HONDA CLASSIC

February 24, 2023

Justin Suh

PGA National Resort

Quick Quotes

JUSTIN SUH: I didn't start off too hot. I missed a small one I think on No. 2. But I made a good putt on, I think, 6, and then made some really long ones on 8, 9, 10, and I think it was -- yeah, I don't know, the putter just kind of got hot. It was just fun to see putts go in, especially when we were hitting good iron shots, and down the stretch we made a good par on 16 and a good birdie on 18. Hopefully it just keeps going.

Q. I was going to ask you about 16 because you really short-sided yourself. You knew it as soon as you hit it, too, didn't you.

JUSTIN SUH: Yeah, I knew it wasn't the best spot, but I also knew that bunker wasn't too bad. As long as it stayed on the uphill slope, I knew it was going to be uphill pitching into the grain. But I left myself like an eight-footer for par, which isn't great, but the putter was hot, so it felt good.

Q. You played 18 the old-fashioned way, three shots. Take us through your decision process there. It worked out obviously with the closing birdie to get to 10-under, but take us through that decision process.

JUSTIN SUH: Yeah, on 18 I didn't hit my driver great. It was in off the right, so we left ourselves I think 267 into the hole, and that's just like a perfect 3-wood for it to get on the green, and we didn't like it just because obviously you see water on the right. Just tried to squeeze one in there. It wasn't a comfortable shot for me. We just laid up with an 8-iron and just left ourselves a good number. I think it was 116. That's a number I'm pretty comfortable with and hit it to maybe eight feet. Yeah, just a traditional birdie.

Q. Justin, congrats on a great round. First start here at the Honda Classic --

JUSTIN SUH: That's right.

Q. 6-under 64, just a few keys to the round today.

JUSTIN SUH: I think we played it pretty conservative, but aggressive to our spots. We definitely left ourselves some opportunities, but I thought we just hit it to the right spots on the green.

We made some long lag putts that fortunately just went in, and that's always a key to some good weeks, so hopefully we just keep it rolling.

Q. How does it feel to see your name on top of the leaderboard?

JUSTIN SUH: It feels good. You know, I think we've been trending in the right direction. Every week I've been improving and just certain spots, and I think it's gratifying just to see the progressive work pay off.

Q. You came out with that acclaim, the foursome of rookies at the same time, and obviously you had the injury and you saw all those guys have success. What was it like for you to know that you could kind of have that same success, and what's that journey been like the last few years for you?

JUSTIN SUH: Yeah, I think I've answered that question since I've graduated. It's kind of reassuring every time because for me, I think it's -- I never really let it get to me. Obviously they had immediate success, and it was cool watching them play so great. But for me, I knew I needed to improve. I think for me, I just kept my head down and worked on my game.

Everyone is on a different path, and I think -- I think all I'm focused on is just improving on a daily basis. That's kind of all I'm focused on.

Q. What will be your mindset tomorrow?

JUSTIN SUH: Just picking a spot and hitting to it. I think we're trying to keep this golf course as simple as we can, hitting it to good positions and try to make as many putts as you can.

Q. How much do you look at this week as a big opportunity?

JUSTIN SUH: It's a great opportunity. This is -- like they mentioned, it's got some history. I've got Bay Hill and PLAYERS coming up, and to get used to some Florida golf here, it's a great opportunity.

Q. You had mentioned in other interviews about not seeing the Bear Trap in your pro-am round. Do you think that was probably a good thing, that you hadn't seen it until you got into competition?

JUSTIN SUH: I wouldn't say it was good or bad. I obviously would have liked to see it. We drove by it, but it was too dark to even see anything. But like I said, this golf course is all about picking shots and just hitting to it, and I think my caddie, he'd already walked it, he'd seen the course, so for us to just work together and pick a number and just trust that number with this wind, I think that's just key out on this golf course.

Q. What was your best shot today?

JUSTIN SUH: Best shot, I don't know. I thought we just hit consistent shots. I wouldn't say anything really stood out. I just thought we kept good composure and hit it to the right spots on the green.

Q. Which of the guitars on your shirt do you think you can play?

JUSTIN SUH: I don't know. I honestly didn't realize these were guitars until like the middle of the round.

Q. Anybody say anything about them or about the shirt?

JUSTIN SUH: Not yet. You're the first one.