JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

July 2, 2022

Bo Hoag

TPC Deere Run

Quick Quotes

Q. Bo, great round today. Just walk me through kind of what was working out there for you today. Great start first couple holes, too.

BO HOAG: Yeah. Just hit a good 9-iron into 1, I don't know, 15 feet or so and made that. Then I holed a bunker shot on the second hole and all of a sudden I was 3-under through 2, which is never a bad start.

Yeah, got off to a hot start and just kept it going. Kind of just played smart, aggressive when I had the chances, and, yeah, played good.

Q. You talk about playing smart but also aggressive. When you start the day, what, nine shots back --

BO HOAG: Yeah.

Q. -- does it allow you to maybe play a little looser, play a little more aggressive?

BO HOAG: Yeah, I think so. You're nine back and I don't think the leaders are coming back, so you got to go put a good number up and try to get in the mix for Sunday.

I've got nothing to lose. I haven't been playing that well coming in here, and just trying to, yeah, shoot a couple good rounds and prove to myself I can play well for a week.

Q. What do you have in mind tomorrow? Do you have a number in mind that maybe you can make some noise or is there another 63 out there?

BO HOAG: I would love to shoot 63 again. I don't really have a number. Just maybe try to make the most birdies of anybody tomorrow and rest take care of itself.

Q. How much do you leaderboard watch now?

BO HOAG: Yeah, it's still early, Saturday, and there are some birdies to be had, so I'm not resting on my laurels right now.

Yeah, I wouldn't -- not really. Not much until maybe later tomorrow. If you're in the mix coming down, maybe make some decisions based off of it.

Q. Got to feel good for you to turn in some good rounds here after you said been kind of a struggle here the last year.

BO HOAG: Yeah, yeah. No, I mean, I put two good rounds together the first to days to give myself a chance this weekend just to play two more rounds.

So, yeah, just taking advantage of that really and not putting to much stress on myself.

Q. And an eagle offset by a single bogey. Tell me about it.

BO HOAG: Yeah, just got off to a good start. Made a nice putt on 1 and holed the bunker shot on 2. You know, 3-under through 2, you start thinking a little bit, Hey, man, this could be a pretty good round. Just kind of kept it going.

Q. You must be so strong mentally, because you came in here struggling a little bit with your game. For you to respond like that, like I said, you must be very strong mentally. How do you handle that?

BO HOAG: Yeah, it's been a little tough. I haven't had the results the last few months, but I still believe I'm a good player and I know what I'm capable of, so just kind of believing in that.

Q. As the leaders come through the inward nine, what are some holes they can take advantage of and some hole locations you got to be wary of?

BO HOAG: They have the tee up on 14 today, one box, so that's a pretty gettable hole.

And 15 is a good hole. Not going to be many birdies. It's a tough tee shot and a little under the wind today.

18, same thing. Playing a little longer. You get good chances on 16 and 17 as well.