LIV GOLF TULSA

May 13, 2023

Dustin Johnson

Branden Grace

Cedar Ridge Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome Branden Grace from Stinger GC and Dustin Johnson, the captain of 4 Aces GC. Dustin, back-to-back 63s, you're at first place, 14-under with a two-stroke lead. I can tell when you come out here to win. What has switched on for you this week?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I'm just doing everything a little bit better, driving it well, wedging it good, starting to roll in some putts. I mean, obviously when you're shooting low scores, everything is going well.

Q. We had the biggest crowds we've had yet today. I noticed a lot of the our Aces merch is gone from the merch tent. Did you see a lot of fan support out there today?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, the crowds have been great. The fans, obviously there's a lot of support out there, and then I see a lot of Aces hats and tee shirts, so it's nice.

Q. Gracey, another good one for you, currently 12-under, two back. What do you need to do tomorrow to battle it out with DJ here?

BRANDEN GRACE: Just got to make the crucial putts when it comes your way. I hit a few today which could have been a total different story, maybe could have done two or three better, but just didn't take advantage of when it headed my way, but I need to take advantage of that tomorrow. I don't expect him to go backwards, so I need to go forward and push, and that's what I'm hoping to do.

Q. The Stingers are also in contention, which is exciting. Are you guys going to do anything as a team? I know you talked about the braai?

BRANDEN GRACE: Yeah, probably the same. You can't mess up a winning formula so far. We'll probably do the same. Louis is on cooking duty, so -- we've got this big hat, as well, wearing by the worst score of the day, so he's not going to be too pleased wearing that today. Yeah, just have a good time, chill out, relax, and then come again tomorrow.

Q. Are you watching the team leaderboard as much as you're watching the individual leaderboard when you're out there because you guys are battling back and forth, 4 Aces and Stinger, for first place?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I didn't see it today. Every time I looked up it was on the back end.

BRANDEN GRACE: I didn't see it until the last hole.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I didn't see it there, either, so I have no idea.

Q. DJ, obviously coming into this week, Talor had two wins. He's the hometown hero. Is this your response to him leaving the Aces?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Well, I try to play well every week, so it has nothing to do with anybody else other than myself. I come to every tournament trying to play my best, but I mean, I don't care where it is, I like to play well.

Q. You had talked about earlier that you didn't come into the season kind of in the form that you wanted. Are we seeing 100 percent DJ this week?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: It's getting back to -- I saw a lot of good things in Australia and Singapore. I was playing really well, just didn't get a lot out of my rounds. My scores, just wasn't scoring well, but I was playing well. I knew it was coming. I was seeing a lot of good things.

But yeah, obviously I was ready for the start to the year, then obviously I tweaked my back going into Saudi. That kind of set me back a little while. But things happen; it's all right. I like playing good this time of year, too, so it's -- I think all of us, we're all just trying to play as well as we can.

Q. Branden, I think the last time you guys played together in a final round was in Portland. It obviously worked out pretty well for you. Is it going to take that kind of round to catch DJ?

BRANDEN GRACE: Yeah, exactly. Listen, when you're playing in the final group you're doing something right, and everybody in that final group is tough contenders. Nobody is just going to give it up. I'm definitely going to have to go deep tomorrow. I'm not saying it's going to take a 9-under or something like that, but if I can just play well, give myself some chances and then take it from there.

Q. Obviously that couple of holes where you had the two-shot swings for each one, how did that change your complexion going into tomorrow, because you had the lead at the point and then obviously --

BRANDEN GRACE: Yeah, just didn't take advantage when I had the chances. I thought I hit a good putt for eagle on the 14th I think it was, and just maybe misread it, maybe had too much time before I hit the putt and things like that. Then I thought I made the putt on the next, on the par-3. I kind of walked it in and it somehow missed. That just killed the momentum.

It was nice to bounce back with a birdie on 7, gave us a little bit of hope, and I don't wish bogeys on anybody, but the way it finishes I'm a little bit more in striking distance if I can just dig deep and go for tomorrow.

Q. Is the Sunday vibe out here, I know it's all relaxed and laid back for the most part, but is the Sunday vibe similar to a Sunday anywhere else in terms of the nerves and the pressures?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yep, for me it doesn't change no matter where you're playing. It's a golf tournament, great players, big purse. You feel it. You can feel it today. Obviously the big crowds and -- so it was a lot of fun, and looking forward to tomorrow.

BRANDEN GRACE: Like I said yesterday, we've got 14 majors out here it feels like. Every week there's more and more people coming out. You feel a little bit more pressure every week when there's people coming out, and it takes pressure to play well, as well. It feels great to be out here.

Q. DJ, so far this year you mentioned that you didn't feel like you were getting much out of your rounds, but your strokes gained tee to green have been pretty solid and it seems like the putter has been holding you back a little bit, but you've looked comfortable this week. Did you work on anything specifically between Singapore and Tulsa with the putter?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, I've been working on my putting every day for a long time. It's just finally starting to click. Sometimes you've just got to keep grinding it out, but yeah, starting to -- I'm hitting them on my lines and making a few putts. That's the key. You can make a few putts early, get some momentum, get confidence in the putter, and then it obviously helps out.

Q. Branden, what mindset did you bring into today considering it's always tough to follow a low one like a 61 with another low round? You seemed to stay up there on top of that leaderboard or up near the top of the leaderboard. What mindset did you have going into the day?

BRANDEN GRACE: Yeah, not to really get too far ahead of myself. Just to try to hit fairways, hit greens and try and give myself chances. I did that really well yesterday, I thought I did it really well today. Yesterday I took advantage of the things when I needed to, today I didn't. That was maybe another four shots off the score. All around, I'm happy. I'm in great position. Looking forward to tomorrow.

Q. DJ, everybody talks about going into a major. You're trying to peak at the right time. Do you feel like you're firing on all cylinders going into Oak Hill next week?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, the game is in good form. I feel like I'm doing everything well right now. Yeah, I like where the game is at going into next week, but I've still got tomorrow first, and then I'll worry about next week.

Q. What about this golf course setup sets up for you guys to go this deep?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: The greens are good and they're soft. It doesn't matter what course you're playing. When you have good greens and they're receptive, we're going to shoot good scores.

BRANDEN GRACE: I just think depending on how you play, there's a lot of different ways to play this golf course. You can go with 3-woods and things like that. I think the guys, maybe as you see more towards the top of the leaderboard are playing a little bit more aggressive than others. I think we hit a lot more drivers maybe than the other groups out there. It's easier to get into those greens. They're quite severe big slopes and things, so you can get to your spots a lot easier than maybe with laying up further back and things like that and give yourself some chances.

The greens are so good. If you're missing the putts, you're not getting the lines right or something like that. It's just nice to be out here and playing a golf course like this.