THE SENTRY

January 7, 2024

Justin Rose

Plantation Course at Kapalua

Quick Quotes

Q. Quite a round out there today. Talk us through -- 61?

JUSTIN ROSE: Yeah, 61. Such a crazy golf course, this. You know it's out there, but obviously until today I was unable to find it. I really got off to a poor start, 4-over par through the front nine, you know in some ways that that's a lot of catching up to do, given this format and scoring. Today was all about next week and building that momentum. I kind of know I've been playing well, I know I'm right there with my game, so it was kind of a little frustrating to have had such a poor first three days. Really nice click to into gear today. I was part of an awesome group, I think we were 30-under par the three of us combined. Ludvig was 10 and Cam was 8, so really fun day. Two obviously great guys, great players. Yeah, it's definitely a round I think that can sort of knock off the winter rust.

Q. What clicked so well today that hadn't the first three days?

JUSTIN ROSE: Probably my approach play clearly was better today. I think that's been the one thing, especially if I look back on my stats this week, I haven't been able to really get the ball close to the hole. I've been misjudging the wind or sort of making some mental errors on club selection, what have you. Today I was a lot more dialed in. I went to the range after my round yesterday, and I put in a little bit of work. Not a new feel, but just sort of got back to just exaggerating the feels that I need to make my swing work the way I want it to. I think that was an important range session last night. It was nice to see that transfer for me today on the golf course.

Q. How cool is it to have the course record here at Kapalua?

JUSTIN ROSE: Yeah, listen, this is a golf course that all the greats have come to, it's the Tournament of Champions, right, all the great players on the PGA TOUR come here. So, to have equal low score in history is quite something. Today was the kind of day you would want to do it on, but, obviously, there's been lots of calm days through the years. To have the opportunity -- I wasn't sure what the course record was, I just asked. I had a 35, 40-footer on the last hole, which I did leave short, maybe I wish I would have known at the time. But 61 is a great round, something to build on now for the rest of the year.

Q. You played Waialae before, right?

JUSTIN ROSE: Yeah, I'm a bit more familiar with that than this tournament. I not played it many times, but maybe five times in my career. Really like it. I think it's a good, old-school, traditional golf course. Some cross winds, can play quite tricky at times. Totally different test to here.

Q. What do you like most about the challenges of that course as a golf course in general, not just after this one?

JUSTIN ROSE: I think that it's sort of, it's a golf course that suits the whole field. Some golf courses are a bomber's paradise, and I think that Waialae gives everybody in the field an opportunity to do well, and an opportunity to win. But I think it, obviously early in the season, you got to be mentally sharp. Fairways are quite small, Bermuda rough always presents a challenge. If it is breezy, it's a tough golf course. I think if you can come in there mentally sharper than the rest of the guys I think you have an opportunity to do well.