FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sunday, March 19th, 2017

NBC SPORTS GROUP NOTABLE QUOTES – ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL (FINAL ROUND)

NBC Sports Group Notable Quotes
Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard
Sunday, March 19, 2017 (Final Round)
Bay Hill Club & Lodge
Orlando, Fla.

Marc Leishman (11-under, winner) speaking with NBC Sports’ Steve Sands following his round
Marc Leishman – “Around here things can change so quick. You don’t have to hit that bad of a shot to make bogeys out there… I holed some good putts there on the last few holes. They all went in the middle of the hole, which was nice. Obviously the putter was there with me all week.”

Leishman – “I’ve been playing well all year… I’ve been driving it better than I ever have. It’s funny, this game’s a lot easier out of the fairway. That’s been probably the biggest difference. Then the putter. The putter has been amazing this year. The stats probably show that, especially this week. But I feel like all year it’s been really close and I just haven’t quite played how I wanted to on Sundays, but today was the day.”

Leishman – “Mr. Palmer was an awesome guy who I was lucky enough to meet a few times at this tournament. So obviously to honor him was huge. Another reason why it was so special this week is this is the first time I’ve won a tournament with my family here… It all came together, and to do it here especially on a Presidents Cup year as well. I was outside those standings, so to get back inside those is really good. And I guess the Masters too, I wasn’t in there. It’s just an unbelievable day.”

On Leishman
Johnny Miller – “Those are the two best putts he’s made in a row in his golfing career. The snake [putt on 16] and then the up-and-in [on 17].”
Miller – “That’s the greatness of golf. Watching how people can finish off tournaments. Just to see how things change or don’t change, or heroics, fall-aparts. It’s all what makes golf great.”
Gary Koch – “It shows you what can happen at this par-5 16th.”
Notah Begay – “He’s been solid all week with his short game and his putting.”

On Charley Hoffman and Kevin Kisner (10-under, T-2nd)
Roger Maltbie – “Both of them have to feel like they should have won this tournament. And they’re both going to feel like, ‘I kind of gave this away.’”

On Kisner
Koch – “He talked about wanting to stay aggressive. He was always afraid that everybody else was going to be making birdies. But sometimes with the lead on the back nine it’s okay to hit it 20 feet right of the hole. You have to pick your spots… He is going to rue how he played the par-5s on the back nine.”
Miller – “He knows this was his great tournament to win.”

On Rory McIlroy (9-under, T-4th)
Mark Rolfing – “He has hit the ball majestically. It seems like the harder he swings the straighter he hits it.”

On Tyrrell Hatton (9-under, T-4th)
Miller – “It looks like his golf is on the upswing big time.”
Begay – “The caliber of golf is really high, and he’s been up to the task.”

-NBC Sports Group-