THE MODERATOR: We're joined by Carlos Ortiz from Torque GC. You are in first place. You shot 4-under today, currently sitting at 9-under, tied for first with Horsfield and Ancer. Tell us a little bit about your round.
CARLOS ORTIZ: I think it was similar to yesterday. I put it in play. Honestly, it was a difficult day, really windy, so I was just trying to put it in play, put it on the greens and give myself chances. I think I did a great job today on that, and it's just a fun golf course when the wind is blowing this way.
Q. You have such a laid-back casual approach to this golf course. Even yesterday when I talked to you, you were like, yeah, it's not playing that different, and everyone else is like, it's showing its teeth, it's not that hard. You had guys shooting 7-, 8-over today. Why do you think you have such a casual approach to this golf course when everyone else is struggling?
CARLOS ORTIZ: I'm obviously playing good right now, but it's definitely playing hard. I'm just trying not to hit it in bad spots, and the ball is going straight and the putts are going in. That just happens sometimes. There's weeks that plays easier for some people, there's weeks that plays harder.
But I think it's just a golf course that you really have to be respectful of the golf course, almost play a little bit defensive, and I think I've done a good job of that. I feel like I've taken my medicine when I've been out of play. I've honestly quite played conservative off the tee and into the greens, and I think that's paid off.
Q. You obviously captured your first win last year at LIV Golf Houston. Having captured a win out here already, does it take a little bit of the edge off standing on that first tee tomorrow competing for a win?
CARLOS ORTIZ: Honestly, I think it's the same. You always want to win. But it's kind of what Abe was saying; you don't really control it. You're just trying to play the best you can, and honestly, it's just about shooting the best score you can every day. If you end up winning, obviously it's awesome, but if not you just keep going. That's the only thing you can control is just your score, so that's the only thing you worry about.
Q. I don't know if you've had a chance to look at the weather tomorrow?
CARLOS ORTIZ: I honestly don't know if it's going to be similar wind. Maybe not as windy. I honestly haven't checked.
Q. It doesn't change your strategy either way? You just go out and take it one shot at a time?
CARLOS ORTIZ: Everybody plays the same golf course, so you try to figure out what your game plan is for tomorrow.
At the end of the day, you just start playing and you start figuring it out. It's definitely a golf course where you have to be in play. It doesn't matter if it's playing easier or hard. You definitely have to put it in play and then from there you figure it out. You start feeling the golf course. Obviously today you start noticing the greens start getting really hard, so you start playing more conservative, and I think how I said, I did a good job today on just taking my medicine where I couldn't be aggressive and just play conservative. That's sometimes hard to do because you have wedges and it's just hard to hold the greens if you're being aggressive, so it's kind of hard to do, but you just have to do it. If not, you end up being in spots that it's kind of harder.
Q. We were just talking about tomorrow from a team perspective. Torque is sitting at 3-under, Majesticks are at 10-under. Really that's not a big gap considering all four scores counting considering how difficult the golf course is playing. Do you think Torque can pull off a win tomorrow?
CARLOS ORTIZ: I think the new format makes that possible, especially on a golf course like this. I think literally a hole where four guys make birdies and four guys make bogeys, that's eight strokes right there. That's a big turnaround.
I think anything is possible. I think it's just about putting four scores together that are good.
Q. Carlos, you'll obviously be in the same group as Abe. You guys have known each other for a long time and are friends. What's that going to be like tomorrow going up against one of your buddies?
CARLOS ORTIZ: I mean, it's going to be just another round of golf. I think we've played quite a bit together, and I just heard him talk; when you go out there, shoot the best you can, and you hope it's good enough to win. If not, you go to next week.
Hopefully two weeks off, it's been a long three weeks out here. But it's going to be fun. It's always nice playing with Abe and also Sam. I've played with him last week, this week, and it's going to be fun.
Q. How difficult was it out there today? Obviously with the swirling winds, were there just times you swung and you really weren't sure how the wind was going to affect the ball?
CARLOS ORTIZ: I honestly tried to hit the greens. I honestly hit unbelievable shots, but it was just trying to put it in play. Sometimes you got good yardages and it worked out, and if not you figured it out. I think it was tricky for everybody.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports