JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

July 3, 2026

Lee Hodges

TPC Deere Run

Quick Quotes

Q. A really solid round today. Just what was working for you out there?

LEE HODGES: I putted super, super well. Probably the best single day of putting I've had on tour. I can't remember a better one.

It bailed me out a couple of times. Honestly, I didn't drive it my best today, put it in some squirrely spots, but it got bailed out with the putter. So it was nice to do that.

I'll go figure that out on the range and hit for fairways tomorrow and hopefully not have to bail myself out as much.

Q. Was there any indication yesterday that the putter was catching fire a little bit?

LEE HODGES: Yeah, honestly, I thought I putted great yesterday, but nothing compared to this. I think I -- I looked at strokes gained. I think I gained two strokes yesterday. I don't know what I gained today, but it was more than two strokes.

Yeah, any time you're positive more than a shot, you've putted really well. Yeah, yesterday was nice. Even before that, you know, at home and stuff, I'd been making a lot of putts, so I just have been seeing a lot of putts go in lately.

Q. Kind of bit of a tumultuous season. One PGA event since May, and you missed the cut there. How does it feel to get back out there and have this opportunity towards the top of the leaderboard?

LEE HODGES: No, it's great. I mean, yeah, I'm super lucky I just get to play on the PGA TOUR. Whenever I get to tee it up is a blessing. Try to take the most advantage I can.

Q. The rest of the week, just what's kind of your mindset as you move forward, knowing that you're in the hunt and just a couple of shots off the lead right now?

LEE HODGES: Same thing I've been doing. Just try to get the ball in the fairway and get it as close to the hole as possible and make a couple of putts.

Q. Does that make this weekend any more pressure-packed for you?

LEE HODGES: No.

Q. Or just free-wheeling now...

LEE HODGES: For sure. For sure, I got nothing to lose. I'm just going to keep sticking to what I've been doing where.

Q. Talk about the weather conditions yesterday and today, going early, late.

LEE HODGES: It was just hot. It's just hot. The wind when I've been playing has been out of the exact same direction both rounds. I think it actually switched this morning, if I heard that right, but it was back. Was it for three holes? Yeah.

It switched back pretty early on in our round, maybe second hole. It was actually on 10, our first hole, it was starting to switch back to where it was.

Yeah, I've basically played the same wind for 36 holes now, and I don't think it's going to change until Sunday. I think Sunday it's coming out of a completely opposite direction.