BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP

July 14, 2022

Charley Hoffman

Tahoe Mountain Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Good round. Looks like you're feeling well. Tired from the trip across the pond at all, jet lag?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: You know, it's just nice to be able to play golf. This year has been a tough year with back issues. Back feels okay, so when it feels okay I want to play, so that's why I'm playing. Obviously went to college here in Nevada; not at Reno, the other school in Nevada, UNLV. But this is a place that's near and dear to my heart. Obviously we're in California but it's close to Nevada.

It's a place I enjoy to play, and I had it on the schedule once I added Scottish, and hopefully I take advantage of it.

Q. Being familiar with the area, playing in altitude, is that something you're comfortable with? What do you like about this course?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: Yeah, I played here two years ago. I didn't play last year. I've just enjoyed the whole area, enjoyed everything that has to do with Tahoe. The altitude I've seemed to somewhat figure it out.

Like I said, I'm trying to get some momentum going through the end of the year, and this is a week that you can change the year in a few good days.

Q. What's kind of the momentum rolling into tomorrow?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: Yeah, just got three more days. Obviously if I keep hitting fairways, making a few putts and give myself a chance to win, obviously I want to get that feeling of being in contention again. It's been a good year since -- last year had a great year, and this year I've had not such a great year, and I want to get those juices going again. That's why I added these events.

Q. You're a staple to part of the FedExCup Playoffs. Is there kind of an added pressure on these last couple events to the performance?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: Obviously I'm on a run; I've never missed a playoff, so obviously I know that. But I also know if I'm not healthy, I can't compete out here, and I haven't been healthy so I haven't been able to compete. It's the first year I've ever been injured. If you look at that, 17 years out here and this is the first year I've really gone through any injury, I think I've had a pretty danged good run, and hopefully I have a good run for the next few weeks and I can get in those Playoffs.

Q. How is the injury feeling, especially right now this week?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: It feels all right. It's day-to-day. The warmer it is, the better it is for me, better for the back. Everything is feeling good, but you know what, I could sleep wrong tonight and not feel good in the morning, but that's part of getting old.

Q. What was working out there?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: I got off to a good start. Made some birdies early. I had eagle putts on par-5s that could have been really good that were close to going in. I hit a lot of greens, gave myself opportunities, made some putts. Was never out of position to really struggle a ton. I gave myself an opportunity to make birdies in this format is what you want.

Q. Giving yourself opportunities, those hole locations were absolutely brutal out there today. When did you decide to attack the flags and what was the situation?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: When you're in the fairways you can attack because you can control your golf ball a little bit. I put a little spinnier Titleist golf ball in this week to have a little more control, but like you said, the greens were bouncing, and I missed a couple greens I was close. But chipping was tough to control the spin and land it in the spot -- if it was downgrain, it bounced, and if it was into the grain it landed soft. It was tough to get those balls close on the green, especially on the par-3s. I'm happy with where I'm at and hopefully I can keep it going the next few days.

Q. You talked about switching balls to a higher spin rate. What does that advantage give you?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: You know, I play the lowest spin golf ball Titleist makes, and here at altitude I need a little extra spin to keep the ball in the air. The longer the ball in the air, the more spin, the better it goes, the more control you have. That was my reasoning behind it. Obviously it worked today. That's what I've done in the past out here in altitude, and you know what, I'm going to keep it going. I thank Titleist for having some opportunities to change golf balls in one week like this, and it seems to be working.

Q. One thing, you're a veteran player, you've been very successful on the PGA TOUR. How important is it on a week like this to keep that FedExCup streak going?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: Oh, that's definitely what I'm thinking about. I've been injured. Back has been giving me fits. But it feels great this week. Coming across the pond last week, playing the Scottish, I feel good, which is nice. Obviously I've got a run that I've had since the FedEx Playoffs started, I've made every one of them, so I want to keep that streak going. I want to play good. Good things happen when you play good, and I haven't played good at all this year, so I'm waiting for good things to happen when I play good.