Interviews
Interviews
First Round Interview: Jason Kokrak & Kevin Na
December 10, 2021

Q. Something kind of clicked maybe on the back nine for you guys, maybe just a little bit better than the front?

KEVIN NA: Jason started playing well. I started cheering well.

JASON KOKRAK: No, I think we both hit some good shots. I think Kevin got a little bit more comfortable, hit a couple good iron shots, saw a couple putts go in, which was huge for us. We missed two or three really easy ones on the front side that could have gone in, but you know, all we had to do was get it in the fairway, give ourselves a look and if we make a couple putts, we're going to do well in this format. Didn't shoot ourselves in the foot.

Q. Kevin, does it help with his length to be able to give you some shorter irons and attack with some of your wedges?

KEVIN NA: Yeah, my job is to put it in play so he can get a free swing at it. It's nice to pick up my ball and walk up 30 yards and drop it and hit a wedge in there close. I haven't played in six weeks and I've had a little rib issue where I felt a little rusty, but my game got better as the day went on. I felt like we could have made some more putts on the front nine, but the back nine we did a lot better.

Q. Any strategy for you guys on modified alternate shot, anything you've already thought about or is it just kind of go out and play your games?

JASON KOKRAK: I think it's kind of the same format. With modified alternate shot, he gets one in play, I think I'm not going to try to lean on too many tomorrow. I think it's just give ourselves two looks and two opportunities to hit two different shots. Whatever club and whoever feels the best with that club coming into the green I think is the best way to play that format.

KEVIN NA: I think tomorrow the most important thing is putting. When you have a longer putt, to make sure you get it within two feet and have a good speed. It's hard to get in a rhythm of making putts because you didn't hit your shot, you're just hitting the putt, so it's a little bit of a different feeling, but I think putting's a key tomorrow.

Q. What happened with the eagle on 17?

KEVIN NA: He hit a great drive, he hit a great iron, he hit a great putt. Any other questions?

JASON KOKRAK: I had a great cheerleader.

KEVIN NA: I did a great cheer. I hit one in play, he hit one out there and the second shot, hit it way left and he hits one on there like seven feet. I said, I set you up perfect, I had to apply the pressure to you so you had to hit the perfect shot.

Q. How many putts did you walk in today?

KEVIN NA: Zero.

JASON KOKRAK: I think I had one, but Kevin was already walking away. I tried to walk it in, but I'm too slow and I can't get up there fast enough.

KEVIN NA: I half-walked one in on like 15 or something.

Q. That's a good omen.

KEVIN NA: Tomorrow I'll walk some more.

JASON KOKRAK: Yeah, we felt better on the back nine, I think we hit our stride. Hit a couple good shots and give ourselves a lot of looks tomorrow and that's the name of the game tomorrow.