ZURICH CLASSIC OF NEW ORLEANS

April 24, 2026

Austin Eckroat

Davis Thompson

TPC Louisiana

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Crucial birdie on the last. 2-under for the day. Can you just talk about the battle you had out there? We'll start with you, Austin.

AUSTIN ECKROAT: Yeah, Davis making a couple of early birdies really helped us, because we had a little cold stretch in the middle. You know, the formatting is difficult, and I think both of us got out of rhythm, but you know, him making that putt on the last hole is huge. Gave us some good confidence going into the weekend.

THE MODERATOR: Davis.

DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, came out of the gates really hot, but yeah, like Austin said, just a little out of rhythm. In alternate shot you're going to face some adversity, but yeah, the putt on nine was huge, and hopefully we can ride that momentum into tomorrow.

THE MODERATOR: How are you guys able to stay calm after three bogeys over a four-hole stretch?

AUSTIN ECKROAT: Yeah, I mean, it helps being in the situation that we were in with having at that time I think we were in the lead. It's not like we were having cut-line drama today. So it was like a comfortable feeling knowing that just a couple of more birdies, and we'll be right back in it.

Those bogeys on Friday hurt a lot worse when we were trying to chase the cut line. We still have two more days going. Yeah, I felt confident that good golf was coming.

DAVIS THOMPSON: Yeah, I mean, I felt like we were both hitting it solid all day. Just a couple of bad breaks here and there on the bogeys, but you know, I felt like we were both hitting it solid. I knew we were going to get some looks coming in and was able to convert on one of them. Yeah, a solid finish.

THE MODERATOR: A little bit windier today. Can you talk about the conditions out there as a whole? Start with you, Austin.

AUSTIN ECKROAT: The golf course played a lot more difficult today than it did yesterday. The wind picked up. The greens got a little firmer. Any time you have those conditions, scoring gets harder.

Obviously this golf course, it's all Bermuda grasses. Chipping is very difficult. Yeah, the golf course is very difficult, but tomorrow is a different mindset going out with the four ball. Is it foursome or four ball?

THE MODERATOR: Four ball.

AUSTIN ECKROAT: Yeah, four ball, and being able to be a bit more aggressive.

DAVIS THOMPSON: It's definitely tougher today. I feel like a different wind direction. Like number four the wind was pushing the ball towards the water, so it was a lot more -- had to be a lot more cognizant of that as opposed to yesterday was downwind, just step up and there and rip it.

We'll see what it's going to look like tomorrow and get a good game plan and get some good rest and be ready to roll for tomorrow.