COGNIZANT CLASSIC

March 1, 2024

Austin Eckroat

PGA National Champion Course

Quick Quotes

Q. Talk about the conditions today, how much they changed from yesterday.

AUSTIN ECKROAT: Yeah, yesterday I played 15 holes with basically no wind, and then from watching the coverage in the morning, and it continued out for most of the round today. It was just a completely different golf course.

Q. Do you feel like you got a nice side of the draw this week?

AUSTIN ECKROAT: I do, yeah, for sure.

Q. Talk about why you think.

AUSTIN ECKROAT: I think the morning wave yesterday had a little bit better of a draw because we had basically 18 holes yesterday of no wind, and then it definitely looked like it was a little windier this morning than it was for us, but it was still windy out there.

Q. A couple solid results so far this season. Nothing kind of top 10-ish, but right in that spot for two days. How have you felt about your season thus far, and what do you feel like you need to still work on?

AUSTIN ECKROAT: It's been a reasonable start to the season I feel like. Making cuts but nothing special. I knew the game was close and a good week was coming. Just keep doing what I'm doing, and hopefully it'll end up a little better than the last ones have.

Q. Anything in particular this week stand out compared to weeks past for your game?

AUSTIN ECKROAT: Yeah, it was weird, at the beginning of the season, it's not like I was struggling with one thing. I'd have some parts of my game good and then the next week one of those things -- the thing I was struggling with the week before was good. This week it just seems like all the categories of my golf game are doing pretty well.

Q. How much does seeing these courses in TOUR conditions for a second year coming back change things? Guys talk about it, but does it really feel much different being able to come to a course for a second time?

AUSTIN ECKROAT: For sure. You're coming back to a familiar place, which is always nice. You know where player dining is. You know where the locker room is. Just the simple things, but it makes the week easier. You feel like you know where you're going.

That's basically it, other than knowing the golf course. Just little things.

Q. What do you feel better about, making a bunch of birdies or making no bogeys?

AUSTIN ECKROAT: I was actually thinking about that yesterday, would I have rather shot a bogey-free 6-under. I think it's always good to make a ton of birdies. That means you're hitting the ball well and you're putting well. It's always fun to make a lot of birdies, but bogey-free is great.

Q. Do you feel comfortable being in contention?

AUSTIN ECKROAT: I think so, yeah. I haven't been in a whole lot. I think this is only the fifth time maybe since I've been a professional. I've played well on the weekends, and I have been, outside of Hawai'i. But yeah, I feel comfortable in it and I like it.

Q. Talk about how the 10th hole played today.

AUSTIN ECKROAT: It was a lot different than it was yesterday or even last year when it was playing as a par-4.

It's still a tricky tee ball because they moved it back, but I had an 8-iron into the green today, into a par-5, which mentally is such a different outlook on the hole where it used to be a grind for par to where now you get on the tee box thinking you have a great chance to make birdie.

I wouldn't be surprised if scoring average was lower on that hole this year just because guys' mentalities are different.