LIV GOLF ANDALUCíA

July 12, 2025

Talor Gooch

Real Club Valderrama

Smash GC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome Talor Gooch from Smash GC. A 5-under par round of 66 leaves you 7-under par for the tournament, a four-shot lead. Can you talk us through your round today? What felt good out there for you?

TALOR GOOCH: Yeah, in these conditions on this golf course, to shoot a score like that, everything is feeling good.

I hit a bunch of fairways. I hit a bunch of good iron shots, and I made putts. It was one of those days that I don't want to go try to do it again. I'm happy with it and ready to get going tomorrow.

Q. You've obviously got great memories here after your win in 2023. How much confidence do you take from that win coming into this week, and more importantly, going into Sunday?

TALOR GOOCH: Yeah, I mean, just having won out here a few times, that experience, being in those moments, being in contention with the DJs and the Brysons and the Brookses and guys like that, it prepares you for these moments when they come up again. Having done it here at this course already, it's beneficial. It's going to help me be a little bit more comfortable, a little bit more confident tomorrow.

Hopefully we can go get it done again tomorrow.

Q. I remember when you won here in 2023 you were saying how much you loved the general vibes here in Sotogrande. When you come to somewhere that you generally like, does that make all the difference for you?

TALOR GOOCH: Yeah, I love the Spanish culture. I love this country. I love the food. The fans are great here. Like you said, it's just good vibes. It's a place that you just feel comfortable. The people make you feel comfortable. The place is beautiful.

There's not much to not like about this place.

Q. Can you talk us through your mindset right now in terms of -- seems like you've been building to this kind of round, this kind of performance. This is probably taking a lot longer than maybe you had hoped. Talk about the process of getting back to 2023 form.

TALOR GOOCH: Yeah, this game is not linear. It's just not a continued same, same, same. There's going to be ups. There's going to be downs. We all know that. When you've played this game for this long, you've just got to be ready to take the punches when they come your way. We've had a few punches our way this year. It hasn't been the greatest of years.

But after a rough start, we were able to build some momentum kind of the second half of the season. Just stacking a lot of good days. I've put a bunch of work in, and it's good to see when that work is paying off. Nothing is given tomorrow. Just because I played good today, it has no bearing on the results tomorrow. Tomorrow is a fresh day, and we've got to go have a great day tomorrow.

Q. Was there a shot or a moment out there, maybe a couple shots that you drew upon your victory two years ago, something that was similar?

TALOR GOOCH: Yeah, more so just kind of understanding the golf course and understanding some of the pins and knowing where we need to be.

We didn't have this much -- we haven't had this much wind the last couple years, so it's a different golf course, even a different wind direction. It's playing quite a bit different in areas than when I won here two years ago.

Today on 17 I hit 3-wood off the tee because even my best drive I'm still probably having a hybrid into -- hybrid or 3-wood into that green, which I'm not going to go for it if I'm having to hit hybrid or 3-wood into it.

Two years ago in the final round, I think I was between 7- and 8-iron on my second shot into that hole.

That just kind of shows what difference -- the vast difference between two years ago and this year.

A lot of differences, but again, understanding where you need to be on the greens, in the fairways, where these pins are. It's a lot of -- it's very beneficial to have played this golf course numerous times, and obviously playing it two years ago in contention and winning, there's a lot of stuff to draw from, but more so just the understanding the golf course. Even though it's playing much different this year.

Q. Last year the 36-hole leader had a four-shot lead, and obviously it went to a playoff and Sergio won. The four-shot lead you have now, is it one of those things that really no lead is safe out here?

TALOR GOOCH: Yeah. In general on LIV, there's really no lead that's safe, especially at a golf course like this. Things can happen quickly, and you're one shot away from a big number. There's definitely no sense of relaxed or calmness.

I know DJ is right behind me. I don't know who else is close by. But there's just too many good players out here to feel like I'm comfortable just showing up and winning this tomorrow. I've got to play a really good round of golf to get this thing done.

Q. Talor, over the last six weeks I've seen you on the range and it looks like you're working on a swing mechanic with your iron shots and the same motion you've been making. In Dallas you had your second best approach week of the year and now you're doing what you did today. Is there something you've found in your swing?

TALOR GOOCH: I've found a lot of dirt on the range. I've just put so much time in, and I've joked with people, I think -- I would say every two months of this year if you take January and February versus all of 2023, I've probably hit more balls in January and February of this year than I did all of 2023. I've probably hit more balls in March and April of this year than I did in all of 2023.

Again, it's golf. It comes and it goes. We've done a good job in the past when I haven't had great stuff of figuring out how to still have some success.

It was just a rough start to the year.

I haven't found anything here recently. I've just worked my tail off. It's good to see all of those hours and hours kind of paying off with getting a little bit more comfortable out there.