Media Center Interviews
April 5, 2025
Third Round Interview with Andrew Novak
Q. Andrew, right now you're one of less than 10 players in this field that finished today under par. Just what does that say about that fight out there today for you?
ANDREW NOVAK: Yeah, it was tough. I played really well. I made sure not to put myself in any like disastrous spots. I obviously got lucky a few times when I did miss and made a lot of putts when I needed to. I'm not surprised at all that there weren't many rounds under par, this course was playing really difficult.
Q. Speaking of lucky breaks, 16 was probably one of the more unusual birdies you've ever had in your career. Can you take us through your thoughts as everything was going on?
ANDREW NOVAK: Yeah, that pin's tucked over there on the right and you don't really want to miss much left so you're kind of going at it. It was like a 5iron today with it being into the wind and I pushed it, wind caught it. Obviously not a great shot, but I know if it's over there, there's some space, it can be OK. I didn't expect it to kick back and go on the green, that was obviously ridiculous. Not the best swing and sometimes golf rewards you.
Q. Does that almost put a little bit of extra pressure on you when you get a nice bounce like that, like I better make this putt, or does it kind of liberate you?
ANDREW NOVAK: That was about as much pressure as I felt on a putt in a while because both guys in my group, Carson and Emiliano, also hit great shots and made their putts. So we had two birdies in, I can't get that break and then miss the putt, be the only guy not to make birdie. Luckily made a good putt, poured it right in.
Q. They said on the telecast that you kind of lose the right to complain about a bad bounce for the next like couple weeks or months. Would you say that's fair?
ANDREW NOVAK: I'll try to keep that in mind, I'll do my best. But yeah, that one probably will be the best of the year kind of stuff.
Q. Final group tomorrow, you'll be in it. You were in the final group at Bermuda as well, you were in the final group at Torrey even more recently. What are you going to draw on from those two more recent experiences tomorrow?
ANDREW NOVAK: Yeah, Bermuda was blowing 30, 35 miles an hour and playing very difficult. Torrey Pines, same thing, obviously playing difficult. Out here tomorrow as well. It's just going to be patience, pars are going to do really well. Obviously it depends on what guys do, but if I can just keep it in front of me, stay out of like the disaster, keep it out of the jungle, give my putter a few chances, see how it goes.
Q. Do you feel like your putting game helped you today, saved you today?
ANDREW NOVAK: Yeah, I left a couple putts out there, but really like a lot of the big momentum putts I was able to get to go down. I felt like when I really needed to make one, like I had really nice save for par on 8, made a couple early in the round like shorter putts but tricky with the wind and stuff. Just a few good strokes at opportune times and it kept the round really together.
