WGC DELL TECHNOLOGIES MATCH PLAY

March 22, 2023

Tony Finau

Austin Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. How would you assess the match today?

TONY FINAU: Yeah, it was a solid go. Momentum match, I think, just like most. Had most of the momentum, and then Christiaan made a couple birdies the beginning of the back nine to apply the pressure, and then I hit really quality shots on 14 and 15 just to get that 3-up lead back. Yeah, overall happy to get the win.

Q. Was that kind of -- those two holes maybe kind of the -- not necessarily the turning point but a big part of the match?

TONY FINAU: No doubt. I thought 14 was the biggest hole we played today. He had just won 12 and 13 with birdies to cut my lead to 1-up, and when it's 1-up and he's got the momentum because of the holes he just won, 14 is just a big hole, and I hit a great drive and a great 8-iron in there to apply some pressure, and I was able to win the hole.

I thought that was the key moment for sure.

Q. What part of your game was best today?

TONY FINAU: Yeah, my putter. I got the lead because I hit quality shots, but you have to make putts in match play to win these matches, and I was able to do that early. Made just enough putts to win the match.

Q. I know there are two more days, but is it really important to win that first match knowing that you then hopefully can control some things with your play?

TONY FINAU: Yeah, I think it's always big to win your first match. I've never done it, so this is nice to get off to a nice start this week.

But anything can happen. You're playing all the guys in your pool, and now that you've got this point, my focus is now getting ready for tomorrow and just trying to get another point in your favor.

But you know if you win all three matches you're obviously going to get through. That's probably a pretty good goal to have at this point.

Q. How much of a change in mindset is it when you play mostly stroke play and then you come to this week and it's a different format?

TONY FINAU: Yeah, it's quite different. But man, I relish it. The only other time I play match play is in the team matches, Presidents Cup and the Ryder Cup, so this is nice to -- I look forward to playing match play. It's nice to change it up.

It's definitely a different feel. It's a whole different game than stroke play, again, because of the momentum. Sometimes you do have to play a shot according to what your opponent has done, whether that means you have to make it or you've got to two-putt to win that one.

There's scenarios where it's just way different than stroke play because you're thinking things you never were thinking in stroke play. I enjoy that aspect of playing match play.

Q. Do you generally find yourself more aggressive than you normally would be?

TONY FINAU: I wouldn't say necessarily. It's the type of golf course that there are some risk-reward holes, but I would play it the same, I think, if I played stroke play. It's one that you always just want to give yourself birdie looks, and I would say most guys are hitting it to the same spots.

Again, I think 13 is the one that pops out as a risk-reward hole. I opted to lay up today, but other than that, I would say I don't really play the golf course any different than I would in stroke play.