SANDERSON FARMS CHAMPIONSHIP

October 3, 2024

Gary Woodland

Country Club of Jackson

Quick Quotes

Q. Bogey-free 8-under. How would you assess your round?

GARY WOODLAND: That's a lot better. That's more like it. Obviously the conditions were perfect. The golf course is awesome. It's in great shape. When the greens are this good and the weather is like this, you've got to take advantage of it, and fortunately I did that today. That's obviously as well as I've played in a long time. Drove it great. Iron play was really good, and nice to see putts go in, as well. It was as complete a round as I've played in a long time.

Q. When you're seeing a 60 up there, you know you've got to go low when it's out there?

GARY WOODLAND: Yeah, I forgot it was a par-72. I thought he shot 58, so we really had our minds blown. But that's awesome playing. Anytime you shoot 60, it doesn't matter where it is. That's golfing your ball. Hats off to him, and fortunately I got off to a good start, as well.

Q. You said your irons were feeling strong. Anything since Napa you've been looking to fine tune?

GARY WOODLAND: I got into Dallas and worked with Randy Smith. Everything is just coming together. He simplified a lot of stuff for me. I've seen stuff at home, I just haven't seen it on the golf course, so it was nice to see it out here today.

Q. Nothing is ever due, but did you feel like a round like this was coming together?

GARY WOODLAND: Like I said, I've seen it at home, I just haven't seen it out here in a long time, so it was nice. I knew it was coming. It's hard to stay patient out here sometimes, but fortunately I've done that, and nice to see it all pay off.

Q. When you're playing well at home and it's not translating, what are some things that are frustrating and just how relieving is it to see it translate now?

GARY WOODLAND: Oh, it's all frustrating. Everything is. When you play like this, it makes all that time worth it, though. We get it; it's a grind. I've been out here a long time. There's a lot of ups and downs. But when you're coming from where I've been and you're starting to see signs, it's been a little easier to stay positive, and it's been nice to shoot some low rounds at home. A little frustrating out here, but it was nice today just to put it all together. I've had days where I've hit it well or I've putted it well, I just haven't done it together, and it was nice to see that today.

Q. What are your thoughts on how the golf course was playing today?

GARY WOODLAND: I really enjoy this golf course. I think it's a really solid golf course from tee to green. The greens are as good as we see, maybe a little soft. That's probably why you're seeing some low scores the way they are, but they're rolling perfect. When they're this soft you can probably be a little bit more aggressive with the iron play. That's why you're seeing low scores. But the golf course I think is really, really good.

Q. How does the golf course evolve over the day as we go from the morning to the afternoon, and how does that affect how you attack the golf course?

GARY WOODLAND: When the weather is like this, when you're dealing with hardly any wind, usually it's nice to get off to a golf course with no wind in the morning and it picks up in the afternoon. Today there was just no wind. I think that's why you're seeing low scores from top to bottom throughout the day. The golf course play didn't change very much.

Q. Does seeing a 60 right off the bat in this golf tournament kind of almost make you feel like you have your work cut out for you, or is it more encouraging insofar as you see a low number out there?

GARY WOODLAND: I think it's more encouraging. Obviously 60 is a little different, but you saw low scores throughout the morning, so you knew you could be aggressive. The conditions stayed the way they are. Fortunately my position was in a position where I could go out and attack, and it turned out pretty good.

Q. What did you think of what David was able to pull off today? Obviously he's had a long career on multiple tours. To go out and shoot a 60 here, what does that bring to mind for you?

GARY WOODLAND: It's awesome. I'm happy for him. At the end of the day, I don't care where you shoot it, 60 is 60, and to come out here and do it here, like I said, there's some low scores, but 60 is on another level. That's a special round and one I'm sure he'll always remember.