PALMETTO CHAMPIONSHIP AT CONGAREE

June 11, 2021

Chesson Hadley

Congaree Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Chesson, did you see this coming? And maybe if you thought it was coming, did you think it would come even earlier?

CHESSON HADLEY: No, I definitely didn't see this coming. That's what I was just saying with George, I missed all those cuts in a row, and thank goodness I had three weeks off just to kind of hit the reset switch, get out on the boat, and just kind of forget about some things and spend some time with some family.

I did try -- I changed a few things while I was -- during those three weeks. I didn't feel like I played great on Monday for the U.S. Open qualifier, but even between now and then, I changed a few things. So it's nice to hit some good shots, and the putter's hot. So if I can just keep riding the putter, she's a sweet girl. So I'll just ride her until -- you know.

Q. Is that the essence of what's going right? Is it putting that's gone right for you this week, or there's some other things that you're doing that you hadn't done in a while?

CHESSON HADLEY: I've been putting great all year. I'm just kind of thinking about that last comment I made now (laughter). Use that. Absolutely.

Fortunately, that's been the bright spot to my year has been my putter. Your feels and the way you just look at the ball changes the ball. Sometimes the ball just looks different. You haven't done anything, and you just wake up one day, and it just looks different for some reason. That just changes everything. But I have a good baseline with the putting right now. I know what I'm doing, what I'm trying to do, and it's working. So hopefully, it can keep moving forward with that.

Q. There's still an afternoon wave, but confidence-wise going forward, how does what you've done Thursday and Friday help?

CHESSON HADLEY: I certainly had the thoughts of, man, can I keep this up yesterday? You know, last night I'm getting texts from everybody, like great playing. I appreciate that, and it does make me feel good that I have that type of support, but let's -- I got a lot of golf to be played.

I'm very thankful to be in the spot I'm at and not have to sweat out a cut line. I can go to lunch and just enjoy lunch and not have to worry about playing the weekend because I'm definitely playing the weekend.

Q. Will you hit the putting green or the range a little bit this afternoon, or are you just solid with what you're doing right now?

CHESSON HADLEY: I will not hit the putting green. I might go hit -- I'm going to make my caddie -- 15 minutes of golf balls, that's all I'm allowed, and then I'm out.

Q. Tell me more about that sweet girl. Does she have a name, the putter?

CHESSON HADLEY: The sweet girl. Chef, what is our nickname for -- it's Nana.

Q. Nana, like a grandmother?

CHESSON HADLEY: So my grandmother, she actually passed away earlier this year, but she was -- she is just like the most lovely and sweet, kind woman. That's how I want my putter to be, lovely and sweet and kind, right? She's just good to you, right? So she's Nana.

Q. She gives you $20 checks for your birthday, that kind of thing?

CHESSON HADLEY: Right. I guess that was the name of my old putter because it was the original 2-Ball and she was also ancient. You get it -- kind of Nana, grandmother, sweet, that type of thing, get it? So we'll call it Nana Jr.

Q. What's the name of your caddie?

CHESSON HADLEY: David. David Cooke. We call him Chef.

Q. Was there any specific changes in your routine recently? You said you took some time off. Was it the way you start your day? Any major changes?

CHESSON HADLEY: No, the only thing I mixed up was mechanics, changing things with the golf swing. That's the only thing I've changed.

Q. No equipment changes or shoes?

CHESSON HADLEY: No. As much as you want it to be the equipment, unfortunately, it rarely is.

Q. You went to Georgia Tech, a lot of Georgia Tech success on TOUR with Matt Kuchar and Stewart Cink recently. Do you keep up with those guys? Have they had any words of wisdom for you recently?

CHESSON HADLEY: No, they're -- I certainly keep up with them. We have good camaraderie out here between the Georgia Tech guys, and so we're always glad to see one of us do well. I'm certainly glad to see Stewart do well, and Kuch always plays well. Stewart's as good as they come. Everyone in the world is pulling for Stewart Cink.

It's nice to be relevant again, and maybe I can -- if things keep going my way, I can add another victory to the Georgia Tech tally this year.

Q. Another day, another round in the mid-60s for Chesson Hadley. Chesson, first player in the field to get to double digits under par. You're at 11 under. How would you compare the two rounds?

CHESSON HADLEY: I hit it well today. Probably not -- just a little bit -- not as well as yesterday. The putter was hot today. Just felt really good with it. I felt great with it yesterday and honestly felt good with it all year. That's been a bright spot to the year.

So if I can stay hot with the putter and keep kind of hitting it with the way I'm hitting it, that's very exciting for the rest of this week and certainly for the rest of the year.

Q. We want to know your secret. Describe what it's like when you're in that type of zone with the putter.

CHESSON HADLEY: It certainly makes golf a lot easier. Most of your strokes are done on the putting surface. So if you see the ball going in the hole a lot, it does something to you. I certainly made my fair share of putts today for par and for birdie. Don't want to get ahead of myself, but I like the way everything feels for sure.

Q. I know it's kind of tongue in cheek, that we were joking yesterday with the recent results, and then you go on a run like you have for the first two rounds. How are you able to compartmentalize that stretch and then play such beautiful golf through two days?

CHESSON HADLEY: Yeah, great question. You know, certainly during those weeks of missing cuts -- honestly, thank goodness I had three weeks off after that just to kind of completely get that behind me and just think about the future. I played with James Hahn a few years back, and I think he was coming off five missed cuts in a row, and then he won Wells Fargo.

Q. I remember that.

CHESSON HADLEY: I remember that, and you don't believe you can do that during your midst of five missed cuts. You don't, I promise you. I was thinking about a lot of other things other than golf.

But I have done this before. I have won on the PGA TOUR. I've won golf tournaments over my career. You know, when you start playing well, you remember those things, and I'm starting to get some feels like that again. Obviously, we're a long way from the winner's circle, and that's not what I'm saying. I'm so thankful to just feel that again, like I belong out here type of thing.

I'm tickled to go to lunch not watching the cut line or anything like that, and I'm excited to be playing the weekend.