going to go exactly. And you could see the break, and it may bounce off a little bit of poa annua or something and push it offline.

So you’ve got to just stay calm and hit as many good putts as you can, hit it as — give yourself as many chances, 10, 12, 15 feet, something like that, on most of the holes.

Other than that, I hit it pretty good. And a shot or two here or there, but I was happy how I hit it.

Q. Were the three-putts all long putts, the start of the run, or run a couple short —

MARDY FISH: Yeah, it wasn’t like I missed a 2- or 3-footer, something like that. It’s more that sort of lag putting. They weren’t makeable putts. It was just, let’s get this down in two, and just rammed I think most of them by except for one on No. 12. I was down there in the bowl. That’s a tough one to get speed right on.

So it happens. It’s not the best part of my game. Again, just happy the way I finished and that will give me a good taste going into tomorrow.

Q. So four birdies, four birdies, four bogeys today, and the eagle. Pretty good round of golf. And we saw Mark Mulder do something pretty similar.

MARDY FISH: Today?

Q. Yeah, today. So guess what, you guys are fighting it out again. Mulder has 43. And you have 42. I thought he just eagled 18?

MARDY FISH: 16. He’s an eagle machine, that guy. He makes more eagles than pars here I think.

THE MODERATOR: Yesterday he didn’t make a par on the back nine. You’ve got to love that.

MARDY FISH: I saw that.

Q. How long was the putt on 18?

MARDY FISH: I didn’t have a ruler out. I don’t know. It’s like 8 feet. Probably 8 feet or so. Maybe 6 feet.

Q. Are you putting — how is your putting this year compared to 2020?

MARDY FISH: Compared to 2020?

Q. Here.

MARDY FISH: I just ran into one round in 2020. It was 37 points in one round. It’s almost what I have in two days. That was just kind of a special day, I made a few. Look, I hit it fine on the front and then just made — birdied, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18. I didn’t even know it. I kind of blacked out.

Q. How about your game compared to 2020?

MARDY FISH: It’s way better. Way more of an idea of my game, holding back. I’m not driving the ball very well this week, which is usually my strength. So I’ve had to kind of pull myself back a little bit.

In 2020 I hit a bunch of drivers and just sort of hit them on almost every hole — No. 10, No. 8. And today I hit irons there because I’m not really sure where my driver’s going at the moment.

But came up with a good one again on 16 and 18. Didn’t birdie 16, but hit a good driver there. So it wasn’t bad.

Q. So your game is way better than 2020.

MARDY FISH: I think you only get better until you get worse.

Q. So where is your confidence going into tomorrow?

MARDY FISH: It’s good. Like I said, it was nice to finish like that. It’s kind of the only thing — you finish with a bogey or something and it’s kind of the taste in your mouth. Yesterday I was a bit disappointed in how I played and maybe even how I competed a little bit. So we’ll jump in the lake and do it over again tomorrow.

Q. Who do you expect to be your biggest challenge, biggest competition tomorrow?

MARDY FISH: It seems like Mark. I’m sure Annika is up there. On purpose I didn’t look at the scoreboard. So I don’t know where anyone is or where I stand at all.

Q. And your biggest difference today to increase the 12 points, the birdie?

MARDY FISH: I was really sloppy yesterday. Made a bunch of bogeys. Made a double bogey on a driver/wedge-type hole. So it’s kind of just eliminating that. I usually don’t start great at this tournament for some reason, even though I was here all week and sort of practicing, getting ready and everything.

I haven’t had like a great first round here. But I’ve had a lot of good second rounds. So today was no different.

Q. You’re not the only one to mention that the greens are really moving. What’s the biggest difference to do that from last year?

MARDY FISH: Every year they’re fast. Every year they’re tough to — it’s tough to make putts here. It’s either the reading or speed, marrying the two together, it’s pretty hard to do here. Some of these putts you’re just getting it started, and you’re just hoping to get it started on the correct line. And a lot of times it’s hard to marry those two together. We’re not professionals. So it’s pretty difficult.

