ROGERS CHARITY CLASSIC

August 16, 2024

Scott McCarron

Canyon Meadows G&CC

Quick Quotes

Q. Scott, 6-under today. Weather didn't seem to be a factor for you. Just assess your round.

SCOTT McCARRON: Yeah, it was a pretty good round. Got off to a little shaky start. Bogeyed the first hole, made a couple pars, and then came back with three birdies in a row.

Hit some good shots. Actually hit it close quite a few times today which I haven't been hitting it very good. Drove the ball well today. Obviously two eagles on the back side really helped.

And so, I felt pretty good. I felt more confident as the day went on so that was good.

Been working on some different things over the last couple days and they seemed to work pretty good today.

Q. You are no stranger to this course; two-time champion here. There is a lot of golf left, but what does it mean to get off to this hot start?

SCOTT McCARRON: Yeah, good start. It's a golf course I like. Obviously played well here. Won twice. Had the chance to win when Wes Short won and hit the rock on the water to beat me.

But I've played some good golf here and it fits my eye and I like it. I like coming up here to Canada. I love Calgary. We have some great restaurants we go to quite a few times. Played Stewart Creek, my wife and I and some friends we met here at the tournament, Kat and Terry. They're retired police officers, we just had a great time yesterday.

It's just fun being back here, and I got good feelings and obviously today I played well which was nice.

Q. Scott, I saw you down on the range the other day working on those new moves. What exactly are you doing and trying to get rid of?

SCOTT McCARRON: I'm trying to get rid of being off. I get laid off at this top and I'm trying to -- almost feel like I'm crossing the line at the top even though I'm not. I'm just kind of pointing the club head, shaft at the target at the top which is different for me, because I've always kind of been laid off.

A little bit bigger hip turn, little bit of a grip turn, three little things, and it felt pretty good today. It was the first time in competition. I just started doing it, you know, couple days ago, so it felt pretty good today.

Q. How did it feel to sink that long eagle putt on the 18th hole?

SCOTT McCARRON: That felt great. Reminded me of when I made eagle to try to beat Wes Short that year. I made eagle with a long putt.

You know, it was 54 feet I think, something like that, and it was a little bit -- kind of breaker. Broke a little left, broke a little right, and would have gone in a thimble. That was pretty cool.

Q. We were watching in here. Did it get a good reaction from the crowd?

SCOTT McCARRON: Oh, yeah, got a big reaction. I kind of walked it in the last ten feet with the arms raised so it was kind of cool. It was fun.

Q. Can you just explain, like you've talked lots, we've seen you obviously in the media center lots here, about how the course fits your eye and you have good memories out there. Can you explain how that can translate to good golf on a day like today?

SCOTT McCARRON: Well, you know, it doesn't always translate to good golf. Just because it fits your eye does not mean you're going to play well.

But I like tree-lined golf courses; always have. Because the shots are kind of prescribed for you. You go to the first tee, well, that's a cut. You go to the second tee, well, that's a draw. I mean, third tee, well, that's a cut.

So the shots are more prescribed for you than just standing up there with something wide open. I like that. Uses my imagination a little more. So I think that's what I mean by it fits my eye, because I use my imagination more.

Q. What did you think of Stewart Creek?

SCOTT McCARRON: I thought it was beautiful. I mean, up there -- you got on the 10th green at Stewart Creek, looking back to the fairway and the Three Sisters, that was really spectacular. It's a beautiful golf course and they were very kind to us yesterday, and we had a great time.

My wife played great. Always good when my wife Jenny plays well, because keep her in a good mood.

Q. Scott, great start today. Just kind of looking at your season, you have --

SCOTT McCARRON: Why would you even go there? Let's look at 2019 maybe.

Q. Just to fact check, you haven't shot in the 60s since June. What was the big difference today maybe versus the last couple months?

SCOTT McCARRON: I made more birdies today, Adam. That's the difference.

Q. Mathematical equation?

SCOTT McCARRON: Yeah. Obviously I started working on a few things in my swing and it felt pretty good today. That was kind of the difference.

And I have not been playing well. This year has been not good at all for me. It's been frustrating. Last year was not great. I still had a chance to finish in the top 36 with like two holes to go last year and made a couple bogeys.

But you know what? This year just has not been very good. Sometimes that happens. But I know I can play well, and when I start playing a little bit better the confidence starts coming back.

And like today, the more the round went on the more confident I felt. So that's a good sign.

Q. Despite the frustrations of the season, do you come back to Calgary with all the success you've had here and feel like you're a guy to beat on this golf course?

SCOTT McCARRON: You know, that's a great question. Not really because I have not played very well. But it's a golf course I like. I've got a lot of good memories here, so that certainly helps. But doesn't always relate to playing good golf. I wish it did. I would have good feelings everywhere I went.