ASTARA GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD

February 12, 2022

Taylor Montgomery

Press Conference

Q. So Taylor, great round. 9-under sounds pretty easy, but the golf course is not like that. Your thoughts about your round.

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: Obviously it's a great round. Wasn't really expecting it. Hit a lot of good shots, good putts, chips. Just played really solid today. My speed was good.

Yesterday for seven holes I thought I developed the yips with the putter, and then today my speed was awesome and my putting stroke felt like it was back to normal.

Q. You started on 10 tee with no crowd closer to you. That was lower press for you or not?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: I try not to look at it too much, but what did help is the greens are -- this place has gotten a lot of rain and there is only one group ahead of us, so helped with a lot of the footprints.

The putter was rolling on the front nine.

Q. Describe us your back nine. You finish with two birdies in a row.

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: Finished with two birdies. Hit a really good 7-iron into 9 and then made about a 12-footer right in the heart, so that was really nice to get that extra shot going into tomorrow.

Excited to see what happens.

Q. You have a new golf course record right now; 9-under is the golf course record. Did you know that or...

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: I had no idea.

Q. You now have that recognition for you.

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: Oh, sweet.

Q. Finally, the key for tomorrow?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: I don't know. Just try to do what I did today, stick to the same thoughts that I've had the last like couple weeks and see what happens.

Q. Second week in a row with a local caddie. Your experience last week staying with your caddie, how is this week for you?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: Yeah, Paul and his friends back in Panama are one of a kind. They're the best. Love those kids to death.

Then this week, I don't know him too much, but he's been great on the bag. Doesn't really say much, which is great for me. (Laughter.)

Q. Do you know his name?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: No. Don't put that in there. He told me but I couldn't pronounce it, but I used him two years ago too, and he's a great guy.

But I got to find -- well, I got to go through Nico to pay him somehow.

Q. You were talking about being out early, second group off. Not really a whole lot of action on the greens. Do you feel like you're at a disadvantage tomorrow going late in the afternoon, or do you like your position?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: Definitely guys that tee off early can definitely get the putter rolling. When I step on the green I weigh 215 pounds and my feet are sinking close to an inch into the greens right now.

It really affects the putts. I'm just trying to have good speed, so -- to eliminate all the three-putts.

Q. Which position would you rather be in, coming up from behind or...

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: No, some guys are too far behind to catch up in the later groups. Once a couple groups are on the golf course it's not going to matter anyway. Definitely would rather be in the lead or near the lead.

Q. Have you been doing anything this week outside of the hotel? What's your routine been like?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: My routine has been wake up early, hit the range, practice, go play, and then go back to my hotel, watch Netflix, and the Netflix channels here are different than in America.

Then I go to the mall to eat and go back home, go to bed, wake up, do the whole thing over again.

Q. What are you watching on Netflix, and what are you eating at the mall?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: I watched a movie called Point Blank yesterday. It was all right. Then there was one with Dwayne Johnson. Yeah, watched that movie.

Then I've been eating like chicken and rice as much as I can this week. Two years ago I got really sick.

Q. Why?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: I don't know. It was like food poisoning for two weeks. My stomach was just really bad.

So I'm trying to stay away from that as much as possible.

Q. So have you had the same meal every night?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: No, uh-uh. I've switched it up every single night.