ASCENSION CHARITY CLASSIC

September 7, 2024

Kevin Sutherland

Norwood Hills Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Kevin, looks like you scratched out an under-par round today. How would you assess today?

KEVIN SUTHERLAND: Scratched out would be the word I would use. It wasn't pretty. Yesterday I didn't really hit it that well. I made every putt I looked at and made some really nice up and downs. Today I kind of hit it very similarly. At moments hit some good shots, but I'm still trying to figure that out.

I feel like I got a little momentum on the back nine as far as ball striking, so I hit a couple nice shots there. But, yeah, something that I would love to see a little better tomorrow.

Q. You must be pretty satisfied to have managed to stay in touch with the lead.

KEVIN SUTHERLAND: 100%. I've done a great job -- Keaton and I have done a great job getting the thing around and made some nice putts at the right time. We managed it pretty well.

That's big part of it, just managing your misses and keep moving on.

Q. You mention the Keaton, your son on the bag. Have you thought about what it might mean to have another combination father-son win after Steven Griffen?

KEVIN SUTHERLAND: That would be awesome. I haven't really thought too much about it. That would be an amazing thing to do with your son.

Q. You have got a pretty good record here. Played well last year.

KEVIN SUTHERLAND: I did.

Q. What do you like about this golf course?

KEVIN SUTHERLAND: I like it. You know, I feel like I hit a lot of -- I can hit a lot of 3-woods off the tees. I didn't hit a good 3-wood on the last hole but I'm hitting the 3-wood well.

When the fairways are bouncing a little bit I feel like I hit a lot of 3-woods and get the ball in play and get some good iron shots from there.

It's a course I feel comfortable with. It's a little bit quirky at the right spots. It's all good.

Q. You switched left-hand low this week.

KEVIN SUTHERLAND: I did.

Q. What's that about?

KEVIN SUTHERLAND: You know, I hadn't been putting well, and I putted left-hand low -- actually when I shot 59 it was left-hand low, but hadn't really putted much since then left-hand low.

Keaton and I were playing golf with a friend of his and he was putting that way. I went and just gave it a wing. For the most part it's been good. It feels really good. It's kind of still like a work in progress, but so far so good.

Q. Of course shot 59 left-hand low...

KEVIN SUTHERLAND: Yeah, I don't know why, it sounds terrible to say, but yeah, I didn't stick with it long after that for some damn reason.

Q. What's it like being with your son out here?

KEVIN SUTHERLAND: It's been amazing. You know, being with Keaton has been -- I knew it was going to be special. It's been even better than that. It's been truly -- I'm almost getting a little emotional talking about it. It's like going to dinner, it's everything. Getting to spend this much time with your son is a real special thing.

We've gotten along fantastically on the course, and he's doing a great job. He really is. He has been right on it pretty much since the very beginning.

He needs his dad to play a little better at times but, yeah.

Q. Has it reinvigorated you though?

KEVIN SUTHERLAND: I feel like the body is still the same but the mind has been a little bit more engaged. Feels like I got a little bit more energy as far as wanting to play. I've just turned 60 so that's kind of the time you think about winding down and it's been reinvigorating.

Q. What's the mindset for tomorrow? Keep the strategy that you've had the last couple days or do try to be more aggressive?

KEVIN SUTHERLAND: Yeah, I mean, I would love to hit a few more solid shots. I feel like if I can do that, I feel good with the putter and feel like I have a chance to make some birdies. I need to give myself more opportunities.