HONDA CLASSIC

February 23, 2023

Pierceson Coody

PGA National Resort

Quick Quotes

Q. First professional TOUR start. 4-under today. Bogey-free. Excellent round. If we can get some comments.

PIERCESON COODY: It was really nice. I hit my irons great. I made some really nice putts. Had some really cool par saves. It kept my round going and let me get a few more on the back nine. As y'all know, those last few as it gets windy on the Bear Trap and whatnot are a little dicey, so was happy to make some pars. Unfortunately didn't make a birdie on 18, but it's still a really nice round.

Q. Any nerves for you at the beginning of the round?

PIERCESON COODY: It really just feels like another professional event. I've only played about 13 or 14 professional or I guess, whatever, 15 events. But other than the big grandstands it's not that different. You're just playing golf, you're trying to put a good score together. No real nerves out there. Just happy to play well.

Q. Back-to-back birdies there on 7 and 8. If you can take us through those.

PIERCESON COODY: 7 was a great number. It was a 5-iron from about 235 or so. A little helping wind off the left. Just landed right center of the green and released to five or six feet. So it was a really nice birdie kind of kick starting my round.

Hit a poor wedge shot on 8 from the middle of the fairway, but ended up making about a 25-footer. Kind of really got my round going in the right direction.

Q. How good did that tee shot look on 7 as it was rolling towards the hole?

PIERCESON COODY: As soon as I hit it on 7 I kind of gave it one of those "be good" or "get all the way back there." I knew it was the right line. I just needed it to land in the right part of the green. Because there's kind of all kinds of up slopes, down slopes on that green. It's such a long shot. Luckily judged it right and got the nice kick.

Q. How much did, has winning already on the Korn Ferry Tour given you confidence and coming into this week?

PIERCESON COODY: The Korn Ferry Tour's been great for me. I would have loved to get my PGA TOUR last year, obviously, but I'm still excited to play a full season of professional golf out there and see how well I can do.

It prepares you. The first few golf courses that we played, I won in Panama and it could not be more similar to this. Kind of a tropical, Bermuda situation with a lot of wind.

So it's really cool to see that my game translates and I hope to continue that.

Q. Who do you have out here watching you and Parker this week?

PIERCESON COODY: My dad's caddieing for Parker and my mom's out here just watching. Our agent, Mike Chisholm just happened to be scheduled for this event on his calendar. So it's turning into a cool event for everyone.