VALSPAR CHAMPIONSHIP

March 20, 2026

Matt Wallace

Innisbrook Resort (Copperhead)

Quick Quotes

Q. Called a penalty on yourself on number 11. Can you talk us through what went wrong over there?

MATT WALLACE: Yeah, pine straw, lots of pine straw, leaves. Even Jamie said just be careful around the ball there. And I was like, obviously never thought about it. I don't think I've ever the ball's ever moved when I've been around it. But I had to whoever it so far away from the ball because this one twig was sticking out, and I think when I was waggling the ball definitely moved. So I had to call the referee over. Didn't know whether it was in the action of my swing or anything, but I definitely touched it, and then the ball moved from that. So I had to replace it. And yeah, I didn't think it was going to go -- didn't think I would be standing here making the cut after that. But a good bit of karma and managed to make some birdies coming in.

Q. Were you surprised to still make par after that?

MATT WALLACE: Oh, yeah. Jamie did a great job though. He was like, let's make an amazing par. Hit a great shot out of there, a good chip, and then made a good putt from four, five feet. So, yeah, didn't really give me much momentum, but it was obviously very much needed at the time.

Q. You went on to have four birdies after that. Talk about what was going through your mind and what was working for you out there?

MATT WALLACE: I hit the ball great. I played really nice. I missed a couple putts. But I holed a nice one on 14. Hit a great shot on 15. Played the Snake Pit in 2-under. That normally gets it done. Very happy, very pleased and ready for the weekend now if I can keep playing like that.

Q. You had a slower start to the season, how important is this performance in making it to the weekend this week?

MATT WALLACE: It's big. It's one of my favorite courses that we play. It's so hard. No one's going to get away from you. You need to play well no matter what. You're not going to breathe around here. So I still feel like I've got a chance to make a run at this weekend. I'm playing really good. That's the big part for me is not just about this week it's about playing well. I've got three events coming up now that I like, so carry that on and hopefully get in contention at the weekend at some point.

Q. You probably answered my question already, but has this course always been kind to you every time you played it?

MATT WALLACE: Yeah, very good. Don't know why. Obviously -- I think it's one of those courses where like 8-, 9-, 10-unders aren't on card. Obviously Sungjae played really well yesterday. But it's normally going to be around 10-, 11-, 12-under wins this tournament. So you don't have to go silly low. Even though I do like making loads of birdies, I like courses where the field aren't going to get away from you. So harder golf courses I generally do well.

Q. That incident you talked about earlier, have you ever done that before?

MATT WALLACE: I don't think I have. I can't recollect it. I was thinking back after, from the time I did it to walking to the next shot, I was like, has that ever happened? I don't think it's ever happened. I just asked a few people around, like saying -- obviously I thought some people would see that, and nobody saw it. So, yeah, maybe a bit of good karma coming my way.

Q. Is that the difference between this sport and others when you think about the what I'll call self-induced integrity that exists out here?

MATT WALLACE: You would hope so. You would hope that everyone's like that. Yeah. You kind of -- you're not just doing it for yourself though, even though it's such an individual sport. You're doing it to protect the rest of the field. You're doing it for your caddie, your team, your family. I would rather miss the cut doing something like that by one shot, and then giving it my all for the rest, than making it and knowing something's happened. So I called it on myself, and then I made a few birdies. So I'm really happy with that. I'm happy with the outcome and it's the right thing to do.

Q. There's always been a good strong European flavor here on the PGA TOUR. Even more so there's a good English flavor too as well. Does that help to get out and play practice rounds with these guys, go to dinner and that sort of stuff?

MATT WALLACE: Yeah, dinners and general conversations, and not always hearing an American accent. Excuse me, we are in America, but it is nice to see an English accent sometimes. Just looking at the leaderboard, I mean Smithy's doing a great job, he's a great player. This is a perfect golf course for him. Fitzy, the English guys are always looking up to him now that Tyrrell has gone over to LIV. Tommy. Tommy sets the standard for us all. Yeah, the English are strong. We're a strong nation, and I tell you what, we would be a pretty good team on our own at the Ryder Cup probably. I'd probably need them to do that to get in it.

Q. Not rugby though.

MATT WALLACE: No, no. But that was a good game though, wasn't it.

Q. Good game. They're a good team, France.

MATT WALLACE: Yeah, they're good.