Defending champion Patton Kizzire sits down ahead of the 2025 Procore Championship in Napa to talk title-defense mindset, FedExCup Fall stakes, and playing in a field featuring U.S. Ryder Cup stars. From “a lot of dadding” and gym work to course conditions and scoring keys, Kizzire shares why he believes he can “go lower than last year” after winning at −20.
Key quotes:
• “It feels good to be back… always good vibes here.”
• “This is an important start to the fall season.”
• “I could go lower than I did last year.”
• “We’re growing stronger and not concerned with what anybody else is doing.”
• “A lot of family time… and I’m excited to compete again.”
Uh we’ll get started here. Like to welcome defending champion Patton Kazire here to the media center at the 2025 Proport Championship. Um Patton, I guess we’ll just get started with how are you feeling this week coming back? How different it is being, you know, defending champion here. Yeah, it feels good. Feels good to be back. It seems like uh almost yesterday I was sitting right here um enjoying enjoying the win. Uh this it’s been a tough tough year uh between then and now, but it feels good to be back. Uh always have good vibes here. The people are so friendly. I love this area and uh love the golf course and I’m I’m excited for the week. Uh this is the first of seven events in the FedEx Cup fall. Can you talk a little bit about the importance of um not only what this does for for next season, but how much this helps you for the rest this fall? Yeah, this is a really important time. Uh for a lot of guys, uh a lot of guys this is uh it’s not so important. They played played well enough where they can uh just pick and choose and and enjoy the fall. But for for most of us, it’s it’s really important. We we uh are jockeying for position and and trying to move up the board and uh gain more opportunities for the next season. So it it’s a important start to the fall season. Um, and last year I I started off uh the fall about as well as you could. So, I’m looking forward to doing it again this week. And then last one for me before we take some uh questions from the media. A few weeks off since the end of the season. What have you been up to? Getting some good family time. Yeah, a lot of family time. uh a lot of dadding and uh I I’ve I’ve enjoyed myself taking in a little bit of time, but I’ve dedicated myself uh in the gym and in practice and and uh really soaked in the the family time. Uh it feels it feels nice uh to be out here with just my wife and a little less kicking and screaming going on, but um we already miss them. But it it’s good. Uh it’s a it was a good good downtime for me. Um but I’m excited to compete again. Awesome. We’ll open up questions. Microphone. Go ahead, Marty. Uh good afternoon, Patton. Marty James with the Napa Valley Register. In July, we were wondering if anyone from the Ryder Cup might be here in Napa and no one knew that answer. Um, what does it feel like, Patton, as a defending champion having members of the United States Rder Cup team in this field? Because I noticed that when you were out practicing today, they were just right behind you. Um, exciting, you know, uh, nervous. I mean, how what’s your overall take on that? Right. I think it’s, uh, great. It’s great for the tournament. It creates a lot of buzz. uh as a defending champion, you know, it’s uh a little more incentive to play well and and to get out there and and do my best and and play like I can play. Um but it gives us an opportunity to win against a really strong field and uh that’s I think it’s fantastic for the tournament and I’m excited to see him here. Okay, do you have any questions? Art, did you have a question? Go ahead. I’ve got one more patent. Um, you know, when you see Scotty Sheffler here for the first time and other members of this team, I mean, you played so very well last year shooting 20 under par on a very challenging golf course. I mean, uh, are these records this week, you know, uh, in jeopardy? I mean, can can someone go lower than what you shot last year out here? Oh, certainly. Um, I could go lower than I did last year. Uh, but yeah, a stronger field means uh potential for better scores, but a lot of it depends on the weather and the condition of the golf course. Um, somebody’s going to play well and and make a bunch of birdies. Uh, it depends on if the golf course gives up a lot. Uh, if it stays if we get a few showers like we did today, the greens will be a little softer, a little more receptive. But if it dries out like it normally does and and plays fast, uh there’ll be some challenging pins and challenging holes. But yeah, it’s great to have a good field and and have uh a lot of good competition to to play against. All right, go to Adam next. Adam, what do you credit what do you credit the win to that week? A lot of it was uh mental fortitude. Um, you know, I was in pretty good form with my my golf game. Not not great, but uh I prepared very consistently. Um, I was just ready. I was ready to compete. I was mentally uh in a good spot and um it was just uh you know, sometimes things align and and uh you play well and um that’s what makes uh the guys that that play well very often. And that that’s what makes it even more impressive for those guys. Um cuz we all know how hard it is. And um but last year I felt like I was in a really good spot mentally and um you know I went out there and enjoyed myself and and played some great golf. You’ve got a two-year exemption so you’re okay for next year. But for the guys that aren’t, what is this week and the next seven events like? Yeah, there’s a lot of emphasis on this week. Uh we’ve a lot of guys have had a little bit of a break. the guys that that need to play well. And um it it’s it’s huge. Everybody wants to get off to a good start this fall. We’ve got a a good slate of tournaments, but everybody’s looking forward to to to Napa, you know, through that break. Everybody’s preparing and and uh really resetting and and getting ready for this week. And um it’s a great place to to start the fall. All right, go to Art. uh any social any action between you and the guys on the Ryder Cup team or anything like that? Well, I was joking uh uh with Justin Thomas this morning about Alabama football. Uh somebody asked us if we spoke to each other during football season. I said, “Man, I I don’t really care anymore.” I said, “Justin’s uh about one or two more losses from not caring anymore.” And he said, “Yeah, you’re right. Uh, no, it’s all friendly banter. Um, you know, everybody’s here to to perform and and play well and and uh enjoy Napa. Good. All right, go to Stephanie in the back. So, last year you kind of detailed your unconventional practices. We’re working with a mental coach. Are you still using any of those today? Yeah. Uh, everything evolves. Um, and that’s evolved a little bit, but I’m still dedicated to that. And, uh, you know, my team hasn’t changed. Uh, I still have the same people I’m working with. And, um, we’re just at a different spot than I was last year. I feel like I’m actually in a better spot, but, uh, you know, last year it was such a, um, it was so new to me. Uh, and it seemed seemed to work work really well. But yeah, this is this brings back um things, you know, it reminds me some of the things that I was uh thinking about and uh the where I was focused and what I was doing. So, I’m glad to be back. It’s a great place for me. Go to James in a second. Just changing directions a little bit. I don’t know if it was covered earlier. I think we’re four or five years now into the other uh tour, if you will. Do you have any thoughts on the PGA tour completely separating itself from the lift tour or is there still some possibility that there may be a meeting of the minds? Yeah, I’m not I’m not in that circle. Um, and I don’t I don’t think about it too much, but seems to me that we’re we are uh better than we were and and growing stronger and not that concerned with what anybody else is doing. So, that’s that’s how I feel and uh I think the tour feels that way, too. Okay, any other questions for Patton? Awesome. Thank you for the time. Best of luck this week. Appreciate
