WGC DELL TECHNOLOGIES MATCH PLAY

March 24, 2023

Kurt Kitayama

Austin Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Exciting finish to your match today. Moving on. Talk about the putt, first off, on the second playoff hole that got you to the round of 16.

KURT KITAYAMA: Yeah, I mean, I had a similar putt earlier today. It was probably 10 feet longer. So I felt pretty good over it, really just knew I had to get it there. That was kind of my only thought is make sure I hit it.

Q. Characterize your match that got you into that playoff a little bit today.

KURT KITAYAMA: What's that?

Q. Characterize the match that you won today that got you into the playoff.

KURT KITAYAMA: Oh, yeah. I just felt really solid all day. I don't think I made a bogey. I hit a ton of great shots, and I think what helped in that playoff was I was putting it really well, and so when I came down to those putts on the two holes, I felt fairly comfortable and that helped.

Q. Do you feel like your confidence is riding sort of at an all-time high coming off, obviously, Bay Hill, but you kind of feel comfortable in these situations?

KURT KITAYAMA: Yeah, I mean, definitely it helps to be in those situations and every time you get back in it, it feels a little more comfortable. Something like this today was -- actually it felt pretty different. I wouldn't say I was comfortable, but I just had to continue like how I handled it at Bay Hill and CJ Cup and use that to this same situation.

Q. What didn't maybe feel as comfortable today maybe that you had to rely on some of those past experiences?

KURT KITAYAMA: I don't know, I just haven't really been in a playoff like that, winner goes on type of thing. So whenever you get uncomfortable like that, you try and go back on the things that help you gain a little more comfortability, I guess.

Q. Now you move on tomorrow. Do you know much about Andrew or his game?

KURT KITAYAMA: Yeah, a little bit. I mean, I don't think just because of who I'm playing the strategy changes. I think how I'm playing the course, I'm just going to keep everything pretty similar. I think depending upon what shots he hits, that's kind of when the strategy changes, I think. But overall, it's not like I change my game plan just because I'm playing a different player.

Q. What has been your game plan this week?

KURT KITAYAMA: I don't know, I feel like we've just been playing like a normal tournament, really. Not trying to -- I've had situations where I need to be aggressive or anything. It feels fairly normal, I guess. Obviously, if you're second off and he hits it off the green and your shot's going to be a little more conservative, depending upon the pin. But, yeah, I guess.

Q. Did you have a lot of match play experience before this week?

KURT KITAYAMA: I'm trying to think. Not really. College I think we went to match play once. Can't really think of any. Maybe back home. We play match play all the time.

Q. Do those little kind of money games you guys play at home, do those situations kind of help you? I know it's a little bit different, obviously, but at least knowing some of the feelings, some of the how you kind of feel during a match?

KURT KITAYAMA: Yeah, I think so. Probably at home you're a little more aggressive, I guess, you know. Today I felt like I just think a little bit better around the course. A little more on the line. So can't just bomb driver everywhere. But, yeah.