ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL

March 7, 2026

Collin Morikawa

Bay Hill Club and Lodge

Quick Quotes

Q. First of all, how nice was it to finish your round?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: It's huge. Even -- not that I would have wanted to bogey that -- but just being able to wake up and sleep in, and just kind of get the day situated, it's a huge kind of momentum thing I think for the routine, especially teeing off pretty late tomorrow.

Q. Speaking of momentum, what was it like after the restart with your game?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Felt okay. 9 still baffled me a little bit. I felt like I hit a really good shot and flew 12 short of where we wanted. At that point I went to 10 and said to Mark, I was like, I just want to hit fairway and green. I felt like the putter could get hot. So I laid up off of 10, which I probably normally never do. I hit a great shot with a 7-iron, and made that putt, and I think that kind of kick started the rest of the 9.

Q. Did you and Rick talk at all about trying to get in today? Did it come up in conversation?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: No, no, no. With Mark or Rick?

Q. Rick. Trying to finish the round.

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Not with Rick. With Mark, I mean, absolutely, by the time we were kind of making the turn we were doing a little bit of math. And then as we got to 15, 16, we knew we had to keep it moving. So it was nice, you know, just to be able to hit that last tee shot and find it in the fairway and go.

Q. As a kid, were you one of those guys who wanted to be on the golf course at dusk, or maybe more of a morning guy?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Yeah, not all the time. I enjoyed it. I think those days that you were out there for a long time, I think you got a lot out of it. Not just practicing, but just more having fun, you're probably out there with some buddies, screwing around, a couple more chips, a couple more putts. Just to get it out of the system.

Q. I was all always surprised that Tiger wanted to play those really early practice rounds, because evening conditions are different?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: They are, but to get your full rest for Thursday you don't want to be out there until 5 p.m. if you have an 8 a.m. tee time.