LIV GOLF RIYADH

February 5, 2026

Talor Gooch

Jason Kokrak

Riyadh Golf Club

Smash GC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome captain Talor Gooch and Jason Kokrak from Smash GC. Talor, 5-under-par round of 67. Can you take us through your day today?

TALOR GOOCH: Yeah, it was a really solid day. Really good ball control. The only bogey made was a three-putt from about 15 feet. Made life really simple today. Hit a bumping of greens, gave myself some good looks and made a few. These are the type of days of golf that you wish you could have more of.

Q. Jason, round of the day, 8-under par 64. Can you take us through your round out there, how you've adjusted to the conditions here in Riyadh under the lights?

JASON KOKRAK: Well, I think my depth perception was a little off, but ball control, as Talor said, was really good. Got into a couple sticky situations but made a couple nice par saves. Got hot for about a nine-, ten-hole stretch, so very pleased with how I played. Drove the ball very nicely. Way better than yesterday. Very pleased with how I played.

Q. Smash GC leading at the halfway stage at 30-under par. Do you guys feel it's a fresh start for you this week? What would the win mean for you if you're able to hold on throughout the weekend?

TALOR GOOCH: I mean, winning is the goal. We talked about we wanted to get off to a hot start this year, so we've done good through two rounds, but we're only halfway there, so a lot of golf left.

Q. Talor, you've always talked about the rule of 67. You've shot two of them. Is it your intention to essentially shoot 67 every round for the rest of the year?

TALOR GOOCH: I don't know if I would say it's my intention. My intention is to play as good as I can.

But I think if you were to tell me you would give me 67 every round and I don't have to play, I would take it and just watch how the cards fall.

Q. Would two more 67s win this thing?

TALOR GOOCH: I don't know. It's tough to say. It's the type of course that if you get a little bit of wind it can be kind of tricky. We were just talking about it. 8-under today is incredible.

It's also the type of course, the greens are in good shape. The course is in good shape. If you get your game in a good spot, you can get it going. I don't know what the winning score is going to be. This is the first time we've played 72, so who knows what it's going to look like.

Q. Jason, what's the vibe been like in the Smash team? I know it's obviously your first tournament together, but just what has it been like out there with you guys?

JASON KOKRAK: Yeah, I think it's great. I think all four of us get along. Talor has been a great captain so far. Leads by example. Obviously with HV3 on the team, it's a whole vibe in itself, but wonderful guy. G-Mac is one of my closest friends. I think the four of us are going to have a lot of fun this year.

Q. Talor, the 17th hole, did you think it was in?

TALOR GOOCH: So from the tee it's kind of hard to see. I knew it was good, and then I saw it -- it looked like it ricochetted off the pin. But then I saw the replay and I was like, give me a break, go in, ball. Come on.

It was a great shot. I had a hole-in-one about two weeks ago. It was my first hole-in-one since 2015. So I don't know if that means I'm done for another 10 years or if the floodgates have opened. But that was a pretty good shot.

Q. How many you got?

TALOR GOOCH: I only have three.

Q. How many do you have?

JASON KOKRAK: 11.

TALOR GOOCH: That's why I said "only." I knew he was going to have a lot.

JASON KOKRAK: I just asked. I didn't know.

Q. Talor, obviously first event as captain. How proud are you of yourself and the team doing this in the first event, surging to the top of the leaderboard and having a couple of guys right in contention?

TALOR GOOCH: Yeah, I couldn't have asked for a better start to the year through the first two rounds. We've still got a lot of golf left, so we've got to go and continue to play great. But like I said, couldn't have predicted or hoped for a better start. It's a great start, and hopefully we can continue going and just set the tone for a great year after this first week.

Q. A few of the guys were saying that the wind is actually a bigger problem when playing at night because there's not many cues out there visually. Is that how you guys experienced it? Do you think the wind in the dark is harder than if you were playing a day event?

TALOR GOOCH: I think everything in the dark is a little bit harder. But yeah, the wind here is a little bit challenging. Like I said, all the little variables in the dark just kind of are amplified and make golf a little bit more challenging.

The wind, if it makes it a couple strokes harder normally, it feels like it's another couple strokes harder in the dark. Night golf is fun. It's cool. But it can be challenging at times.

Q. Jason, how comfortable is this lead after the second round, and is it going to make you guys feel about the coming two days?

JASON KOKRAK: Well, I don't think on a golf course like this -- you put it in the fairway, you're going to attack this golf course. I think you've got to keep your foot on the gas around this place.

We've got 36 more holes. I would say probably something a little different with 54. But 36 more holes to go, we've got a lot of golf to be played. We're playing some solid golf. A lot of fairways, a lot of greens, give ourselves a lot of birdie opportunities, and I think we'll do pretty well.