TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 25, 2022

Aaron Wise

East Lake Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. When was the last time you played as a single before today, and what was it like out there today?

AARON WISE: I don't think I've ever played as a single in a tournament. It was different. It was interesting to start. I felt a little weird starting off the round, but once I settled in there walking to 3 tee or so, felt pretty normal, honestly felt kind of nice because I could go at my own pace and do what I wanted. But definitely pros and cons to it because you don't get to see anyone else's shots, you don't get to see anyone else's putts or anything like that. Luckily I was having a good day, and just kind of stayed in my groove and stayed to myself, and it worked out well.

Q. The reason why you were playing as a single is Will, obviously, everybody hopes he can get back soon, but do you feel like there's an extra Presidents Cup wildcard berth out there for you to play for?

AARON WISE: Maybe. I feel like the U.S. tends to kind of go straight off the list for the most part. Right now I think I'm like 20th, so I'd have to play well here to have a chance. But who knows, today was a good start to that, so hopefully it keeps going that way.

Q. Going back to the original question, do you consider yourself a fast player?

AARON WISE: No, I consider myself pretty average I would say. I feel like off the approach shots I'm pretty quick, and then once I got to the greens I'm a pretty average speed player.

Q. Were you curious at all how fast you could go around by yourself first off?

AARON WISE: Of course, but I wanted to see how fast I could do it, but then also this week there's just so much on the line. It being the first round, I figured it was best to try to shoot the best score I could. Maybe if it was Sunday and I was in that position I would try and go after what Joaco did or something the other years, but this year with it being the first round, I felt like I could still play my way into the tournament, so that's what I was trying to do.

Q. Do you know how fast you played?

AARON WISE: I think someone said like just over three hours.

Q. Did you have a number in mind?

AARON WISE: No, not at all. I was just going at my own speed. I just didn't want the guys behind me waiting on me. Once that wasn't the case, I was good.

Q. When you look at the chatter outside, when you have the stroke-based scoring, it maybe seems insurmountable when you start where you did versus where Scottie did, but is this sort of the example of how you can chip away at that?

AARON WISE: Yeah, it's chipping away, right? Even if you don't get there, you can probably get pretty close if you do play well.

It's just one of those things where you almost put it out of your head and you just go try to shoot the best score you can. But yes, it's weird walking up 7 and I'm 1-under on the round, and I look up and it says 10-under is leading. I'm like, well, no one is 10-under, but I get it.

So it's definitely an interesting scenario, but I do feel like it makes it super easy for the fans to understand what's going on, and I do love the fact that on 18 you see someone make a putt to win the tournament, which also wins the FedExCup, where with the points system you didn't quite have that.

Q. When was the last team event you played in?

AARON WISE: Probably junior golf, or college. Obviously I played a bunch of team events at Oregon. Other than that, I never played in like a Walker Cup or anything, so it's definitely a huge goal of mine.

Funny enough, with this being my favorite course, Quail Hollow is probably second. It would be super sweet to go there. I think I've played three times, and I've never finished worse than like 15th. It's a course I play really well at. Again, hopefully I can play my way on to that team because I feel like I could really help the team if I got there.