Q. Do you always not watch the scoreboard when you’re playing?

MARDY FISH: No, not always. I was just pretty disappointed. I think yesterday was the worst round I’ve had here, maybe, in eight years. So the whole time I was here. Maybe not. But one of the worst ones. And it was so fun to — Jake Owen and I are best friends since we’ve been five years old. So having him out here and his girls and my kids and his family and my family and stuff is really special, and then to play with him yesterday.

And we usually play better than that. So that was disappointing a little bit. But we came back and rectified it.

Q. Tell us about the crowds over the last couple of days. Yesterday was nuts and today —

MARDY FISH: Today felt like there were between 16 and 18, there were 50,000 people in that little area. So certainly the most fans I’ve ever seen either out here or ever in a golf tournament that I’ve been a part of — or really seen.

I’ve never been to Phoenix, the Scottsdale Open or Phoenix Open, whatever that’s called. I haven’t been there.

But apart from that, I don’t know if there’s a better sort of entertainment scene out there than here.

Q. Any louder on 17 that you noticed?

MARDY FISH: It’s pretty loud. You are just hoping — I told Alfonso when we were out there, I was happy to get it airborne every time on 17. It’s pretty nerve — there’s a lot of people out there.

Again, we’re not here because of our golf. It’s something else that we probably did pretty good. And so if I were to play tennis in front of those people, it would be no problem. But golf’s a little different. A little more nerve-racking.

American Century Championship

Friday, July 8, 2022

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Edgewood Tahoe

 

Mark Mulder

Press Conference

 

Q. T2 with 20 points. You had a very up-and-down back nine. No pars on the back nine. But you are still T2. Walk through your round. Smooth front nine. Walk through the back nine?

MARK MULDER: First ten holes I felt like I played like an idiot. But just hit a few good shots. But as Tony and Annika both just said, I had a few lip-outs, couldn’t get anything go in. Made a couple of bogeys, hit a terrible approach on 10 that cost me a double bogey.

But after that I kind of got it going. Birdied 11, 13, 14, 16 and 18.

A lot of good shots. Some good putts. The greens were just incredibly difficult. They really were, especially with the wind. A lot of times I second-guessed myself, looked for a break that maybe wasn’t there, especially on the first ten holes.

Vinny and Adam, my two playing partners, we were joking because we couldn’t get the lid off the hole until I birdied 11.

It was just really difficult and the greens are incredibly quick. And as they both just said, you putted very defensive. And that was kind of how it is. But I made the par putts and some of the balls I hit close.

I made the putts I needed to make. Some of my bogeys I didn’t hit very good shots so I deserved bogey on some of those holes. But some of those were actually decent bogeys. So you’ve got to go with what you get.

Q. Making a birdie on 18, you had an eagle putt, but you made a birdie. Does that give you, okay, I finished with a birdie, and I’ve got kind of good momentum going into tomorrow?

MARK MULDER: Sure, because the 18 tee shot doesn’t fit my eye at all. You have to turn the ball. You have to hit a straight one or turn it left to right. I cut it with my driver. In the years past I hit Rescue or 3-wood. I was hitting my driver, went with it, hit a good one down the middle. Had a nice short wedge into the green, didn’t hit it as close as I would like. But anytime you can finish with a birdie or something like that, gives you a little momentum towards tomorrow because I feel like many years in this tournament I’ve kind of eased myself into it. I’ve never gotten off to some hot start or anything like that. I’ve never had mid-20s, I don’t think, in round one.

So anything over 18 to me on day one is good. And we’ll go into tomorrow and try to make a few more.

Q. Playing with Adam and Vinny today, did you guys — was it kind of just a fun day, or was it, all right, let’s get after it and just try and get as many points as we can?

MARK MULDER: No, it was a very fun day. 90 percent of the time when the groups I have here are really fun days. That’s how they should be.

There’s very few of us, I think, that take this that serious when we’re out there. We’re all very serious when it’s time to hit your shot. But at the end of the day I’m playing with Adam and with Vinny, who won it last year.

And Adam was — I could tell he was incredibly nervous, being his first year. So I was just trying to talk him through some of the stuff and trying to share some of my nervous energy, experiences the first few years. Just trying to calm him down because you could tell for the first four or five holes he was a little uncomfortable. And I could tell he was not playing — he wasn’t hitting the ball the way he was capable of hitting it.

