Q. Will, kind of characterize your round. What in the sense was going well and what was clicking for you?
WILL GORDON: I drove it nice. You have to do that out here. There's no secret about that. The rough is really people.
I drove it well from the start. Gave myself a good look on the first hole and missed it. Kind of made a sloppy bogey on the fourth and was kind of even-par just hanging in there.
I felt like my game was really good. I kept putting myself in the fairway and gave myself some good birdie opportunities. It was a really good and really solid opening round just to get myself in the golf tournament.
Q. You mentioned it being a good group. What made that such a good group, do you think?
WILL GORDON: I feel like I've played every week with Thomas the last month or so. Then Trevor and I grew up about 10, 15 minutes from each other, so I've known Trevor for forever, and he is such a good, chill guy. Great energy in our group today.
Q. When you have that, was there a little more conversation than there might otherwise be in between shots, just knowing someone? Does that work?
WILL GORDON: I think it helps for sure just having rapport with two guys. We were just hanging out and having a good time. The weather is perfect, so nobody can get too stressed out.
Q. A little Carolina Panthers talk at all?
WILL GORDON: Trevor is a Patriots fan, but me and Thomas's caddie are Panthers fans. We were kind of trying to out-number them a little bit.
Q. You mentioned kind of going back to the KFT looking back. What about the KFT this season allowed you to have such good preparation to come back out here, do you think?
Q. I think there's just a little less distractions out there. Honestly, too, a big part of it was coming out of school, like, I got out here pretty quickly, and a lot of the guys I didn't know. I wasn't too comfortable out here, to be honest.
I feel like me being personally more comfortable out here and more confident has translated into my game.
Q. Do you feel like along those lines in a way did getting your tour card as a special temp member happen pretty quickly in a way?
WILL GORDON: Yeah, it happened really quickly. You know, especially during COVID, it was a weird time. I dreamed of being out here on the PGA TOUR.
My first when I played sponsor exemptions, there were fans, but a lot of the 20, 30 events I played out here was with nobody out here. It was a really weird experience, but I'm happy that the people are back and looking forward to this year.
Q. Was there anything you learned about your game or the approach to the game that takes your process to succeed at the highest level from this last season?
WILL GORDON: I think just a little bit more calmness in my preparation. I kind of know what I need to practice and what translates to the golf course.
Like I said, like last week, just getting enough rest and trusting that I don't have to always be on full grind mode. I went to Houston and hung out with some buddies last weekend and just didn't do much golf. It kind of just makes you excited to be out here a little bit more.
Q. Did you watch football or decompress? What did you do?
WILL GORDON: We just watched a whole bunch of football and hung out.
Q. The Boise win, that was pretty emotional for you, it seemed.
WILL GORDON: Yeah.
Q. What about that was so emotional for you?
WILL GORDON: Just winning. I turned pro in 2019, and I know it doesn't seem like a long time on paper, but it's felt like a really long time. To get a win finally professionally, that's why you play. I think that's why it meant so much to me.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports