BANK OF UTAH CHAMPIONSHIP

October 4, 2026

David Ford

Black Desert Resort

Quick Quotes

Q. 7-under 64 today. Just overall assessment of today and the week.

DAVID FORD: Yeah, it was a good week. I was on medical this whole summer, so my expectations were pretty low. I love the golf course, but I was just trying not to get ahead of myself and just see how my body is feeling early in the week. Then if I'm hitting it great, try to make a run at the lead come the weekend.

Yeah, I'm just thankful to be playing really. Didn't have high expectations coming into the week. Obviously the goal is to win, but I didn't really know where my body is at. Just really thankful to be in a position in the top 10.

Q. Can you talk more about your injury? You were out for about five months and made your first start back at Biltmore.

DAVID FORD: I actually played through it for 8 out of 9 events this year, and the ankle pain and the foot pain in my right foot just got too bad in early April. Took a bunch of time off. Tried to go back to playing around CJ CUP, after about a month and a half. Couldn't swing without pain, so ended up taking a medical. Didn't start hitting again until probably right at a month ago, maybe a week more.

Yeah, didn't touch a club for, I want to say, almost three months. Didn't know when I was going to play. The foot was progressing slower than we thought. So to have a tee time in Utah and even to play Asheville last week and get one event under my belt before coming here to a place I love, it feels amazing.

Q. Did they say exactly what it was?

DAVID FORD: It was some tendinitis and impingement in the ankle -- on the outside of the ankle on the right side, and then a stress reaction, almost a stress fracture but not quite in the outside of the right foot in that bone. I had a lot of really great doctors that really just put their time and effort into me, more time than I deserved. I'm thankful to be standing here pretty much fully healthy.

Q. Your only other top 10 on Tour came from here last year. What is it about this course that suits your game?

DAVID FORD: I think all the stats guys can look at the stats and see that I definitely drive it straighter than a lot of the people on Tour. I think I'm above average in driving accuracy. Fairways out here, you're going to have a lot of looks, even if you're far back, it doesn't curve that much at altitude. If I'm hitting 7- to 9-irons into the green, it really doesn't feel like an issue. The greens aren't too firm. The ball goes a long way. So I'm hitting 7-irons from 205, 200 yards.

I love the way my ball flies. I love playing at altitude. You have to hit it straight out here to give yourself looks. Those are just a few things that really help me out. Then if I putt well like I did this week, it can get great.

Q. You put yourself in contention. Were you ever looking at the leaderboard? Did you see you were getting close to Austin?

DAVID FORD: Yeah, I did. I knew he was 26 pretty early on in the day. That gave me something to chase. When I birdied 13 and 14, I felt like that gave me a little bit of a chance. I knew I needed to make maybe two more on the way in if I wanted a chance. Obviously I still thought it was out of reach.

When I saw that he -- I don't know if he made two bogeys or a double or something, but I was two back on 16 green, I think. I had like 45 feet, instantly got more nervous. The putt felt a lot longer, left it about 4 feet short and curled that one in.

So I was looking at the leaderboard. I was aware of where I was, but I was thankful to have a chance. I thought I would need to be 9- or 10-under coming down 18 to even be thinking about making a putt on the last to tie the lead. To get at least somewhat close was nice.

Q. You said you're happy to be here. Overall goals for the rest of the season?

DAVID FORD: I think get as many points as possible in the fall. Because I'm on medical, I think I'll get hopefully some starts next year. It would obviously be great to lock up my card before the end of the fall. If I play great the last five events, that would be amazing.

I'm really just trying to celebrate this week. Yeah, if I go into a playoff, great. Yeah, just kind of take the events as I come and keep getting better.