And I just wanted to see him try to get the most out of his round. And Vinny, we live near each other in Arizona, and I’ve heard enough about him winning last year. So I wasn’t as worried about Vinny. We were ribbing on each other a little bit. But Adam, I wanted to make sure he had a great round today.

Q. Talk about the atmosphere. This is year one of the fans really being back. So the fans were out in full force. Talk about that today.

MARK MULDER: To me, I feed off of it a little, to be honest. Two years ago I thought was — it sucked here. It was awful. Not having anybody here, there was no vibe. That’s what creates this tournament, is that vibe from all the fans that are out there every day.

And I live for that. I think a lot of us athletes, at least with my career, or the ones whose careers are done, you don’t get to play in front of people anymore.

When I get to play these tournaments, something like this in front of people, I live for that. I love that atmosphere. I love that vibe. And the last few years, last years it hasn’t been the same.

And so all those people out there today, while it was a little calmer, I guess, maybe, on 17 than it will be tomorrow, it was awesome.

I still stood on that tee and still took one less club, just for the adrenaline alone. Whatever club I hit on 17, I hit further than anytime over the next 12 months because of the adrenaline. It’s hard to describe to people. You can’t explain it. But it’s there and it’s real.

Q. As you go into tomorrow, what do you look to focus on when you get on the range tomorrow morning?

MARK MULDER: Probably just get off to a little better start. I mean, like I said, I’ve never gotten off to great starts. But today it wasn’t good at all. I didn’t hit a ton of terrible shots. They just weren’t good. I didn’t hit any close. I hit a few bad tee shots that I had to kind of make up for.

But I feel really good about my game. And the hard part was the first ten holes I guess didn’t dictate how I felt. It didn’t show how I felt and the way I’m swinging it.

So to walk away with 20 points where I’m at, I’m very happy with that. But it could have been a whole lot more.

Q. This is one of your best rounds in a while. You have finished with more than 20 points on several occasions early on when — I don’t think when you were winning, but how does this round feel compared to the years that you won on the first day?

MARK MULDER: To me, anything over 20, 20 or higher on day one is a win. This happens once a year. So a lot of us, this is a very uncomfortable feeling when you’re out there. To get off to just a decent start on round one is a nice feeling.

The fact it’s over 18, I’m completely happy with. To be fair, the way I feel out on the course, tomorrow if I don’t get somewhere around 25, I honestly feel like I’d be slightly disappointed.

I know it’s out there. I know I can do it. I think, what, five birdies on the back. If I just throw in a couple on the front, it’s a big improvement.

So the back’s very gettable at times. You just gotta hit some golf shots. Some of the pin positions on the front nine were kind of tricky, which got me a few times. But I honestly feel I’ll be in a better position tomorrow.

Q. Last year you were five points down on your day two from the 19 on day one. Not to remind you of a bad memory.

MARK MULDER: I have a short memory, trust me. I couldn’t have told you how many points I had last year.

Q. You mentioned before you started this week that you were really feeling good. Now the last couple of years it hasn’t been the typical Mark Mulder performance after winning three here in a row. What’s the difference, more practice?

MARK MULDER: Not more practice. Less practice. My kids are way busier. My oldest son has way more stuff going on. We’re way busier.

In recent years I came in not feeling very good with the putter. And this year I feel very good with it. That’s the difference maker. This course plays short enough for all of us, even Annika from the tees she’s from. This course is very short. It’s a putting contest in my opinion. We all have wedges, 54 degrees, 60 degree, into a lot of these holes.

We’re all going to hit them somewhat close. I get it. Her short game is ten times mine. But the point is you still have to go make those 10-, 15-, 20-footers if you’re not hitting them to three feet.

But that’s what it all comes down to. And my putting has been very iffy over the last handful of years. That’s the main reason why I feel confident right now.

American Century Championship

Friday, July 8, 2022

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Edgewood Tahoe

 

Annika Sörenstam

Tony Romo

Press Conference

 

THE MODERATOR: Nice finish on 18 with the birdie, one behind is Mr. Tony Romo. Great to have you both in the meeting room. Annika, take us through your round. Are you tired of Tony, been with him all day.

ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM: It’s great to be here. Thanks to American Century for hosting this tournament. This is one of the highlights of the summer. The fans were great. My pairings, I’m happy with my pairings, nice guys, obviously Tony and Larry, just fantastic gentlemen out there.

I think we had a good time. Overall the course played a little tougher this year. The greens are a little more tricky, I think. But overall my game, it was a little mixed bag. I hit some really good shots. Missed a few on the par 3s. I think the par 3s got me in the bunker and didn’t make up-and-down.

But obviously it feels good to finish with a birdie, makes lunch feel better, and three points is a lot more than one, so I’ll take it.

Q. Tony, how about your round today. We heard the course is tough. We haven’t had a crazy score yet. It’s early. Looked like the conditions are difficult?

TONY ROMO: They are. I feel like the fairways aren’t necessarily running out a ton. So it plays a little longer. And the greens are tricky, like she said. Even when you hit a really good putt, you can go five holes and feel like on different courses you’d make three or four of them and you’re 0-for-5 or 1-for-5 at best. The reads, the pacing, you have to match it perfectly.

There’s no putt that’s just here it is, it’s a ball out., go ahead. If it’s a ball out, you have to have the exact pace to match that. Kudos to the team here at Edgewood. They’ve done an incredible job. It’s in pristine condition.

It’s fun. I like it because the wind picks up a little bit, and now all of a sudden you’ve got to control your ball a little better, and that separates the players who really can go on and win this thing over the weekend.

I thought it was a good test of golf today. It was fun playing with our group. It was a great group.

Q. You guys are used to being up, you’re used to, one, being in the media room and, two, because you’re playing good golf. We see Mulder jumped up in the lead. Birdied the 18. You have same familiar faces, what’s that mean to you, Annika? You’ve been with these guys. You’ve got to play the same tees as these guys, you’re hanging there with them?

ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM: I think it’s fair. And obviously I don’t hit it as far as them. I’m trying to hit fairways and greens. The holes where I had a good birdie chance I was able to capitalize on it.

Tomorrow I’m going to go out there and play my own game. That’s all I can do. And hopefully improve a little bit from today.

Again, like Tony said, the wind on the last few makes it a little tricky. Have to get good ball control, and obviously on the speed of the greens it might dry them out a little bit. But I know that I have to put my foot on the gas to have a chance.

These guys are, as you know, very good players. They’re fantastic in their own sports and their own industry, but many of them are very good golfers. I’ve just got to go out there play as hard as I can and see what happens.

Q. Tony, you mentioned on the way you might have left a few out there on the putting green, whatnot. As far as where your game is right now, how confident are you?

TONY ROMO: One of those is you adjust as the week goes along. One of the questions yesterday was just I improve each day. Sometimes out here. Last year I did. A lot of that is when you go into a tournament, sometimes you’re over-reading or you’re under-reading or things like that in general.

If you’re in a Bermuda course that has a lot of grain or something, as the ball dies it starts to rip. And here it’s different. It’s going to play it through the break more often. I think today I still played it to continue to die. And so tomorrow I’ll adjust that.

And I had a lot of opportunities. I got up there pretty close to the green on a handful of holes that I got nothing out of.

I made six pars from probably 30 yards in, if not — maybe eight, to be honest with you.

ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM: You did. I wish I would have been there.

TONY ROMO: Even if I get half of those tomorrow we’ll be okay. So a good number is coming, I think.

Q. Did you think that looking around at the gallery today, on a Friday afternoon, we’re looking at some big numbers looks like this year. It’s been a couple of years obviously when we had COVID and had no one here, and last year we had to have limited. What’s that feel like out there? Did you see a noticeable difference, feel a noticeable difference?

ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM: I think so. It’s nice that we’re back to somewhat normal. People love this tournament. People love Lake Tahoe this time of year, combining it with July 4th that was just a few days ago I think it’s a perfect spot to be.

The crowds is really what makes this tournament, I think. More things are happening now in the front nine. Used to be just 17 and 18. Now it’s like I feel like on every hole there’s something happening.

But that’s what makes it fun. We have a lot of friends and family out there. It’s obviously the golf is important. We focus as much as we can inside the ropes. But it really is a party atmosphere. The evenings with activities they have here, they do an excellent job.

We want the people. We want the fans. We want the loudness. It’s what makes this tournament the way it is.

Q. Speaking of activities, you’ve got a busy schedule ahead of you over the next few weeks, don’t you?

ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM: I do. I was talking to Tony, I think his schedule is even more hectic. I think he’s playing more golf than I am. He’s going from one place to another.

You’re right. I’m heading to Michigan for the Dow next week, I’m partnering up with Madelene Sagström, another Swede, and then heading to Minnesota for a few days, and then I’ll play in the LPGA Senior Championship in Kansas.

Yes, this is the beginning of three tournaments in a row, which I can’t remember when I played three tournaments in a row. Hopefully I make it.

TONY ROMO: I’m going out on a limb after watching her and saying I bet she’ll be there at the top at the end of that LPGA Championship.

ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM: I hope you’re right.

Q. How about a shout out to your caddie?

ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM: Thank you, sweetie. I won’t tell you what I told him on 17, but gave him the thumbs up on 18.

Q. I don’t know that much about golf, but I can look at statistics. And last year, Annika, you finished the first round in fourth place with 23 points. You were ahead now third place, a position better with 18. Looks like the leaders shot a little less this year in the first round. And the other thing I pointed out with Tony yesterday, of the last top five finishers last year, no one closed except for Tony, only one to improve his score the first three days. Is there more going on, more people in the audience, in the gallery, to change your dynamics, your thinking, the weather, the greens, the fairways, what the hell is going on out there that people aren’t shooting as well?

ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM: I think the course is a little tougher. You can see that because there’s really nobody that made a ton of birdies. Sometimes — I mean, wasn’t it one year that Mardy made ten birdies or something like that.

You didn’t see that today. The greens are tricky. I think they’re faster. I think several of the holes we played, if you’re a little bit on the side or a little past, you just can’t be aggressive. Then I think you play more conservative and take a par.

So I think that’s where you won’t see as many points today. Who knows if it’s not as windy tomorrow, if the greens slow down a little bit, you might see players being aggressive, firing at the pins a little more.

As far as golf goes, I love having the people here, but I have to hit one shot at a time, focus on my game. If you play golf, some days are just the way it is. You just do the best out of it.

I tried today. Left maybe a few out there. But overall, quite happy. But like Tony said, if you can improve every day, that’s probably the best thing that can happen.

Q. Why do you hit from the men’s tees and not the ladies tees? Would your score be better if you did?

ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM: Would my score be better if I was more forward?

TONY ROMO: If you played 30 yards —

ANNIKA SÖRENSTAM: Because I’m a professional golfer I think that’s the way they take the distance with what I do for a living. I don’t do it much for a living anymore. Make it more fair.

Q. Greatest female player in history. She can handle it. Tony, any follow-up?

TONY ROMO: I agree with everything that she says. I’m glad she’s playing from our tees. I think it’s great. The best comment is this: Until you play this course, in these conditions, with the setup it is, you’re more defensive putting than almost on any other tournament courses that you play. It truly is one of the most defensive putting tournaments you go in all year.

So if you’re rolling them in, you’re hitting them close or have a break or two. But she hit 10 good putts that didn’t go in but could have, but it’s not — it’s almost out of your control. But you don’t have these 12-footers that are right-edge. Everything is very subtle and very difficult, and it’s very quick.

So it’s hard to make six, seven, eight birdies out there, five. That’s why I honestly feel like whoever plays the par-5s the best, those are the ones where I did a poor job today, just hit them in, 2-putt, and that would be hopefully what I do better tomorrow because the rest of it is tough.

Q. You play in a lot of golf tournaments. Was this always how you imagined what you would be doing post-football, that you’d always want to golf? Is it just kind of going like between that and doing broadcasting about as ideally as you could ask for?

TONY ROMO: The good Lord has blessed me. I’m not complaining, I’ll tell you that. I’m very blessed. I’ve got three young boys, and we have an incredible time at home. I feel it’s like the greatest time periods of my life. I have a wonderful wife who is just amazing, and I’m thankful that I met her. And I love golf. I love competing.

