BARRACUDA CHAMPIONSHIP

July 21, 2023

Ryan Gerard

Tahoe Mountain Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Good day today. Seven birdies, no bogeys. Just a few comments, kind of highlights of the round?

RYAN GERARD: Yeah, I played really solid all day. I've been hitting it great. I think I've hit 16 or 17 greens both rounds out here. So feel really comfortable at the altitude getting the distances to the right spot where I want 'em. I had a little bit of a mud on my shirt from hitting it out of the water on 6, but besides that it was relatively stress-free and always nice to hole a few par putts coming down the stretch.

THE MODERATOR: In general, what are you feeling best about with your game that's kind of giving you the most confidence?

RYAN GERARD: I'm feeling like I'm hitting my driver really well. I'm hitting my irons and my approaches pretty much right on the number. Which is always hard to do when you're playing 10 to 12 percent kind of adjustment. So really just making sure that I'm hitting the proper shots to the proper sides and not getting overly aggressive. I know this is a format where guys like to go out and kind of pin their ears back. But just been trying to pick my spots and play to my strengths.

THE MODERATOR: Have you ever been in the Stableford, played much in that before?

RYAN GERARD: First time playing Stableford.

THE MODERATOR: Just thoughts on the Reno/Truckee area, pretty cool place, are you liking it?

RYAN GERARD: Yeah, doesn't get too much better than this in the summer. It was a little cold this morning. My caddie showed up in short sleeves and shorts and when we got here it was 44 degrees. So maybe we'll plan a little bit better for next time.

But I think the whole area's really cool. It's a great spot. The mountains in the background still have snow on 'em. It's pretty picturesque when you're out there looking around. It's easy to kind of get caught looking at a mountain when it's your turn to hit. So I've loved every second of being here so far and just going to continue enjoying the week and hopefully stack some good golf on top of it.

Q. I talked to you a couple months ago and you had just secured STM. Now you've been out here a couple months. Just wondering what's changed, how much more comfortable you're feeling?

RYAN GERARD: I feel like my game is just slowly getting more and more consistent. I feel like my ceiling's always been pretty high and I've had the ability to go really low and make a lot of birdies. But I feel like getting out here, kind of being more comfortable with the courses, the style of play, how difficult it is week-to-week, how many really good players there are just kind of battling you for that top spot. I think all of that kind of combined just makes it tougher. So you got to get used to it. I feel like I've kind of gotten to a point where I feel comfortable and just kind of keep doing my own thing and not worry about what everyone else is doing. Yeah, just a lot of really good players, so you got to go play well. Otherwise, you'll get lapped.