WM PHOENIX OPEN

February 10, 2024

Nick Taylor

TPC Scottsdale

Quick Quotes

Q. Nick, how would you assess that round through six and a half holes?

NICK TAYLOR: Yeah, it felt like we waited every shot so it was pretty long, but it was nice to make a long putt there and make birdie when I feel like I kind of let one go on 3. But it was a good start.

Q. Just walking through the crowd, I haven't seen anything like that. Obviously I know it's most years, but what's it like as a player, that vibe, and do you change your routine or try to process or block stuff out or listen to the stuff?

NICK TAYLOR: Yeah, you've got to really commit to what you're trying to do. It's easy to get distracted. Even with the shadows finishing up, there are 40-foot shadows so there's stuff going on there. You try to zone it out. There's so much going on that it's almost easier than if there was 10 people and a few people were moving.

Again, I played in a lot of it last year and I've done it a few times, so I feel like at least I know what to expect.

Q. Do you feel the energy? Is there a little extra adrenaline that you hit it a couple yards further?

NICK TAYLOR: On 16, for sure you factor in adrenaline. I think the whole day, everyone is amped up, energy around. It's different than most weeks. You try to use it to your advantage. It's fun.

Q. What's the craziest thing you saw out there today?

NICK TAYLOR: I wasn't out here all day. I could probably talk to a few other guys and find out, but it's obviously very muddy. People are falling everywhere, and people are probably enjoying it more than others.

I heard they closed the gates at whatever time, so that shows how many people were here. It's pretty cool.

Q. What's the craziest event you've been to as a fan?

NICK TAYLOR: As a fan? I came here 10, 12 years ago, but even then, the amount of grandstands have gone up since then. It's wild. This place is hard to beat.

Q. Did you follow anyone or just take in the scene?

NICK TAYLOR: I think I just took in the scene. I remember watching -- I think Mickelson won that year. Snedeker might have been playing with him the final round, so I remember seeing a few of their shots. I didn't streak on the 16th green, so I behaved myself, but it was fun.

Q. When you have a marathon day tomorrow, do you eat differently tonight or try to sleep a little more?

NICK TAYLOR: It'll be an early morning, so I'll try to get as much sleep as I can, but it was nice having the morning off and kind of just relaxing, but tomorrow is going to be a long day just like Friday was. You do what you can. It's going to be a long day.

Q. Do you have a bigger breakfast or wait until after the round?

NICK TAYLOR: I'll do my normal routine. I'm usually here two and a half hours early, so I'll eat and kind of physio and warm up and hit the range. There might be frost tomorrow. Who knows. There was a two-hour delay the other morning, so anything is possible.

Q. Do you feel like you have some unfinished business after last year at this event?

NICK TAYLOR: I don't know. I feel like I just have good vibes here after last year. I played great last year and just got beat I felt like.

I wasn't probably expecting to shoot a 60 or something crazy low the first day, but I figure I have good energy here now, and a lot of years in a row I didn't.

I wouldn't say it's unfinished business, but I'm definitely in good position to try to finish it off.

Q. What would it mean to win this event where you live now?

NICK TAYLOR: Yeah, it would be great. This is an amazing event. It puts on an incredible show. Coming so close last year, I can draw on that. But there's a lot of golf to go, so hopefully I can be in contention there the last nine holes or so.