For me to be able to still compete at something that I’m passionate about and trying to improve on and then still be involved in football, which I played my whole life, basically, in a lot of ways, and study it, it’s just — I feel very fortunate.

American Century Championship

Friday, July 8, 2022

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Edgewood Tahoe

 

TJ Oshie

Quick Quotes

 

Q. 21 points. Currently in the lead. So walk me through your round. We’ll get to your finish. But walk me through your opening nine, how you started and how your round progressed?

TJ OSHIE: First, I’m playing with the Carr brothers. I played with Derek last year, I think, and it’s such an easy group of guys. Usually I’m extremely nervous at this tournament which is why I’m lucky if I’m in the red numbers by the end.

But no, the nerves kind of settled down with those guys. I was just hitting some shots. The putter was really hot tonight. The front nine, I really thought maybe I would just have a really good nine holes, and then kind of fall off. But ended upcoming in strong.

Q. Tell me about coming in. So tell me about your eagle on 18. So just walk me through that hole.

TJ OSHIE: I had a double on 15. And then a really good look at eagle on 16. And a couple good putts on 17. Feeling some momentum. Get really nervous on 18 because there’s a lot of people walking on the right. I tried to hit just a big draw so I made sure I stayed away from them. I wasn’t necessarily worried about the fairway. Ended up hitting a 50-degree wedge. A little over 12, 13 feet, and didn’t really know where the putt was going to go. So my caddie just told me hit it straight and I found the cup.

Q. You mentioned about how playing with the Carr brothers it helped calm your nerves on kind of going on. You played here a few years. Tell me about the crowd here, I mean, the fans are just tremendous here today. What was it like playing with essentially full fans back today?

TJ OSHIE: Honestly, it’s amazing. American Century and NBC, they do such a great job with the fans. And even just everyone here is so nice with even autographs. Just a lot of support out here for really everyone. Obviously going with Derek, there’s a lot of Raiders fans that were here. So played in front of mostly Raiders fans today. But the crowd’s really phenomenal. I’m so lucky just to be able to come out here and play.

Q. Anything you’re going to work on this afternoon, getting ready for tomorrow?

TJ OSHIE: No. This is my family trip. So we make this like a family trip. I’ve never been even close to sniffing even the leaderboard. So we’ll go out, have some fun, play in the pool. I’ll maybe throw some heat packs on the old low back and get ready for tomorrow.

American Century Championship

Friday, July 8, 2022

Lake Tahoe, Nevada, USA

Edgewood Tahoe

 

Jake Owen

Quick Quotes

 

Q. 16 points. We talked this summer how excited you were about coming here to make your debut. Tell me about the overall experience of playing your first American Century Championship.

JAKE OWEN: Well, it exceeded my expectations. Everybody told me how much fun this place is. And they were absolutely 150 percent correct. I’ve had a blast today. The golf course, everybody here has this place in pure, pristine condition. The guys all here, and girls, we had a blast last night with the concert. And the weather’s perfect. The fans are out here supporting it. So I honestly don’t know how it could be any better. I really don’t.

Q. Let’s talk about your round today. So 16 points. Are you satisfied with the round today? Are there things that you can want to improve on for tomorrow?

JAKE OWEN: I mean, there’s always room for improvement. But I like the fact that I’m sneaking in there the middle of the pack right now, because I’m not a professional golfer. But I got around this golf course pretty well. I had an opportunity to make birdies, some I did, some I didn’t. I’m a competitor at heart. As are all these guys out here, they’re athletes, most of them. And it makes me fired up to know that I have a chance to come out here and compete against some of the best guys in golf when it comes to kind of the celebrity side of things and sports.

So I can assure you one thing, I feel okay with where I am, but I’m coming in firing the next couple of days.

Q. You played with a group that’s — you had a past championship in your group, Mardy Fish, did you all push each other?

JAKE OWEN: Yes, we did push each other. Mardy, we all — Mike put the ball in the right places today and was like a surgeon around the golf course. And I learned a lot watching him. Whereas, there were a few holes Mardy and I hit drivers on, which hindsight I wouldn’t do that again. And we had a good time. Mardy and I played golf since we were five years old together. It was good to play with him. And maybe we’ll play tomorrow when they do the pairings.