RBC HERITAGE

April 19, 2024

Patrick Rodgers

Harbour Town Golf Links

Quick Quotes

Q. What did you do best today?

PATRICK RODGERS: I felt like I hit the ball really well today. I had tons of chances to score. Even probably left a few out there, which is nice, after shooting 66. I feel like my game is in a good place.

Yeah, I just had chance after chance, and it was as stress-free as a day at Harbour Town can be.

Q. You said you've had a little bit of a lull the last month in your game. What do you feel like has improved the last couple weeks or couple days?

PATRICK RODGERS: Yeah, I really disliked sitting at home during the Masters, but it's very inspiring. Obviously the kind of golf that Scottie has played but just everyone in general up there near the top of the leaderboard, it's definitely super motivating when you're at home. So I had a really good week of work. Felt like I worked hard on my iron play and on my putting, and fortunately that work is showing here early signs this week.

Q. I wanted to talk about some stress for a minute. I'm thinking what in the world happened on 5, and was that par putt the most important thing you did all day today?

PATRICK RODGERS: So yeah, on 5, I left it in a perfect spot there just short of the green. I hit my chip a little short of my landing spot, and it landed in my playing partner's pitch mark on his approach shot. It probably wasn't going to be a great chip, maybe 12 feet from the hole I'd say, but it plug, and I missed the green.

But yeah, getting that one down and then just continuing the momentum was really, really helpful. But that was one of the weirder experiences I've had in a little while.

Q. How many players would have thrown a club in that situation?

PATRICK RODGERS: There's no reason to throw clubs around here. We're super spoiled. There's hardly any players in this field who -- we're playing for a bunch of money and a bunch of points on an amazing venue.

Q. When you say you feel like your game is in a good spot, what did it take to get it in that spot?

PATRICK RODGERS: I had to work a little bit on my iron play just like my start lines, my curve, distance control a little bit. That's kind of been what's held me back on the golf course. A little bit of the short putting stuff. I've bounced back between a couple of different putters trying to find something where I was more comfortable. But hard to believe that "Old Trusty" works the best.

Q. You went back to your Old Trusty?

PATRICK RODGERS: Yes. It's a Toulon putter that I've used for seven, eight years, so it just feels good in my hands.

Q. What have you learned from some of the experiences you've had being in contention that you might be able to take into this weekend?

PATRICK RODGERS: Yeah, it's definitely -- like getting over the hump and getting that first win has definitely always been top of mind. It's been top of mind while I'm playing, overnight, when -- I need to get away from the outcome, to be honest. It's going to take good golf. These are the best players in the world. It's going to take two great rounds in order to get it done. But the way you shoot a great round is you hit a good first tee shot and you go from there.

I'm going to work as hard as I can to be super present, take it one shot at a time. I know it sounds super cliche, but I've definitely let the situation in the past become sort of bigger than just the shot. If I can stick to just executing one good shot at a time, I like my chances.

Q. Are there examples of you letting that happen in the midst of playing, being in the mix on a Sunday and being so uptight about finally getting it done --

PATRICK RODGERS: It's more nuanced than that, but Sundays have definitely felt different than a Friday or Thursday. I don't think they feel the same to anyone, though. I'm not going to shy away from that. But yeah, definitely I've found myself at times being wrapped up in the situation and wanting to get across the line, carrying the weight of not having done it before forward with me when it's just a round of golf.

Q. What was the routine like last week, Thursday through Sunday?

PATRICK RODGERS: I actually didn't watch a ton of golf during the day. I've got two young kids at home. I loved spending time with them. I would play with them in the morning, practice in the afternoons. Yeah, pretty solid routines. We'd catch a little of golf on the replay in the evening.

Q. Your kids didn't say Daddy, can you not turn the Masters on?

PATRICK RODGERS: My son did not want to watch the Masters. He wanted to play trucks and dinosaurs, so we did that.

Q. I've heard from people who are still juniors that when they get done watching the Masters on Sunday, it fires them up, they go practice. Has it been like that for you since getting out of college?

PATRICK RODGERS: Yeah, for sure. It hurts. Like when you're a kid it's just inspiring and fun and great and you can't wait to be there. Each year that I don't play, it's tough. I desperately want to be there. I feel like I'm capable of being one of the best players in the world, but it's up to me to go and do it.

Q. How old are your kids?

PATRICK RODGERS: I have a three-year-old and a five-month-old.