JOHN DEERE CLASSIC

July 4, 2026

Preston Stout

TPC Deere Run

Quick Quotes

Q. Another good one today, Preston. How would you assess your round?

PRESTON STOUT: Yeah, it was good. I feel like I hit it well. I gave myself some looks, especially on the back nine. My lag putting is really bad, my speed. It seemed like any time I hit it outside of 30 feet, I had 3- or 5-footer for par. Then I had 3-putted a couple of times on the front nine.

Overall, I thought I played nice. I drove it better on the back nine. I kind of figured a couple of things out, which was nice. Yeah, solid.

Q. Your ball striking has been strong this week. How would you assess what's been working for you with the approach play?

PRESTON STOUT: Yeah, the approach play has been great. The driver has been kind of streaky, but yeah, my wedges and short irons have been really good, I think, which is important out here, when you do put it in the fairway to be able to attack.

So, yeah, my distance control has been nights and been able to take some spin off with the soft greens. Yeah, it's pretty good.

Q. You mentioned your mindset coming in this week trying to win rather than just trying to make the cut. Do you think that's contributed at all to your success this week?

PRESTON STOUT: Yeah, I mean, I think I would be dumb to say no. I mean, I haven't played really well at all kind of with that mindset that I did have. So, yeah, I think changing that mindset definitely helped a lot.

Just trying to attack and keep the foot on the gas I has been helpful.

Q. What do you think it's going to take tomorrow to potentially get into contention and get it done?

PRESTON STOUT: Geez, I don't know. I mean, the course is gettable. The scores are fairly low. I don't know. I'm just going to go out there and try to hit as many good shots as I can and see if I can get the putter hot and hopefully can end up at the top. We'll see.

Q. You mentioned changing your mindset. Well, you're in contention. You're a few shots back. Do you now have to kind of think about that and change your mindset again, or what's your mindset heading into tomorrow?

PRESTON STOUT: I don't know, I think I've been playing pretty aggressive all week. I think it's worked. The greens are just super soft. There's not really any pins you can't get.

So I think, yeah, just staying aggressive, keeping the ball in the fairway. You know, we hit a couple of different clubs off tees today. I think that kind of fit the fairway better, so that was good. Then just firing at pins.

I don't think I need to change my mindset. I think I'm in a good spot of how I'm thinking and just go play golf again tomorrow.

Q. This is a place that young guys have made their names at. Obviously Jordan won it back as a 19-year-old. You got Jackson, a top-5 finisher last year. Luke Clanton played well as an amateur. What is it about this tournament that lets you guys come in and succeed right away?

PRESTON STOUT: Yeah, I don't really know, honestly. I think maybe just the golf course kind of fits ball strikers. I think those guys are kind of ball strikers.

Koivun is a ball striker. Clanton is a ball striker. You have to drive it pretty good, and those guys drive it nice. So maybe that kind of is a part of it.

I think it's just kind of similar to a lot of the courses we play in amateur golf. I think that's probably why. I'm not sure, though, so...

Q. Some of the guys at the top of the leaderboard, there's still time, but they aren't doing as much right now, which could help you stay in contention and go for that win tomorrow. Are you surprised by that, just how the course played today?

PRESTON STOUT: Yeah, I mean, I haven't really looked. I haven't looked at the leaderboard, but are scores not as low?

Q. Not necessarily --

PRESTON STOUT: There were some tougher pins I felt like today. I feel like they put a couple of pins on some slopes. Yeah, hopefully they just make a bunch of pars so I can stay up there, but we'll see (laughing).

Q. It's 4th of July and America 250. You're wearing red, white, and blue. Just sum up the day. You've played great golf. You're in contention on a great holiday. What's that like for you?

PRESTON STOUT: Yeah, I mean, it's awesome. You know, it's my favorite holiday. My birthday is on Monday. We're usually at the lake right now, so it's kind of weird playing golf.

No, it's awesome. There's been a good crowd out here, too, supporting everybody, which has been great. Yeah, 4th of July is awesome. Our country is the best. So, yeah, I thought I had to rep them a little today.

Q. Any plans the rest of the day?

PRESTON STOUT: I think we're going to go to the concert tonight and chill out. Maybe hit some lag putts, but...

Q. Any thoughts -- I don't know if you have answered this -- but having a chance to test your nerves close to the lead tomorrow, what do you take from that?

PRESTON STOUT: Yeah, obviously a new spot for me being in contention at this level. I've been in contention at a lot of big events in my career so far. I think just kind of leaning back on some of those moments and how I've performed under pressure in those moments will help me a little bit.