PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

May 14, 2026

Ryan Gerard

Aronimink Golf Club

Flash Quotes

THE MODERATOR: Ryan Gerard is with us now at the 108th PGA Championship. Ryan, 1-under today. How would you describe your opening round?

RYAN GERARD: It was just kind of an execution test out there that, I just stayed patient. I felt like I played really solid, missed a few putts that I probably should have made.

Overall felt really solid about the round. It's playing a lot more difficult than I thought it was going to, so pleased with being under par. A couple things to clean up from off the tee and kind of on the putting green, but for the most part, felt good about it.

Q. Talk a little bit about those birdies on 13 and 14. When you come out of that, what kind of momentum are you feeling?

RYAN GERARD: I was hitting it really solid. I made a bogey on 8, but realistically it was one of the better swings that I made all day. I just kind of hit a 245-yard shot instead of a 240-yard shot on a really difficult hole, and it kind of rolled down into the gully.

I was just trying to stay patient, trying to hit the right golf shots, not kind of let the course dictate -- letting the course dictate what I was doing, not letting the emotions dictate what I was doing.

Hit a good shot into 13, kind of rolled in a 5 1/2 footer to get the mojo rolling.

And then I watched the whole group in front of me kind of make a mess of 14. So I just hit a nice one to the center of the green and got like a 40-footer to go as kind of a bonus. Was pleased with that. It was probably the longest putt I made all day by 10x, but we'll take any bonus that they'll give you.

Just tried to hang on on 15, 17, and 18. Great golf swings throughout the day kind of just leads to good things happening if you stay patient.

Q. What is it about the PGA Championship, quickly, you found comfortable? And how big was last year's tournament for you at Quail Hollow?

RYAN GERARD: Yeah, I think the PGA Championship is a very fair test of golf in terms of it's never really gimmicky. Scores are gettable, but not like egregiously over par for the most part. I think it's similar to what we see week in, week out on certain PGA TOUR venues.

I like it when it gets tough. I feel like it kind of brings out the best in me is when I kind of get to grind it out. So I think that kind of allows me to be in the mindset that I want to going out there to just really get in the dirt and be grimy and make good pars and try and just stay patient.

Last year at Quail, I felt really comfortable around that golf course. I played it a bunch, being from North Carolina, and it was nice to go out early and kind of post a score and just kind of keep that momentum rolling throughout the week.