LIV GOLF ADELAIDE

April 26, 2024

Marc Leishman

Matt Jones

The Grange

Ripper GC

Quick Quotes

Q. Could you feel it was different to last year?

MARC LEISHMAN: Last year was unbelievable, as well. It's just good. I didn't notice too much of a difference, but it was just more on every hole rather than a couple of -- maybe the holes on the back. The atmosphere was good everywhere, though. I think we were both better for a runner end of last year, used that experience to kind of ease our way into the week early and then know sort of what to expect today.

Q. You both played well, obviously. Sometimes you can want it a little bit too much when you play in an event like this, but did you feel like it was okay --

MATT JONES: I think that probably happened last year more so than this year. I think we came in a little more relaxed this year. I know last year we all wanted to play well and we didn't, and I think this year we're a little more relaxed and just let the golf course come to us and not try and push anything and just play our game.

Q. A lot of low scores out there, but is there still a significant advantage for you guys being Australian and playing in these conditions, or when there's conditions like that, the course comes back to the field a little bit?

MARC LEISHMAN: I think if it firms up a little bit more and the wind gets up, possibly, but everyone is so good out here. There's no average players out here. Everyone knows how to play in different conditions. Even the guys that are based in America, we're playing so much everywhere now that you have to adapt pretty well. I think that makes a pretty big difference.

I'd like to think if it firms up and speeds up a bit, our experience will pay off a little bit. Yeah, hopefully that can happen and we can make a run towards the end of the week?

Q. Will there still be a big score in the end that you'll have to have to win, though?

MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, unless it really firms up, but there's so many wedges out here, even if it does firm up a lot, I think you've still got to be making a lot of birdies.

I changed my course management a little bit this year compared to last year. I was a bit too conservative, I think, and changed that because there are so many birdies out there?

Q. You guys were talking about the excitement coming back, and Cam mentioned you're so excited you actually went to the gym, which is a rarity.

MARC LEISHMAN: I have actually been in the gym, yeah. I wanted to get in somewhat decent shape. Not just for this week -- yes, for this week but for life. I'm playing a lot of basketball with my kid, my boys now, so they love that. I don't want to get too slow and get beaten by too much. A little incentive there, as well.

Q. Are you noticing the golfing benefits so far?

MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, I'm just feeling good, just feeling better on yourself. It's not good when you look in the mirror and swear at yourself, which is what I did just after Christmas.

Q. It was that bad, was it?

MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, it was pretty ordinary.

Q. Do you guys like the grouping on the first day with the three of you? Would you like to see more of that?

MATT JONES: I think for the first day, I think it's perfect. I think it's fantastic. But then the further you get into the tournament, I think it's a little bit more comfortable for us to be playing against the other guys. We're always rooting for each other, but it's more comfortable to go out there and say, I'm going to beat whoever the Legion player is or whatever team.

MARC LEISHMAN: Or just the guys on the same score as you.

MATT JONES: Exactly right. You never want a bad thing to happen to another golfer, but when it's your own teammate it's happening to, it's nice to be separate from him when we're out there on the last day or second to last day.

Q. Your shot on 14, could you get a feel for exactly what had happened?

MATT JONES: We haven't seen it yet, but we had a very good idea how close it was.

Q. Did you feel a little robbed?

MATT JONES: Once I see it, but from what we saw and where the ball finished, I would say yes, I was robbed, but when we see it, I'll have a good understanding.

Q. Did you have a look at the car that was next to you on the tee?

MATT JONES: I didn't think about it. I wish a fan could have won it.

Q. You guys touched on this a little bit. Did you actually feel calm out there today? Matt I said to Leish's caddie on the first tee shot, I said that's the most nervous I've been for a long time. It takes a lot to get nervous in golf nowadays for us. For me anyway. I felt a little bit of butterflies out there on that 10th tee.

MARC LEISHMAN: Yeah, there was some nervous energy for sure. This morning and the first couple holes, definitely. It's good, though. I actually felt a little bit the first hole in Miami, as well. Now we're playing less, it means a lot. They're big tournaments, and we're playing for a lot of money and a team and your teammates. There's a lot to play for. It's good to feel that nervous energy.