GENESIS SCOTTISH OPEN

July 11, 2024

Yannik Paul

The Renaissance Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Is what is it about this golf course that you like so much?

YANNIK PAUL: I like links golf. Like when the turf is firm. It's the best to strike it well. You have to visualize a lot of the shots and that's what I like to do, and yeah, today was a solid day overall, and I'm happy with the start.

Q. Feels like a typical Scottish day. Were conditions demanding, as easy as you can find or in between?

YANNIK PAUL: I think as easy as you can find. There wasn't a lot of wind. I wouldn't say it's warm if you have to wear a beanie in July but Scottish people, they consider that a good day. Overall, because the wind wasn't really up and there was no rain, really, it made it quite doable out there. That's why I think you can see in general pretty good scoring.

Q. As I said you played well here last year. What will you learn last year playing on the weekend that you can carry over into this year?

YANNIK PAUL: You have to stay in the moment. It's a four-day event, and looks like the forecast looks pretty promising, so I think you just have to make a lot of birdies. So you've just got to keep the pedal down and see where you end up on Sunday.

Q. Plenty of birdies in that round, 65, just one behind the leaders. How did you find it out there today?

YANNIK PAUL: Yeah, it was a calm day, which always helps here in Scotland. Yeah, so that's why I think the scoring is pretty low or in general pretty good scoring. Just because if you hit fairways, you can get quite a few chances. And yeah, I was able to hit a lot of fairways and hit some quality shots into the greens, and yeah, I was able to convert some of those chances.

Q. Do you come into these weeks with a different buzz? I know it's a Rolex Series Event, but when it's co-sanctioned with the PGA TOUR, it almost feels like a major.

YANNIK PAUL: Yeah, it's a big event. You've just got to treat every week the same. I worked quite hard the last two weeks, even during the days, the tournament days and I wanted this week to kind of take it really easy. I wanted to get a lot of the work done the last two weeks and conserve energy this week and next week. I got to know the course again the last two days but I haven't really overworked myself, and that seems to me the key to play well.

Q. What's your relationship like with links golf? Do you feel like you have to make a big adjustment?

YANNIK PAUL: Not really. I like when the turf is firm. I feel like that's when you can strike it the best and obviously sometimes you have to visualise some shots and kind of see how I can maybe use some of the slopes. I really like links golf. The bunkers are penalising so you try to avoid those, and yes, overall, I'm happy with the start.