PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

May 16, 2025

Matthieu Pavon

Quail Hollow Club

Press Conference

Q. Matthieu Pavon is with us now at the 107th PGA Championship. Matthieu, a nice 65 for you today. How did it go out there for you?

MATTHIEU PAVON: That was really very solid. The last two days was pretty solid, but today was even better. Got a nice momentum with the putter early on that kept me in the right way to manage the golf course. A few birdies on the front nine and helped me to be more confident on the back nine. Overall it was a super satisfying day.

Q. How would you describe the feeling out there? Does it feel like a big-time tournament to you, or are you just trying to play regular golf and drown out all the distractions?

MATTHIEU PAVON: Yeah, it's a bit both, which is nice. I was able to play Wells Fargo last year on that golf course, so I knew what test of golf that tournament could be. I think it's even bigger now being a major. The atmosphere is great, and the golf course played tough.

I'm very lucky to play there last year and get a little taste of it because now I understand better the way it is.

Q. You've gone through 16, 17, and 18 pretty unscathed, I think one bogey. Are those holes a little more comfortable now, or do they still bring a sense of cautiousness?

MATTHIEU PAVON: No, they're tough holes. If you have the stats, that must be maybe the toughest hole on the golf course. It's tricky because you have many holes where you don't have any water in play, but now you have to face like three holes in a row with water. 16, obviously, very long today, 215 to the pin as a second shot with the wind into, so tough one.

Luckily we got forward tee on the 17, which is really nice, because when from all the way back, it's just a beast. And a little downwind on 18 that helped a little bit.

Overall, those holes are, let's say, scary. I think you can really make mistakes very fast.

Q. Matthieu, I think there's kind of a discipline in the way you approach tournaments in general, but a major, the time you practice, the time of your interviews, how you do everything. Can you talk a little bit about that? It seems to work.

MATTHIEU PAVON: Yeah, this week it's working. I haven't started the year well, but it's all about like the process. I try to get disciplined on the golf course, even more when it's a major because we know on a major the golf courses are tougher. The little mistakes can add up very quick, and you can walk away with very high numbers.

It's all about getting a good mindset and stick to a clear game plan. I think that's what's the most -- that's what's the best for this type of tournament.

Q. Can you give us an example of that mindset and the mindset on the course on a day like today?

MATTHIEU PAVON: I get a couple times short-sided, a couple times a mud ball. It's how you react to it. As many players said, we got so many mud balls on the golf course, so you have to deal with it. I think the guy who's going to do the best is the guy who's going to deal the best with it, like the right mindset and a good attitude.

Something that I'm proud today, for example, is No. 14, very drivable hole. For me, like on that back pin for me, it was a layup. You know you're playing well and you know you want to make more birdies and you know you want to hit that driver on the green, but I just stick to my game plan; hit the 4-iron from the tee, and I got a nice wedge that I hit four feet from the hole, and I make birdie.

When stuff like that happens, I think it's really great and it makes you even more confident on the decisions you take on the golf course.