VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

March 21, 2024

Jimmy Stanger

Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)

Quick Quotes

Q. How would you assess your opening round?

JIMMY STANGER: It was good out there. I felt like I settled down nicely after the first few holes. I struck it well. This golf course is tough. I hit it really well. I felt like I played to my spots. I didn't quite make as many birdies on the back as I wanted to, but, man, just such a good golf course. So 1-under's pretty good out from.

Q. Were there nerves at all on those first few holes, you said, before you settled down?

JIMMY STANGER: Yeah, there was definitely some nerves. It's always exciting playing in your hometown event. And that's what this is. I know I had a good bit of friends and family out there watching too, so you want to play good for them, but ultimately, it's just golf. I was ultimately able to settle down, play some golf, make some fun birdies on the front, was able to almost make a hole-in-one there on 17, so that was nice to finish off strong too.

Q. How nice is it to be at a place you are familiar with?

JIMMY STANGER: Yeah, new golf courses are tough. They take a lot more energy Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday getting ready for 'em and you're always fooled by stuff Thursday through Sunday. So it's nice to come out to a course that I played a bunch as a Junior and a couple times in college and now a couple times as a pro.

So again, this place is just special in so many ways. To play it in a tournament under great conditions with the greens as firm and fast as they are is so much fun. It's a challenge, but it's fun.

Q. How different did it play this week?

JIMMY STANGER: It always changes a little bit. Again, this year it seems like they did an especially good job getting the course where they want it to be. The rough is thick, the fairways are very -- I mean, they're perfect, and the greens are running firm and fast, so you got to manage your golf ball. It's hard to fire at many pins out there. So from what I remember, the greens have always been pretty good, but this year they seem to be exceptional.

Q. What family and friends did you notice out there as a hometown favorite?

JIMMY STANGER: There were too many to number. But obviously immediate mom and dad was out there. My fiance was out there with some other friends I had growing up. Others out there, I know my old swing coach Gary Anderson was out there watching, a bunch of friends from Avila, the country club that I grew up in, so at least 15, 20 of those. So, again, it was just nice to have everyone out.