Media Center Interviews

April 3, 2021

Third Round Interview with Charley Hoffman

Q. Charley, 7-under 65, birdied the closing stretch. How did today come together for you?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: Yeah, obviously the wind was blowing harder this morning than it was this afternoon. I was 1 under through nine, just sort of cruising. Then I was able to make a birdie on 12 and then hit a good shot on 14 in there, made eagle. Then I was able to make a few putts coming down the stretch on those last three. Obviously 7 under on this golf course at any time under any conditions is a great round of golf.

Q. You've never missed a cut here, you're a past champion here. Clearly there's something about this golf course or this tournament that agrees with you. What is that?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: It fits my eye. You've got to shape tee shots. You've got to be in certain spots hitting iron shots into the green. I guess it just fits my eye and I really enjoy playing this golf course. You've got to hit right to left, left to right and make a few putts, and I've been able to do that so far and throughout my career.

Q. The eagle on 14, at that point did you know that a special round was coming together for you?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: Not really. I was just cruising. I was only a couple under and obviously I was trying to get back in the tournament. I wasn't really near the lead at that point. Obviously those closing last three birdies are very important going into Sunday, having 18 more holes on a golf course that if it's soft, it will allow itself some birdies.

Q. You made some really big putts to clench those birdies. What went into the setups of those shots?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: Yeah, on 16 I put myself in a good spot to make birdie. And then 17, hit it sort of in a funky area short and left there and actually was just trying to give myself a 15-, 20-footer for birdie and I was able to sneak that one in the hole. And 18, hit two great shots on the green, was able to two-putt. So it was a, I would say, fairly stress-free round of golf, which around this golf course is rare. So hopefully I can keep that going into tomorrow.

Q. And speaking of tomorrow, what's it going to take to get it done tomorrow here?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: Yeah, you've got Jordan Spieth knocking on the door, he hasn't won in a while. Obviously myself, I love this golf course. You've got a Texas guy in Jordan, you've got a ton of other guys bunched up near the leaderboard. I expect you've to go out and make birdies tomorrow. It's not going to be a day that par gets you to win a golf tournament.

Q. They say there's two certainties in life, death and taxes. I made a third, you playing well here at the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio. Why is that?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: I don't know. After my start on Thursday, I didn't know if I'd be out here for the weekend. Something clicked late on Thursday coming in. And it's something that fits my eye, I enjoy playing this golf course and obviously I make a few putts. So I like where I'm at and I'm playing good going into tomorrow.

Q. Yeah. When I was looking at your week here, I thought maybe you had the bad weather draw, but you didn't. What clicked for you there? You birdied 16 and 18 on Thursday. Did that just turn everything around for you?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: Yeah, just the first day, hit some clubs I thought were good and airmailed some greens and made some good par saves, and I hit some greens and three-putted. It was just sort of a funky round and I was able to save it. I mean, that was my goal, to get it back to a few over knowing that I like this golf course and have a chance to make some birdies on Friday. Friday was a tough day and I had to go out there to shoot a good round to even make the cut. It was nice to obviously do that. Then today was obviously a special day coming in and it was nice to finish like that.

Q. You know what it takes to win here, so what will it take tomorrow?

CHARLEY HOFFMAN: Yeah, historically, you've got to make birdies. I mean, if it's sort of soft and the wind doesn't blow, guys can shoot 5, 6, 7 under on this golf course. If the wind blows, it's a totally different story.

As of right now, if the weather stays the same, my goal is to make some birdies and then hopefully have a few-shot lead coming in with a few to play.