ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS

April 24, 2021

Thomas Pieters

Tom Lewis

TPC Louisiana

Quick Quotes

Q. 63 on the day, especially in this wind condition, just how good of a score is that?

THOMAS PIETERS: There's been some low ones out there. I think in the morning it was a bit easier. The wind got up the last nine holes for us. Yeah, it's getting tougher because the greens dry out and they're very firm. Par-3s are difficult, and some of these flags are tough to get at if you don't come from the fairway. Yeah, it is playing tough. Putting, as well; if it gets gusty, then it's never easy.

Q. How well do you guys mesh?

TOM LEWIS: Yeah, we've always done well together. We've always like each other. We've always got on well. We've played practice rounds together. When Tom said he would come over and play, it was great for me. I knew that I could have some bad holes and I knew I could rely on my partner, and having similar games definitely helps, I think.

Q. Who was the better teammate today?

TOM LEWIS: We --

THOMAS PIETERS: I think 50/50.

TOM LEWIS: Yeah, you birdied a lot -- Tom played really well on the front nine and I think he made four birdies, five birdies.

THOMAS PIETERS: Yeah, and then I just disappeared the last couple holes. I was done. I was hungry.

TOM LEWIS: I think Tom was looking for lunch. I was grinding the last couple holes, but I'm pleased I was able to hit a couple of those shots under pressure. It's so much different when you play for yourself versus playing for another person. I knew I couldn't hit it in the water at 17, like just to be able to hit a good shot there was great, and then obviously to hit two good shots into the last was good, as well. Hopefully I can feed off that going into tomorrow.

Q. What did you guys go with for the walk-up music?

TOM LEWIS: I thought, well, if everyone goes serious, might as well throw something in there a little bit different. I don't think many of the Americans actually know that song very well. I think it was just one of those things that I chose just to be funny, but I don't think it was very funny in the end. It is what it is, and maybe we'll change it tomorrow.

Q. Speaking of tomorrow, the alternate-shot portion, you only made one bogey yesterday. How comfortable are you guys in that format?

THOMAS PIETERS: Yeah, I mean, yesterday I think we even three-putted on the first. It's not like it was a good bogey. Yeah, we just put each other in the right spots, and even if we missed a shot, then we're confident that the other guy gets it up-and-down. So really confident in each other.

Q. Can you explain how you guys paired up in this format together this year?

THOMAS PIETERS: Us two? I was looking for an exemption, and I asked Tom if he was playing, and yeah, we put in a request to play together, and lucky enough, I've got to thank the tournament director, as well, to give me a spot.

Q. You said you'd played several practice rounds together; have you had any competition together in this sort of format?

THOMAS PIETERS: No, not really. When we were younger I used to play against him. No, we never played with each other.

TOM LEWIS: I think when you're kids you kind of can tell where the players are going to come through. Tom has always been a great ball striker, and that's shown in his career so far, and hopefully it can show again tomorrow.