AMERICAN CENTURY CHAMPIONSHIP

July 12, 2024

Joe Pavelski

Edgewood Tahoe

Press Conference

MODERATOR: Joe Pavelski, plus 21 points. Pretty solid round. Took a look at the scoreboard, three bogeys, three birdies. 72. Way to go. Nice playing.

JOE PAVELSKI: The round itself was good. Day one, take 21 points. I think I made a few birdies. I felt in control for pretty much the entire round. On number 2, I had eight feet maybe and just didn't get the speed right. I was searching a little bit there.

Otherwise hitting the ball really good. Felt like 21 points was about as bad I could do today just because I kept giving myself look after look and a couple fell there. Would have liked a little more, but it was a blast out there.

Q. Solid round. Hitting a lot of fairways and hitting greens in regulation. How many birdie putts did you have a shot at today?

JOE PAVELSKI: Felt like I had one every hole. Once I got rolling, there were some good looks. Couple of 4-irons into the par-5s where you hit a good shot and you're staring up-and-down for birdie, maybe an eagle look.

There was not many shots that I care to have back. On the first tee shot, all the nerves were there. Kind of miss it a little bit. And then on 18 drive. And there's a couple other ones.

But I put myself in a lot of good positions, hit a lot of good wedges. It was good. If there's any one thing I want back was we were teeing off on 3 and we were 50, 75 yards down the fairway and we hear the roar.

And Osh and I were like, man, we just screwed up. We should have been running over to see Brown's hole-in-one. That was incredible. We heard the roar.

Like everyone thinks about winning that boat, and actually seeing one go in the hole and hear the roar was pretty special. That's the one moment I guess I'd want back in my round. Incredible shot. Happy for him. Pretty cool.

Q. That boat, there's still another one out there. There will be another one available. You'll have a couple more days.

JOE PAVELSKI: That was said in the group. We were hoping they'd trailer another one out there, have another opportunity.

We were on that hole when we came around and I hit one in the bunker. So let's not talk about that, but the bears came out. We were on the hole when the bears walked across that was cool to see the momma with the cubs. You don't always see that on a golf course. It's pretty cool.

Q. Do not want to get between mom and the cubs?

JOE PAVELSKI: You leave them alone. That was cool.

Q. How long were they out there before they passed?

JOE PAVELSKI: They actually kept moving pretty good. A few minutes.

Q. How were the crowds out there? Seems like it's just packed. Big numbers?

JOE PAVELSKI: The crowds are great every year. And everybody here kind of knows how it just keeps growing. That's the big thank you to American Century, what they do, what the guys show up and do and the products you put out there and the amount of fun.

But as an athlete for myself, hockey, it's all about the fans, playing, the atmosphere, how much they care about the game, how much we care about the game.

So you have that feeling out here. It's a little bit different sport, little bit different setting. The fans are there. They're fun. Great to see the kids, everyone that's out there, and you try to hit a few good shots for them.

Q. When you were in here yesterday you were talking about feeling pretty comfortable and fairly confident in your game. Looks like it's --

JOE PAVELSKI: It was good. Even the putter felt pretty good. Didn't make a lot of putts, but it felt good. It was just finding those lines. And it's always a course, you get out here and the greens are rolling very good, very fast, and with the poa annua, you kind of gotta dial them in at the hole and pick some right lines. And it was like when I hit a nice firm putt on line, it was just a half ball out.

When you left one just a little short, it kind of wiggled the other way. Hopefully a few more will fall tomorrow and moving forward. But overall it was pretty good.

Q. Not a bad pairing today with all the NHLers?

JOE PAVELSKI: I had a blast. I knew nothing about Chuck's game. Played with Osh. It was just a blast being out there hearing some stories about the Cup and about the playoffs. We're all living it and seeing it and how the season went. It was great to spend 18 holes walking around, and we'll get together again. But great people.

Q. You've got a couple of guys that are starting to creep up the leaderboard but you're right where you want to be.

JOE PAVELSKI: We're in a good spot. I have to think Fish has probably passed me pretty quick. We have Thielen. I'm looking there at the leaderboard. Two good players. They hit the ball well. Dell is having a great day, good to see. But you expect someone's going to throw a good round out there.