A look at some of the quotes from the top players after day one of the WGC Dell Match Play at Austin Country Club, where upsets were the trend of the day.
JUSTIN THOMAS
When you get up early, 3-up after 6, how challenging is it for you to go ahead and finish it off?
THOMAS: It’s not — I mean, it’s not challenging the fact that you are 3-up, it’s challenging the fact that you are playing a good player. Luke has been showing some very good form of late, so I knew it was going to be tough.
And then, on 8, when he started putting with the wedge, I don’t know what happened, but I knew that it would hopefully make it easier on me. But it didn’t.
Won 2 Up over Luke List
JORDAN SPIETH
What about the year Justin’s had the last year and a half?
SPIETH: Yeah, it’s something that hasn’t surprised me, knowing the work that he’s put in over the last ten years of knowing him. And it’s awesome to see how confident he’s playing and just how aggressive — he’s playing fearless golf.
It’s something that we all strive for all the time. It’s another thing to actually be doing it and he’s doing it right now. It’s fun to be a part of and it’s fun to chase him in the World Ranking category.
A lot of good young players playing that way. It’s part of the story lines leading into the majors this year.
Won 2 Up over Charl Schwartzel
IAN POULTER
It’s good fun. I really enjoy it.
POULTER: Do you? You look like it.
You know, I’m playing some of the best golf I’ve ever played. Stats are proving that. I’m driving it well, putting it in position, hitting a lot of greens in regulation. So I feel like I’m really close to something good. That’s why I want to make it to the Masters.
I’m driving it a little bit longer than I have in the past, which is very helpful around that golf course. Hitting lots of greens in regulation is also helpful. So again, it comes down to the wand. If I can warm that thing up and play well for the next three days, four days, five, I’ll have a chance to obviously make it there.
If I don’t do it this week, then I might look to try to do something in Houston next week.
Won 3 & 2 over Tommy Fleetwood
PATRICK REED
You are working out with your swing instructor, I assume ironing out some things. Are you safe with where your game is at heading into your second match tomorrow?
REED: Yeah, I just want to try to get back on the offense on some of the shots. With where I was hitting my driver today, and being that guy that’s always hitting second in the greens rather than being first, it seems like I was always playing away from the flag, hit the center of the green, make some pars. Didn’t really have to be that aggressive. I wasn’t playing towards many flags.
KK and I went out on the range and just tried to go in attack mode, attack different flags and targets and try to do that rather than play safe like it’s a U.S. Open.
Won 3 & 2 over Hao Tong Li
Credits: ASAP Sports, Getty Images