WM PHOENIX OPEN

February 11, 2023

Scottie Scheffler

TPC Scottsdale

Quick Quotes

Q. Long day. Heading into the final round with the lead. How are you feeling entering Sunday?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Feel good. I didn't hit it as well today as I hoped to. But still got around in 3-under. Kept the ball in play for the most part. Just kept plugging along. Only one bogey was good today.

Q. Working all the way until sunset. Anything at the range specifically?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I just wanted to hit a couple drivers, a couple irons. Nothing specific. I hit about five balls and five putts and came back here.

Q. Did you get what you were hoping out of it?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I just wanted a quick check. It's typically part of my routine to go out and practice after the round. But obviously with the late finishes and the crowds it's not as easy at this tournament. But it was just nice to go out there and get a quick check and then head home.

Q. This is your first time trying to defend a tournament. How hard does it feel to do that?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I haven't been thinking about it too much. I didn't start at a couple under this week. Everybody started even. Had to go out there and do my best. I'm in position now. Something I talked about at the beginning of the week was I felt like I've been on the outside looking in on Sundays. To be in the final group with a two-shot lead, I believe, is definitely a position I want to be in. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Q. What was the highlight of the round for you today?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Probably the birdie on 14. Just a really good second shot in there.

Q. What club?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: 5-iron.

Q. With the Super Bowl here in town I wanted to ask you if you have a favorite team or prediction for tomorrow?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: My favorite team is the Cowboys. And if they're not playing probably -- I might watch, but who knows.

Q. So what does faith mean to you and how do you intertwine that within your golf game?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, so I guess a quick reminder for me is always why I play golf. And it's to glorify the Lord. I feel like He's put me in this position, it's nothing that I've done to get here. Obviously you go out and work hard, but at the end of the day He's blessed me with the talent that I'm utilizing for Him.

Q. Going into a course like this what's your game plan for tomorrow? Go for things or maybe play it a little more safe?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I'm always trying to maximize my opportunities and still getting the ball in play off the tee. When I have good numbers and good clubs, try and attack. Most of the time when you can play mistake-free golf it's kind of the best route. Going into tomorrow I'm going to try to hit good shots and keep the mistakes to a minimum.

Q. Do you feel any added pressure with the two-shot lead?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: No, I'd feel the same amount of pressure if I was two shots back. It's definitely good being two shots ahead. I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Q. Last year you trailed by two going into the final round. This year a lead by two. Would you rather be the chaser or chasee, what do you prefer?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I feel like my odds are a little bit better if I got a two-shot lead than a two-shot deficit. So definitely prefer to be in the lead.

Q. Do you like being in that position where everyone's kind of targeting you and going after you?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I don't like showing up at tournaments and finishing 30th. I like being up by the lead and having a chance to win.

Today was a lot of fun going out there and grinding and hitting some really nice shots under pressure. Tomorrow I hope it's more of the same.

Q. Were you aware you got a pretty good bounce on No. 2?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: No. I felt like I hit it on the line that should have stayed in the rough. Where did it land?

Q. It actually kicked off that cactus and came back to the right to give you the lie you had?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: That's good because I've been building up some bad breaks here the last couple days. So it's definitely nice to have one.

I had the one on 16. And then I drove it into a fairway bunker yesterday and it went into someone's pitch mark and I could only hit it like 20 yards. It's nice to have 'em go your way occasionally.

Q. You've been in this position before. How does the mindset -- what's the mindset heading into the final round? Does it stay the same, same work as usual? What does that look like for you? Same spot as last year.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Going into tomorrow, final group's definitely a position I want to be in. It's even better with the lead. So going out tomorrow and trying to get off to a good start and go from there.

Q. You hear those boos on those little missed putts. Do you ignore that when you hear that?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: When they're booing you when you miss a 30-footer it's kind of like, Well guys, I mean, I make not a high percentage of those. So they expect perfection and I know that's unattainable. But the cheers is what I remember.