TOUR CHAMPIONSHIP

August 31, 2024

Collin Morikawa

East Lake Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Collin, how would you describe the day?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Solid. Not exactly the moving day that I needed, but I knew this entire week I was going to need something special to come out on top and I'm going to need something very special.

But I believe in myself, and hopeful fly that comes out tomorrow.

Q. Did you still maintain every shot at a time, not trying to force things, or were you getting a little bit more aggressive?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Not at all. You've got to play out of the fairway so you can't take anything for granted. Slight little mishap on 16 and you're in the bunker, and not that you're trying to save par, but you make the hole a lot harder.

I thought I did pretty good, maybe a couple shots out there just kind of got away from me, but it was nice to have kind of those three birdies the last four.

Q. A few missed shorter range putts. Anything that you felt like was similar between them?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: I felt one of them on 7, I felt like that was one little mental break that I had right there, but everything else I felt like I was putting good putts on it, and they just weren't falling.

Tomorrow I'm going to have to will them in and start on hole 1 hopefully.

Q. I know a lot has changed a East Lake, but is it still similar that if you hit fairways there's birdie opportunities?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: For sure. For sure. I think a few of the holes they seem almost a little bit shorter. We have a bunch of wedges around the turn and heading into that back nine. If you're in the fairway you can attack some of these pins, but today I think scoring-wise we were a little bit off the front nine. I think Scottie and I.

Just tougher pins, a little longer clubs and some tough little slopes around them.

Q. You had a pairing with Scottie in Georgia a couple months ago on Sunday. From that experience do you carry over any wisdom?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: I mean, every experience that I've played, not just that one, but there's been a lot that I can draw on. Look, tomorrow I know I've got to go out from hole 1 and have a lot of energy and be ready to play golf and make something happen.

Q. How formidable is it, the idea of trying to run down Scottie?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: I mean, it's going to be very hard, but I believe in myself that I can do it. Five shots is a lot, but two-shot swings happen. I think I've seen a couple over the past few days.

Look, I've just got to play my game. I've got to go low. I know that. Hopefully I've got that in me today. I've got 18 holes left to the season. I keep talking about that, but I'm going to put everything I have into these next 24 hours.

Q. You guys kind of matched each other shot for shot today. I know you're paying attention to your own game. Is there any part of it that's fun or is it frustrating that every time you make a move he makes a move?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Look, some of these holes you're going to have -- if we're both in the fairway and you have a wedge, you're going to see some good shots. It's nice that if he hits one that I stick one close and vice versa. I just hope to have some swings tomorrow.

I've got to start making putts. I've got to make everything tomorrow. It is what it is.

Q. You talked a lot about your confidence coming from the work that you've done with Rick in particular. Is there anything in particular you'll draw on going into tomorrow?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Just knowing that where I was at the beginning of the year and where I am now, it's the same me but different.

Look, like I said, I've got 24 hours to just put everything I have, and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure we're prepped and ready to go. It is what it is, whatever happens tomorrow.