SONY OPEN IN HAWAII

January 13, 2024

Taiga Semikawa

Waialae Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Taiga, are you surprised that you played well and do you feel comfortable?

TAIGA SEMIKAWA: Yeah, I am feeling pretty comfortable, especially after the play I had last year. I feel like I came into this week pretty good.

Q. Did you look at all at the leaderboard to see where you were?

TAIGA SEMIKAWA: No, I haven't. No, I did not.

Q. Do you know where you are now?

TAIGA SEMIKAWA: No, I don't know where I am.

Q. That's good.

TAIGA SEMIKAWA: (Laughing.)

Q. What were some of the better shots you hit today?

TAIGA SEMIKAWA: No. 14 I hit it in the bunker on the left and I hit it out pretty well. That was one that comes to mind.

Q. Lastly, did the competition last year between you and Takumi and Keita in Japan how much did that do for your game?

TAIGA SEMIKAWA: I definitely felt that coming out of last year. The three of us really battled through a lot of tournaments and that really pushed me to play better golf as well.

Yeah, definitely felt that today throughout this round as well.

Q. Just wondering if it's true that you're named after Tiger Woods. How did that impact your childhood and taking to the game of golf?

TAIGA SEMIKAWA: Yes, I was named after Tiger Woods and I kind of took in his style, growing up watching his aggressive style, and I think that kind of fits my personality and what I tried to do playing golf here today.

Q. Have you seen anyone here this week that made you feel a little star struck like you were playing in the big leagues?

TAIGA SEMIKAWA: One person that I saw is Ludvig Aberg. We grew up playing amateurs and watching him this week inspired me to be...