Q. Solid round today, 9-under, bogey-free. Just talk a little bit about what was working for you out here on the Nicklaus Course.
RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah, solid day. I hit a lot of fairways, a lot of greens. I think I might have missed one green. I don't know. There's one that I can think of. Kept it fairly simple. I made some good putts, also hit some iron shots close. Yeah, just solid day top to bottom.
Q. Starting your season out here this week, was there anything you worked on in the off-season that you think has shown itself just over the past two days, 5-under yesterday, 9-under today?
RICKIE FOWLER: Some of it was just trying to pick up from the golf that we were playing through the summer. I was able to get some time off and do some kind of rest and rehab on my shoulder that was kind of, it was bothering me all year. So to be in a position I'm not having to take any pain meds to take the edge off, that's been a bonus.
Yeah, didn't work on, I would say, a whole lot, just because I thought the game was in a good spot. We're always trying to get better, so it was trying to tighten some things up. But a big part of it was the rest and making sure that the body was good to go.
Q. Blades Brown, an 18 year old, tearing up the Nicklaus Course right now, 12-under. Have you met him, and have you guys talked before, and what advice would you have for him right now being so young since you've also been in that position before?
RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah, I've been around him a little bit. Haven't spent much time, haven't played with him yet. Obviously he's a great player. Yeah, soak it up, have fun. It goes by pretty quickly. This is my 17th year on TOUR. Good to see him playing well. That's really what it's all about. This game's not getting any older. To see from when I came out what the kind of average age on TOUR to what that is now. I felt like, going into my prime, age kept shifting. So I feel like I'm still in my prime, whatever that might be, or I'm just getting to it. But, no, I think the big thing, it's great to see him play well. Obviously he had a quick turnaround from the Bahamas. I love seeing good golf, especially someone like him, young. It's very beneficial to play well early and kind of build that confidence and momentum.
Q. What do you consider young these days?
RICKIE FOWLER: I think it has to get close to being 18, somewhere around there.
Q. Max.
RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah. You know, I feel like, I mean, developmental-wise to get to your kind of speed potential and game potential, I think it's tough before that. Not saying it's not possible. There's a lot of kids that are 14, 15 that have plenty of speed and can play golf. And Blades is only going to keep getting better. So, yeah, I wouldn't be surprised seeing guys with plenty of capability at 15 and 16 year old. I just feel like 17, 18 it starts to become a little bit more of a reality.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports