WASTE MANAGEMENT PHOENIX OPEN

February 5, 2021

Scottie Scheffler

TPC Scottsdale

Quick Quotes

Q. Good round today, 6-under 65. Just a few comments about the round and then we obviously want to talk a little bit about 17.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I played pretty solidly. I had a really good front nine. It I didn't play as well on the back nine, but it was nice to get off to a good start today and looking forward to the weekend.

Q. How about 17, if you could just take us through what club you hit, the yards, so forth.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I think it was 151 stick. It may have played down, too, or something. I can't remember. I think the actual number was 151. I was kind of in between wedge and 9. It was just starting to warm up at that point in the day and I hit a hard wedge. Louis's ball was able to get some spin on it. It looked like it was going in. There was literally nobody there so I couldn't tell if it had a chance or not.

Q. Were there any people out there then?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: No, it was empty. There was like maybe five or six people at the green.

Q. Same on 17 with the eagle, nobody?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: There was more people on 17 than there was on 16. There was like 20 people on 17.

Q. Driver or --

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: 3-wood.

Q. What about the four-putt?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Missed my first putt a little left and then misread the next two.

Q. Is it hard to come back from something like that? You seemed to not have any problems with it.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: What are you going to do about it? It happens and you move on, finish good after that.

Q. I heard on the broadcast that you broke your gamer driver before the tournament.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I did, yeah. My driver cracked on Wednesday afternoon.

Q. How comfortable did you feel with the driver?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Pretty good. I think the results speak for themselves. I had traveled with a backup most of the time and luckily the Ping guys were here when it broke Wednesday afternoon, and we put a little extra glue in the toe and started seeing the shot shape that I like, and it's been good.

Q. Is this a course that you thought you would play well?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I think it suits my game well, especially when I'm driving it good. I think the greens will get firmer as the week goes on, and I hit the ball pretty high, so pretty comfortable out here.

Q. Have you ever played with Stricker, and what would it be like to have a chance to play with the Ryder Cup captain?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, it would be cool. Whoever we're paired with this weekend, I should be in a good position going into the weekend, so looking forward to moving up the leaderboard.

Q. What do you think of Stricker, doing what he's doing at almost 53?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, 53? Yeah, it's pretty cool. It's nice to see him playing well. He's got such a great swing and good rhythm. It's pretty cool seeing him play well again.

Q. Any bonus to getting to play with him, show him what you've got?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: No, I mean, there's a big body of work for the two to three years in between Ryder Cups, so I don't think one round with him is going to change too much.