FORD CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY WILD HORSE PASS

March 28, 2025

Auston Kim

Whirlwind Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, here with Auston Kim after a great 7-under round. Early start this morning, but you clearly came ready to play. Just tell me about the day, particularly your first nine, which was the back, right? Really good 6-under, 5-under?

AUSTON KIM: Yeah, it was fun. Made a lot of really good putts. I don't think I missed a green today, which is really cool. I haven't done that in a while.

Q. Yeah.

AUSTON KIM: Putting felt pretty mediocre yesterday. I mean, I made a good eagle, but that was about it.

But I made a lot of really good putts today and gave myself a lot of good chances, so it was a lot better.

Q. Is putting you think really important out here, on this course particularly important, or what is it about good putting that leads to good results out here?

AUSTON KIM: Yeah, I think putting is definitely important. I feel like for any person who is striking the ball well, if they're having a good week with long game then they're giving themselves chances and then being able to capitalize and convert. So, yeah, definitely important.

Q. You're a player that relies on distance a lot. Is it weird to have to dial it back a little bit out here?

AUSTON KIM: A little bit. Definitely not getting after it for a couple of tee shots, but today I just tried to play as aggressively as I could, and I think -- I don't think I really dialed back at all for any tee shots today.

But I felt pretty comfy and it was good today.

Q. When you say you tried to play as aggressive as you can, for you and when it's firm and fast out here, what does that look like?

AUSTON KIM: Yeah, I think just picking good targets considering the rollout. I had a couple targets today that were definitely conservative, but just trying to be as aggressive as I can to the numbers and the lines that I had.

So, yeah, worked out.

Q. I know obviously in your second season out here. Had some really low scores last year as well. When you're having a low one, how do you keep the pedal down and just keep it rolling? I know some people try to dial it back and they might lose it a little bit. Seems like you know how to put the pedal down to the floor.

AUSTON KIM: Yeah, I think it's definitely a learned skill to be able to keep that pedal down. There are definitely moments where you're thinking about score, how you're hitting it. Just trying to take it one shot at a time, just trying to stick to my routine, and I mean, execute over every single shot and I feel like I did a pretty good job of that today.

Q. Now within striking distance after maybe a little bit of a slower start than you might've wanted yesterday. What do you do to keep this rolling over the next 36 holes?

AUSTON KIM: Like you said, I think keeping the pedal down. That's very important for a course that is as gettable as this one this week. But, again, just being kind to myself. I've gotten a lot more patient and I've been pretty nice to myself as of late.

Didn't have the best start in the States our first week out, but I think it was a good lesson to refocus and be nice to myself again. Golf is hard, so I'm just trying to have fun with it, take it one shot at a time, and do my best.

Q. We're standing here and the breeze is really blowing. Obviously tomorrow going to have an afternoon tee time. How do you make those adjustments when the wind is going to pick up probably in the afternoon?

AUSTON KIM: Yeah, thankfully I've had some experience playing in wind. And, I mean, if it's downwind, great; just rip one out there. If it's into, just being able to execute again and sticking to my targets and trying to just execute to the best of my ability; take it one shot at a time. I feel like I'm doing a good job with that again, so I'm excited.