SONY OPEN IN HAWAII

January 11, 2024

Taylor Montgomery

Waialae Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Taylor, sizzling 64 to start the week here at the Sony. How would you assess the day and what was clicking for you?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: Very happy with how I started. I mean, obviously new season. Month and a half without a tournament you don't really know what is going to come out because you start working on things and just practicing, and to come out here, it was nice to have this kind of start.

We definitely got a good tee time being able to play the first like six holes with no wind, and so that definitely helped.

But it was nice to come out here and put up a low one.

Q. Was there anything in particular you wanted to work on in your game during the time off? How was the balance between work and relaxation?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: Yeah, I didn't really relax at all. I mean, had a couple wine nights. That's about it. But worked really hard in December, and I was hoping they would work out, and so far they have, which is good. The ball striking is definitely a lot better, and that's the major thing I was working on in December.

Q. What in your ball striking were you working on specifically?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: In simple terms, compressing the ball a little bit more. Hitting it with less loft. I was kind of scooping everything and wasn't really a consistent strike.

So that was kind of the main issues.

Q. What kind of I guess inspired you to work so hard? A lot of people can kind of use that as a time to kind of take it easier. For you to decide to get to work like that.

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: Yeah, just something I've always done. I've always worked very hard in the game of golf and pretty much anything I do. Just golf I've been able to do it for a long time, whereas if it's something else I'll do it for a month and get board with it.

Yeah.

Q. When you were working in the off-season, where were you working out of mainly and who were you working with?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: Just in Vegas and Grant Booth, guy caddieing for me. Best friend pretty much. He helped me develop that, which was such a hard feeling to learn.

It's getting more and more comfortable. Still not the most familiar territory for me. As long as I'm doing the right stuff, it should work out in the long run.

Q. Caddie and your teacher?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: Kind of both. He's like my best friend.

Q. How long you guys been buddies?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: So we met through a guy that I went to college with, Red Bob is what we call them. Those two are probably my best friends for sure.

I met him, Grant Booth, through Red Bob. He's from -- Grant is from Australia. He's just a character. He's a person I instantly liked just because of his personality.

Obviously a great golfer. Played in the Monday qualifiers and stuff. Hopefully you'll see his name out here soon.

Q. Worked pretty hard on the game in the off-season. Did you go to Diamante?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: No, I didn't go to Diamante. I should have. I was just in Vegas working on the game and kind of working on the house a little bit. Just kind of hanging mirrors and doing a bunch of house stuff. (Smiling.)

Q. Got a new one?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: Yeah, towards the middle of last year got a new house. It's been great. I mean, any time you can have a new house it's nice. It's a good feeling.

Q. What was the best putt or birdie of the round today?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: I would say the best birdie I had was 15. I hit a 4-iron. Hit it really good but hit it left and the rough this week is nasty. I didn't know what the ball was going to do. I hit a pitching wedge and only went about 40 feet in the air.

Eventually rolled over the green and then I made it from the kind of the fairway behind the green. I mean, it's a birdie -- it's a one in 100 so nice to get that one.

Q. Got off to good start here last year. What is it about this place that you like?

TAYLOR MONTGOMERY: I don't know, I think just being in Hawai'i. Being able to practice a lot coming into a tournament I think helps a lot as well.

But I just like being here.