CLUB CAR CHAMPIONSHIP AT THE LANDINGS CLUB

April 2, 2022

Ryan Blaum

Press Conference

Q. Ryan, bogey-free round yesterday and then today you had eight birdies. I guess tell us about your last two rounds and kind of what is working best for you.

RYAN BLAUM: Well, yesterday I had a five-hole stretch, five birdies in a row where I started just rolling the rock really well.

It continued today, which is really nice to see. Hopefully Duke can shoot the rock how I rolled the rock.

Q. I guess after the first five events of the season when you weren't at the top of the leaderboard, what do you think it is this week that is powering you?

RYAN BLAUM: Well, I haven't played a whole lot the last two and a half years really. Just a lot of -- couple injuries, sickness. Just I'm back to 100%. I feel good.

This year I've just have been trying to get competitive reps and competitive reps, and I've gotten some over the last few months.

Game has been feeling sharp. Been working really hard at home. Working really hard on the putting the last week at home, and it's paying off.

Q. Kind of were talking about it there, career started off pretty hot, and then after 2018 season kind of took a little dip there. What were the last few years like for you?

RYAN BLAUM: Well, I mean, last few years were tough on everyone, right? I just had bad timing with an injury; I recovered right when golf shutdown.

It is what it is. I mean, the last few years have been what they are and I think I've grown a lot from them. I've also had a son in that time, so it's just been a lot of life changes. Moved from Florida to North Carolina, so it's been a lot.

But we're in a good place now and it's been fun having my wife on the bag this week.

Q. Are you comfortable disclosing injuries, illness and stuff like that, or not?

RYAN BLAUM: The first one, it was a hand-wrist injury which took a long time it heal. But other than that, just personal.

Q. Is that just kind of where things kind of took a turn after the '18 FedExCup playoff and just got hurt a little bit and struggled to really get back?

RYAN BLAUM: Yeah, I played too much in 2019 and it was an overuse injury. I was trying to play through it the second half of the season, which is usually not wise.

But trying to fight for your job, fight for your career, and so you're going to fight. That's the way I am. Love it or hate it, right or wrong, that's what I did.

Q. Have you looked at sort of the last three-ish years as like a...

RYAN BLAUM: Man, I want to talk basketball. Come on. Like last three years have been what they are. Right now I told my wife, we kind of had a discussion this morning on whether she should wear the D logo. It was a real like superstitious discussion of whether or not she should wear it, because I want her to be focused on golf during the four and a half hours out here.

She said that she wanted to wear it. I was like, All right, let's do it. We didn't talk about the game at all today. I've had anxiety all week over this game. I don't usually let 19 year olds determine my mood, 19 year olds that play basketball, but I'm looking forward to tonight.

Q. What's your Duke basketball superstition? You got to watch it in a certain place?

RYAN BLAUM: Most Duke-Carolina fans for a Duke-Carolina fans are the same. This isn't a game where you want to go watch with friends. You want to be alone, on the sofa, in front of the TV without any kind of noise.

So last game I almost walk woke up our 21 month old and my wife was not happy, but I survived.

Q. So you and the wife in had the hotel room tonight or in separate parts of the...

RYAN BLAUM: No, in the same room. My mom is up here taking care of our little one while she is caddieing, so we'll have the room to ourselves.

Q. I got one more for you: So like what is the overall nervousness like? Do you have any predictions?

RYAN BLAUM: (Indiscernible) and a half and Duke by four and a half. But I just think the first four minutes of nerves, I mean, I think both team are going to be up for it obviously. Both team are ready. Both team are playing great. It's going to be a fantastic game.

I just hope Duke in the first four minutes is playing within themselves and the others just don't show up.

Q. Yeah. So do you think if Duke wins you might whip out a jersey for your round tomorrow?

RYAN BLAUM: I don't have one with me. I got shirts and stuff.