LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES: PORTLAND

July 1, 2022

Branden Grace

Dustin Johnson

Carlos Ortiz

Pumpkin Ridge

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We have Dustin Johnson, Branden Grace and Carlos Ortiz.

Q. DJ, personal question: Why is my father's love conditional?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: You're going to have to answer that one, bud. I can't do that. I'm not real sure.

CARLOS ORTIZ: What was the question? What was the question? I didn't even understand it. What is he asking?

BRANDEN GRACE: Why does his dad love him that much.

Q. Do you know why my dad's love is conditional?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Why?

Q. I don't know, I'm trying to figure that out. I felt like you guys would know.

BRANDEN GRACE: I could only answer what he sees.

Q. I'm curious, what's the reception been like this week with the fans?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I think the fans have been great. They seem really excited. Obviously pretty big turnout, a lot of fans out there. Yeah, it's been great.

Q. What's it like to play in the lead out here? I know you've played in the lead in a lot of different events on Tour and in championships and things like that.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, no different. Obviously I had the lead for a little while today, but yeah, still can feel it. Obviously it's a big tournament, playing against a lot of great players, and if you want to win, you're going to have to play really well.

Q. Carlos said yesterday that they got a little nervous before that round yesterday. Did you have any of those same feelings playing in an event like this here in the U.S.?

CARLOS ORTIZ: They're big tournaments already. We are all rookies.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I'm always nervous on the first tee no matter what event I'm playing in, just because it means something to me, and I want to do well. I can feel it, yes, every time when I step on the first tee.

Q. The first 10 holes today, 10, 11 holes that you played today, was that one of the best you've played this year, a stretch of holes like that?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: This year, yeah. I feel like I'm playing really well right now. Obviously I put it together for the first -- yeah, through 12 holes.

Hit some nice shots on 13 and 14, just three-putted both of them. Good holes, tough golf holes.

But yeah, I've played really solid all day long. Obviously gave a few shots away there on 13, 14 and 16, but other than that, it was really nice.

Q. DJ, how cognizant were you of the Four Aces thing?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Well, I saw the leaderboard whenever we were coming into the clubhouse, so I know where -- we were up 14, I think, there probably at 9 or 10 or something right there. But tomorrow is still a big day. All four guys need to play well if you want to win.

Q. It's a pretty volatile day, right?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Absolutely, yeah. But it's fun. It just adds a new aspect to it. Obviously the guys, we all want to play well. We all want to win. And definitely we'd like to get a team win.

Q. Carlos, when DJ went on that run, I think it was five birdies in six holes at one point, is it difficult not to press or what's going through your mind?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Trying to do the same thing he was doing. He was playing great. I don't know why, but when somebody is playing good in your group it's easy for everybody else to start catching up. Same when we were playing okay and then he started making birdies, Pat started making birdies, I started making birdies, so we were rooting for him, keep going so we can keep all going.

Q. Carlos, how does it feel to be set for life financially?

CARLOS ORTIZ: I don't know. How does it feel, DJ?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: You just look at my face (smiling).

Q. When you get mad do you prefer to cuss in English or Spanish?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Honestly it comes so naturally, either language, either-or. Since I'm talking to Mike, it's in English. I don't know why, but if I'm --

Q. If you shank a ball, what language --

CARLOS ORTIZ: I don't know, I haven't shanked one in a while.

Q. A really bad hosel rocket, what's your go-to word?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Probably Spanish. If it's really bad, it's Spanish.

Q. But if it's like a three-putt, maybe English?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Yeah, like s--- or something like that.

Q. Branden, fairly familiar place that you're in, especially compared to the last time in London, how do you feel going into tomorrow?

BRANDEN GRACE: Yeah, great. Played really good again today. Obviously good vibes from the last one, and nice to finish with four in a row to put myself back in it. Obviously with the team, these boys were running away with it. At one stage I think we were seven or eight shot behind, so kind of have to dig deep and hope one of your other guys are making some birdies, as well. Yeah, just excited. It's great.

It's a proper golf course. Anything can happen around here. As soon as you start pushing, things can go the other way very quickly. It almost kind of gives you that little bit of a U.S. Open feel, just the rough being up a little bit, trying to hit your spots and just trying to make the birdies when they come your way.

Q. (On his caddie).

BRANDEN GRACE: Yeah, I've been -- I don't know what's going on with me, but I need to find a guy to stick with. I'm just testing some guys out, but Ricci Roberts, Ernie's old guy is coming out in the next one, and hopefully that's going to work.

Q. (Indiscernible.)

BRANDEN GRACE: I think they're all smiling when they come, when they get a call. Yeah, it's great. Listen, all the guys have been helping me out. Louis was nice enough in London to have Wynand caddie for me, and Cliff here caddies for Jiménez is helping me out this week, and then from the next one onward, hopefully I'm set.

Q. You did not have the -- I don't think you had a practice round over here. You came straight for the pro-am. You had a little bit of trouble coming in over here. It must be the way you are playing, you must be really happy with it because on a golf course like this, I don't think you have ever played here before, you just come and you start shooting --

BRANDEN GRACE: Well, I was actually -- I've been in the States a couple days after London, so I've been here, came in here -- obviously there was a little bit of sidetrack there for a little bit, but I came prepared as to how I'm playing and things like that, so I had a look at the golf course. I played the pro-am with some great partners, and I got to see what I needed to see. Obviously I'm playing well coming off the third in London, kind of taking the momentum into here and just kind of running with it.

Q. Dustin, some of the fans out there mentioned we're here to see the bigger names like you, like Bryson and stuff like that. Does that enter into your mind at all as you're trying to help this league get its footing? Is there any different mindset or pressure or anything like that?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: No, obviously I've never played out here, especially as a pro. I've played down in Bend in college a couple times, so a lot of these fans, they haven't seen any of the pros really play, especially not in their area.

Obviously they're excited to be out here. Obviously it's a great event. I think LIV has done a great job putting on the event. The fan experience I think is unbelievable.

Obviously you can tell with the fans out there they're excited, they've got a lot of energy, and I think they're really enjoying it.

Q. What's the vibe tonight and into tomorrow? What are we doing?

BRANDEN GRACE: I'm going to have a brandy. Have a brandy with the team, have some food, and just enjoy the environment we're all in. I think we're all getting along great, and with the whole LIV room down in the hotel and things like that, and just come out and do what we're good at tomorrow.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I'm going to get some food and probably lay in bed. I'm tired.

CARLOS ORTIZ: Yeah, same thing, food and bed.

BRANDEN GRACE: So I'm the only one?

CARLOS ORTIZ: I can't keep up with South Africans. They drink too much.