Andrew Novak returns after not playing since August… and immediately drops a 61 (-9) like he never left.
In this fun, honest press conference, Novak reveals:
💥 Why his game felt THIS good after such a long break
👶 How becoming a new dad changed the last two weeks
🏋️ The speed work he’s been grinding on all offseason
🏡 What it’s like playing a “home game” and sleeping in his own bed
🏈 Why he loves doing an NFL podcast — and what his buddies tell him
😂 The joke he keeps sending to Ben Griffin after his win
From hospital beds… to bombing drives… to a career-low start.
Novak is officially BACK.
#Golf #PGATour #AndrewNovak #GolfHighlights #RSMClassic #DadLife
Perfect. Opening 61. What did you like about your round today? Yeah, I did everything pretty well. Uh drove it well. Had one terrible one on 10, but everything else was good there. Uh made a ton of putts, had a lot of good iron shots, and um yeah, I mean, for not playing since August, uh pretty happy. Say we haven’t seen you in a while. What have you really been up to? How’d your game feel entering this week? Yeah, I’ve been working on a lot of stuff. Actually been working pretty hard and really seen a lot of progress. And then two weeks ago, my wife had her baby. And so I really haven’t done as much the last two weeks. But um it was nice to, you know, see some good weather out here and play a course that I’m more used to seeing versus what we usually get at the RSM with the the cold and the wind. And sticking with that mindset, what’s it like entering this week where course you’re comfortable with kind of like a home game and knowing not maybe some of the circumstance some of these other guys are in? I haven’t necessarily played great here in the past. I’ve had a few decent finishes, but uh I think this is a course that I know I should play well at. I’ve played them many times. It just hasn’t worked out. Uh but it’s it’s fun having, you know, staying in my own bed, having my whole family here. Um so it was nice to put on a show today. Any rust? You talking about this your first one since tour championship? Didn’t seem like it. Yeah, I I think the game is good. But I’ve been working on the game, but definitely there’s some stuff like like on on the first fairway reminding myself like don’t pick up the ball. Don’t like we’re playing a tournament here. Like we’re not just playing a home, especially with it being my home course. I’m so used to just whipping around here and uh just being back in like kind of the rhythm I guess of a tournament maybe. But uh I got going pretty good early. I mean, birdie on the first hole kind of got me off the right way and um yeah, I don’t think there was too much rust, though. And I know I asked you this before, but what specifically did you work with with Randy in the offseason? Like, what was the goal during Ry’s not doing any golf stuff with me? He’s he’s just trying to promote himself. No, we’ve been in the gym, though. I have been trying to pick up some speed and I I do think I’ve picked up a bit of speed. I think I’ve gotten a little stronger. Um we’ll see, you know, what that what that turns into. But my goal was my goal was 180 by sentry, but now I’m not playing Sentry because there is no Sentry. So, kind of lost that goal. But, I mean, if I’m, you know, sitting mid70s, I’m pretty happy. Uh, I don’t think I’m quite there yet. Um, I think, you know, two weeks off and sleeping in a hospital bed and stuff with the baby and everything maybe set me back a little there, but um, no, Randy Ry’s been very helpful and and I do think, uh, I’m improving there. and a little bit offbeat. What do you like about doing the NFL podcast? Why do you do that? Why do I like doing the podcast? Yeah, it’s it is something I like to do. It doesn’t really take a ton of my time extra. Like I’m watching the games anyway. Uh I just love football and it’s something fun to do. I like talking football and um it’s just a fun outlet. A buddy of mine doing it. It’s a fun way to just talk about it and shoot crap and I don’t know, my buddies will listen to it and message me and tell me I’m an idiot. I don’t know. It’s It’s fun. It’s just fun to do and um I don’t know. I don’t feel like it takes away from my golf or anything. So, yeah, I just like doing it. You’re really good at golf, so your first career is working out well, but is this something you ever considered doing? Yeah, I I yeah, football I mean is probably like my first love initially, but like I just I don’t know. I didn’t like getting hit, so I I wasn’t really meant to be a player, but I do think after golf, I mean, I’ve definitely considered like high school coaching or something with football later on, but definitely like enjoy watching as well. And so that’s kind of what the podcast came from. I think I mean to my own horn, but I think I can kind of talk football with anybody. I I feel pretty confident in my ability to like hold a conversation. I know what I’m talking about. So, um, yeah, it’s just something fun that I like doing. How’s dad life? Dad life’s great. Uh, yeah, baby’s been great so far. Um, it’s definitely a little different, but um, my wife’s been killing it so far. So, uh, yeah, we’re we’re doing pretty well. I mean, baby’s good, mom’s good, she’s eating good. So, yeah. You talk to fellow tour players, other recent dads, they give any tips of the trade or Yeah, Sam Stevens been a little bit helpful. Well, I think a lot of the tour wise, especially um with Maddie, have been very helpful. Like she can kind of bounce ideas off of them, ask them how they, you know, did certain things. I think there’s uh a lot of help out here as far as that. And a final one, I know Ben Griffin was kind of joking. He’s like, “I love uh RSM Classic so much. My play you text him after is when he can take Yeah. Exactly. Well, he’s also getting married hero week and I think I’m last man into hero, so I’ve made sure to thank him multiple times.” Yes. All right. All right. Thanks. One more. Good.
