"I can't believe that was the fourth question," the big American laughed.
The subject of the question? Tiger Woods, of course.
It is not like Gore does not present his own compelling storylines: he led the 2005 US Open, a tournament won by New Zealand's Michael Campbell; he shone brightly on the PGA Tour before falling into a slump; and he discovered last year he had eyesight issues, particularly (and unhelpfully) involving the colour green.
But this is Tiger time, when everyone has been riveted by the sex scandal involving the world's greatest player and is desperate to know when he will return from exile.
Gore (36), the sort of beefy and jovial bloke you can imagine being everybody's friend, empathises with his fellow Californian.
"Everybody has screwed up. Not everybody's perfect. He had a lot of opportunities to screw up, Gore said after playing a practice round at The Hills.
"I'm not condoning it but he's not the first.
"It's the first time we've ever seen him as a human being. And it's the first time we've ever actually entered into his private world.
"He's not proud of it but his golf ball doesn't know what he did and his clubs don't know what he did. He'll come back when he wants to and he'll be fine."
Gore is a passionate Los Angeles Lakers basketball fan and said Tiger's situation could be compared to Kobe Bryant's, the star of the Lakers.
Bryant was arrested in 2003 in connection with a sexual assault case.
The case was later dropped after the alleged victim refused to testify.
She then settled a civil lawsuit with Bryant.
"I hear Kobe just did an episode of Sesame Street. So I think Tiger's going to be fine," Gore said.
"When he does come back, the amount of people that are going to watch his return is going to be astronomical.
It's going to be Super Bowl-ish.
"He'll be great. Hopefully, he's learned his lesson.
"I'm actually afraid he's going to be better. I think it's going to make him concentrate more, and he's going to have something to prove."
Gore, who is married with two children, has had a much less eventful life.
He won a PGA Tour event in 2005, the year he also led the US Open after two rounds.
Flaming out with a final-round 84, Gore watched as Campbell claimed an unexpected victory.
"That was a great tournament. I like Michael. Michael's a good egg.
"If I couldn't win, I was happy for him. He's fallen on some rough times and I can relate to that."
Gore dropped to 155 on the PGA money list list year and lost his playing rights as a result.
He discovered he had eyesight problems and now wears prescription glasses on the greens to help his putting.
"I can't see depth perception on green. And it's not like I'm ever on it," he joked.
"As soon as they make a red golf course, I'm going to dominate."
This is Gore's fifth visit to New Zealand but his first appearance in the Open.
He feels relaxed, having enjoyed a brief but stress-free off-season, and loves the look of The Hills.
"You have to drive it straight out here. The rough is pretty long and wispy and the greens aren't very receptive.
"I think it's a great course. It's in great shape."
Like all the golfers on the Nationwide Tour, Gore hopes to do well enough to earn an immediate recall to the big tour.
But he's not down in the dumps at being on the second rung right now.
"It's not like this is a bad place. It's a great tour.
"I didn't play as well as I wanted to on the PGA Tour. That's it. I put myself in this position. I can sit in the corner and sulk or I can come out with my head up, swinging."
