TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

September 6, 2020

Collin Morikawa

East Lake Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Can you describe the first hole? How did you end up there?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Yeah, obviously I was playing for it to be plugged in the right bunker. Who wouldn't? No, I mean, I just flared out a 6-iron. I didn't actually think it was going to fly that far, so when I walked up I was really surprised it was going to be in that lip.

But if you're going to have it plug in a bunker, you kind of want it on a lip because you can just hit it hard and it's going to pop straight up. Granted, it's not like I had an easy shot there, and I was really just -- kind of just trying to get it below the hole to the left, five, ten feet for par.

I hit it, got a great bounce, and from that point it just looked like it was going to go in. And I just wanted to see the replay. I finally saw it a few minutes ago. Yeah, wow, what a shot.

Q. I'm wondering what it's like when maybe you get some momentum going on the back, putting together a string of birdies, and you look at the scoreboard and it's still -- probably doesn't feel like you're making a dent in the lead. How hard is it to stay encouraged when that's the case?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Yeah, I mean, DJ can do what he's doing. I wasn't focused on what the final score was going to be. I was struggling at the beginning. Other than 1, I just couldn't get my ball in the fairway. Driver was not going straight.

Yeah, I had it going, but I had to really focus and not let anything go because one bad shot, especially 14, 15, 16, 17, can cost you, and it can add up quick. I made a good bogey putt on 14 -- yeah, 14 from about four feet.

You know, today was kind of a grind. I was able to scrape out a 3-under, but I'm glad I still have somewhat of a chance hopefully tomorrow and see what happens.

Q. What are kind of your feelings on the model in general of the staggered scoring?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Yeah, I mean, I like it. I don't mind starting at 5-under, or shoot, where DJ was, 10-under. I don't think anyone would. It's kind of played out. You've got to play well. Even though DJ started at 10, it's not like it was a given that he was going to win. But he's obviously been playing some pretty good golf, and like I said, we've got a lot of work to do.

But this is my first time around seeing this, but to finally play some good rounds so far and kind of have somewhat of a shot, I enjoy it.