THE MODERATOR: We have Bill Haas joining us. Second year playing this tournament and with your dad on the bag. How did today go?
BILL HAAS: Today was a nice day. Perfect weather out there for the morning wave. I'm not sure what's going to happen in the afternoon, but just not that much breeze. The course seems somewhat gettable, but still some hard holes.
I don't think you'll see crazy scores, but anything 3, 4, 5 under today is a good score.
THE MODERATOR: What were takeaways from last year, and what was the discussion having Dad again on the bag this year?
BILL HAAS: We had a lot of fun. I didn't play as well as I liked last year. He just said, If you get into Myrtle Beach, I would love to caddie for you again. That was how that happened.
I've been struggling a lot with my game, so having him inside the ropes seeing every shot, being able to discuss that, is just very useful. More so than me calling him and telling him about I felt bad here, I felt bad there. At least he can see the shot and hopefully give me some insight into how I need to improve.
He's kind of been my main coach my whole life. So having him out there on the bag is great for this week, but I think just going forward -- I don't want to be done with the game yet, so I'm trying my hardest to play better and having him out there is such a great tool.
THE MODERATOR: Questions, please.
Q. For you off to a slow start this year. How important is a tournament like this where the big guns supposedly are up in Philly this week, but this gives you an opportunity to go out and play and build some momentum?
BILL HAAS: I think any tournament is important for me at this stage where I am. I even play Korn Ferry some and everything like that. Just being able to put a score down by your name and hopefully it snowballs in the right direction instead of the wrong.
This tournament is -- I think every player raves about the course. The way they've run it, only being here for two years, is second to none. They deserve to be a full field event and get some of the better players to come here.
I'm not just saying that because I'm somewhat local. I really think they do a good job, and the fans are out and a bunch of volunteers that seem to support it. That's important.
Yeah, having these tournaments, these opposite field and they're called lesser tournaments, but still great players here. That's the way all of us want to move up the ranks.
Q. Being, as you say, a local South Carolina guy, do you have much history with the Dunes Club at all from your amateur days or anything like that?
BILL HAAS: I do not. If I did play here when I was young, I don't remember it. Last year felt like the first time I had seen it. I don't have much experience here.
I think a lot of people said that. They were expecting something different, and you get here, and it almost feels like somebody said today, kind of if Quail Hollow and Innisbrook had a baby, it would be this. Those are both two great golf courses. I think most everybody out here will put this one as one of the better courses on tour.
Q. A couple of tournaments early this year you got off to a good start and then stumbled in the second round. Is there one thing you can point to and say, This is what's holding me back?
BILL HAAS: I've really struggled with just ball striking in general. Even the good days I probably just got it in the hole a little better. Tomorrow I would just love to go out and be sharp. Obviously a good score is important, but I'm just really wanting to see better golf shots, like see the shot I'm trying to hit and actually hit it versus be surprised with a poor shot, or my good ones, it's almost like they're accidental.
It's hard to explain, but I'm just trying to narrow everything. That's what I hope for tomorrow is just to be sharp and have fun.
Q. What's your salary arrangement with Jay this week?
BILL HAAS: Yeah, he's not gotten paid well when he's worked for me. I would love a great week and do something great and pay him well, but I don't think that's why he's doing it.
Q. Can you just talk briefly -- I know you talked about the course conditions, but just specifically out there you've had a couple of days now. A lot of talk has gone into what has gone into this course and getting it ready. Can you just talk specifically about what you have seen out there course condition-wise?
BILL HAAS: They over-seeded everything except for the greens. They're just nice Bermuda, but the over-seed is very healthy.
There are spots that the rough isn't bad, but other spots it's kind of thick. Fairways are perfect. The greens are rolling perfect. They're getting firm and fast.
Now, I don't know what's going to happen with rain. If they soften up, they'll lose a little teeth, but if they can stay like this going forward, that's what raises scores and causes the biggest challenge for us is firm greens.
I hit a great shot into the 8th hole coming in that landed short of the hole but still rolled and went over the green with just a 7-iron. They're getting there, but with rain forecasted, I think we'll see them soften up and see some scoring later in the weekend.
Q. There are some places today where your dad might have said to you, do something different or let's take a different look at it. Were there some places like that today for you?
BILL HAAS: Maybe. I mean, I think we're somewhat on the same page mostly, but I hit it in the water. I hit a great drive at the 4th hole, my 13th, and just had a 5-iron into the green on par 5 and just hit a poor iron, kind of like I've been doing. It went in the water.
But then I ended up getting it up and down. He kind of said when I got there to hit the putt, he is, like, Come on now, let's grind this one out and make a par. I think I would have done that without him there, but I think having him there, he's certainly not going to let me moan and groan and all that, but he also is one of the nicest guys out here.
I think he also had a fire in him that people didn't see that I see. So I think he gets it when things are spiraling in the wrong direction. Having him out there I think keeps me in a good frame of mind.
I was using him on putts. I made a few, missed a few. There was one time on the 7th -- 16, I hit a nice shot, and I would hit a few nice shots and miss putts. I wanted him to putt for me. Can you putt this one for me? I ended up making that one. Maybe having that interaction helped me a bit.
I'm not sure if any one specific situation, but he is out there grinding with me as much as I am.
Q. I asked Nick this question too. Obviously when you've been struggling and trying to find your way, you come to these events. I don't know what your expectations are. I mean, some people's expectations might be just to get a good round or get two good rounds or whatever it is. What's your expectation coming into this week?
BILL HAAS: It's so easy for me to say my expectation is to win every week I tee it up, but I think that's a little bit lying to yourself, right? I think the honest answer is I just want to play as good as I can play, and I know it's in there.
I shoot good scores at home. I shoot bad scores at home too. I'm not perfect. I'm the opposite of what Scottie Scheffler is now. I'm just trying to find it, but there was shots I hit today that I was very proud of that I'm, like, if I can do that more and more, then I think I can shoot better scores.
I think if I can shoot 3, 4 under tomorrow, play well on the weekend, then your expectations start to change for next week. I think good play breeds confidence.
A sports psychologist would say confidence equals good play, but I don't think that's necessarily the case. I think you've got to put the scores down and then you start gaining some momentum. That's what I'm hoping for is some positive momentum.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports