ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS

April 21, 2022

Stephan Jaeger

Joel Dahmen

TPC Louisiana

Quick Quotes

Q. Day one, you guys have fun out there?

STEPHAN JAEGER: Best ball is fun. It's kind of a little bit more free than the rest of the tournament, but we had a good time. Both kind of played solid and ham and egged it pretty good. That's what you've got to do for best ball.

JOEL DAHMEN: I love picking up par putts. Those are great. I had a couple from 10, 12 feet probably. That's good now. Best ball is great in that sense.

Q. Different format tomorrow, strategy change.

JOEL DAHMEN: Well, it's great because, if I hit a bad shot, he has to deal with it. So that's -- alternate shot is so hard. You can't really plan for it. You can strategize who tees off on what hole but kind of throw it out the window after that.

Q. Obviously friends. How did this pairing come about? Kind of who reached out and contacted who?

STEPHAN JAEGER: I think it was over a couple of beverages or cocktails this winter.

JOEL DAHMEN: Most of my conversations happen that way.

STEPHAN JAEGER: I didn't have anything planned. He was like you want to play? I was like yeah, sure, and here we are.

JOEL DAHMEN: There wasn't a whole lot of thought, I don't think. Yeah, a couple of beverages and friends.

STEPHAN JAEGER: Yeah.

Q. Any practice rounds go in together before today with each other?

JOEL DAHMEN: We haven't played together in a long time.

STEPHAN JAEGER: Yeah, I think it's been the Korn Ferry years, I think.

JOEL DAHMEN: It's been a long time since we joined up. We played a practice round here and there but not recently, not since we paired up. It was a nice surprise. We got together yesterday afternoon, and it was like, okay, that's how he plays golf. All right. This is good.

STEPHAN JAEGER: I kind of knew what Joel's game was like, but we're comfortable with each other. I think that helps in alternate shot. I think we're going to be in some spots where the other person is maybe not used to it. So it's going to be a challenge, but it's going to be fun.

Q. You guys had a little bit more wind for this afternoon wave, but what do you guys like about this course?

JOEL DAHMEN: There's some freedom off the tee in spots. It always gives you a spot to miss it in two, which is nice, and then there's some holes you can actually kind of attack with wedges. When you hit it a little further like Mr. Jaeger, he birdied all the par-5s today. So his length helps him in there for sure.

STEPHAN JAEGER: Yeah, I told Geno, I was like it's actually kind of freeing up. I teed off first all day today, and I even knew, if I had a bad tee shot or something, he's a pretty good driver of the ball. So it kind of gives you confidence that way.

No, it's been great.

Q. Have there been any discussion about walk-up song yet?

JOEL DAHMEN: It was so put together last second. It was not well thought out. We ended up with Who Let the Dogs Out by Baja Men. Old school, one-hitter.

STEPHAN JAEGER: We both like dogs. So I was like why not?

JOEL DAHMEN: He's got a gold. I've got a black lab. They hang out a couple times a year.

Q. Your dogs are friends?

JOEL DAHMEN: Yeah.

STEPHAN JAEGER: They're friends. His is a little older, so he doesn't have quite as much energy as mine does. They have met. They spent some time together last winter.

Q. What are your dog's names?

JOEL DAHMEN: I've got Murphy.

STEPHAN JAEGER: Phil.

JOEL DAHMEN: Phil is a legend out here. Between Korn Ferry Tour and PGA, he basically grew up on golf courses, and he's the most well behaved golden retriever you'd ever see in your life. My dog does whatever he wants actually. You can call him, but he's not going to come.

Q. Dogs like owners?

JOEL DAHMEN: Pretty much. That's actually a very valid point. Actually, a very good family friend of ours mentioned that when we were younger about our dog. You know they take after their owners, right? A little lazy, loves the couch, and doesn't really listen very well. Pretty stubborn.

Q. And both like the golf course?

STEPHAN JAEGER: Both like the golf course, that's right.

JOEL DAHMEN: Exactly.