VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

March 18, 2022

Scott Stallings

Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)

Quick Quotes

Q. What was it you saw in Tyrrell's putting that you kind of borrowed a little bit?

SCOTT STALLINGS: I'm going to keep that one to myself. He probably doesn't even notice it. But I've played with him enough to, and anyone that's ever watched him play understands that he putts about as good as anyone in the world.

I just noticed something in his setup that, right before he took the putter back, and I just tried to putt put that, I came to the putting green on Tuesday and I'm like, man, I'm going to figure this out and I kind of added that into my setup as far as right before I take the putter back. Thankfully, it worked. (Laughing).

Q. Has the putting felt different this week?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Yeah, it definitely has. Obviously I was told that, whatever the numbers were earlier, but nice to see the 6-, 8-, 10-footers go in, sneak in a long one every now and then.

But not the craziest thing I've ever tried, but it was nice to kind of see it work the first tournament out.

Q. Who is your short game coach?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Tim Yelverton.

Q. We see guys here that seem to, you've had good finishes here. We see a lot of the same guys here that rise. What is it about the matchup of this golf course where you see past champions continue to play well?

SCOTT STALLINGS: You have to be a good player through the middle of the bag. A lot of 175-, 190-, 200-yard shots. And I've done well in my career in that area and did a big, we had a real big practice session on Tuesday afternoon, kind of just focusing on that and some spots where I hadn't been as sharp as I have been throughout my career and trying to focus on a little bit of the game management side of understanding of club selection, where your miss is, and just trying to be a little bit more aware instead of constantly, oh, this is a good number. Let's figure it out. You put yourself in a wrong spot here, it adds up quick.

Q. On a scale of I'm thrilled to be 11-under, I'm making all these putts, or I could be even more if I took advantage of the par-5s, where are you?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Probably in the middle. I know that those up-and-downs coming down the stretch were great, but I was in a perfect position on 14, just right off the edge of the fringe, kind of misjudged my lie a little bit.

But I'm happy where I'm at. Just do a little better job of keeping the ball in front of me on the fairways on the scoring holes because there's definitely some tough ones out there and try to manage a little bit better the next couple days.

Q. A lot of pars coming in and some great up-and-downs. It was kind of an interesting day, wasn't it?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Yeah, fairly benign. I mean, kind of kept it in front of me pretty good the first 10 and I drove it in the bunker on 11 and had a really bad lie and I was fortunate to get away with a par there and basically hit two of my last seven greens.

But I missed it in the spot where I had a chance. The other was, like 18 was probably the one that was probably the most difficult, but I had a decent lie in the bunker. But, I mean, this is not my first time around here where you just are a little bit off. I mean, it can definitely show when you start hitting it out of the rough and you got some stress. Fortunately the greens are still receptive and I was able to put myself in some spots where I could get it up-and-down.

Q. Only one bogey in 36 holes. That's playing your butt off. You got to be proud of that?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Absolutely. I mean, I felt, like I said yesterday, I felt good about my game going in and I had a good week of prep coming off THE PLAYERS and happy to see the results paying off on the course.

Q. Let's talk about the putter. Yesterday 130 feet of putts made, today just under a hundred feet. Number one strokes gained putting, right now you're gaining seven and a half shots on the field with the putter. It's really, really hot.

SCOTT STALLINGS: I guess. Obviously I didn't know any of that, but happy to see. Kind of changed a little bit of my setup coming into THE PLAYERS and it was nice to kind of see it. I could see it kind of rounding into form -- and I actually played with Tyrrell Hatton on Sunday, he putts incredible and I just noticed something that he did in his setup that has a little bit of a cue where I kind of get off a little bit. And he played great on Sunday, hit a great shot on 17, just a little wind gust and fell short in the water. But it's no wonder he's one of the best putters in the world and I kind of took a little bit of his setup cue and put it into mine and it paid off.