PALMETTO CHAMPIONSHIP AT CONGAREE

June 13, 2021

Chesson Hadley

Congaree Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Chesson, what was this experience like, being so close to the finish and then having to come back and think about the end of the third round?

CHESSON HADLEY: Yeah, that was kind of poopy yesterday to get stuck with the weather. Yeah, it looked like we were going to get it in, and you could just kind of feel the weather changing. The TOUR does a great job of handling everything.

It was an early morning and a quick turnaround, but happy with the way I played. I've got a great opportunity coming the rest of the day, so just going to go rest up.

Q. I was going to say, yesterday you kind of marked time a little bit after that 1st hole bogey, and then you really got it going on the back nine.

CHESSON HADLEY: Yeah, I was really uncomfortable early. It's been a while since I've been in a position like that, and playing with D.J., he's the No. 1 player in the world. I have played with Dustin before only once, but I was just nervous and uncomfortable, and I think it showed maybe the first couple holes, and then I settled in and certainly caught a nice little run there on the back. Hopefully, I can kind of start that way today.

Q. What was it about that stretch on the back that kind of got you going? Did the hole suit you very well?

CHESSON HADLEY: Yeah, No. 12, where I made my first birdie, that's a hole that goes right to left. As I'm sure many of you saw, I like to move the ball from right to left. So that hole fits my eye. Honestly, I just finally gave myself a reasonable birdie chance, and I was able to make it.

Then I probably hit my best shot of the day as the drive on No. 13 because that's kind of a tricky hole too, and I was able to hit a good wedge in there. Before you know it, I'm two in a row, and then I make a bomb on 14 and just kind of have all types of momentum after that.

That's what it's all about. You've just got to kind of hang in there and hang in there, and when the dam breaks, you can kind of let it go a little bit.

Q. What do you do the next few hours? Just kind of calm yourself, keep yourself ready?

CHESSON HADLEY: Yeah, I've been staying in Palmetto Bluff. The people here at Congaree have been fabulous all week. They were nice enough to let me crash in one of their little rooms or cottages or whatever they have here. So I'm going to try and take a nap. I don't know if I'm going to be able to. I don't know, FaceTime with the family, relax a little bit, and get ready for this afternoon.

Q. It's been a minute since you've been here. What prior experience are you leaning on heading into this final round?

CHESSON HADLEY: Yeah, I have a lot of good memories of playing well in golf tournaments when I've been in contention, and certainly there's some negative stuff that's been floating around lately. You know, I'm 33. I've been doing this a long time now. There's going to be some adversity out there today, and hopefully, I'll just handle it professionally and just kind of relax and, like I said, just wait for the good stuff to happen because good stuff does happen during the round and so does bad stuff.

I'm just going to try to go out there and not worry about the future or the past or anything like that. Easier said than done, but just try and stay right where I'm at.

Q. Course conditions have obviously changed very rapidly. How much of an advantage do you consider it to be to have to come out here early this morning, play one hole, and get an idea of the conditions on the golf course?

CHESSON HADLEY: Certainly it plays a lot different in the morning than it does in the afternoon. From what I saw, it looks like we could have some weather kind of keep potentially rolling in. A wet golf course is different than -- it will definitely make this place different than it was the last three days. It was firm and fast and balls were running and crusty, so it will be different. The ball's not going to be going as far, but the greens are going to be a little bit softer. So it's kind of bittersweet there.

It was certainly an advantage to get out here and maybe hit a couple shots instead of having it be the first tee shot. I did think about that. It's kind of nice my first shot of the day was just kind of a comfortable 9-iron. So I definitely think that was a positive hitting a couple of shots this morning before playing this afternoon.

Q. What's the mindset heading into the final round with quite a bit of a lead?

CHESSON HADLEY: Yeah, it means nothing. Good for me for being where I'm at. I'm tickled to have the opportunity, especially with where I've been of late. But there's a lot of No. 1 player in the world can shoot 6-under on the front nine and we're tied.

I'm in a great spot, no questions asked. I've got to keep my head down. It's the pedal is accelerating, we're not braking.