THE PANAMA CHAMPIONSHIP

February 6, 2022

Carson Young

Press Conference

Q. All right, Carson Young, you are the 2022 The Panama Championship champion. How are you feeling right now?

CARSON YOUNG: Just overwhelmed with joy. I mean, this is what I've dreamed of ever since I turned pro is to win on the Korn Ferry Tour, and to do it in my third event, I couldn't have asked for anything more.

So this is a really special moment for me.

Q. Walk me through your week. Anything your remember in particular getting to this point today? How did it go out there?

CARSON YOUNG: Yeah, this week was good. I had Victory on the bag. Had some good practice rounds. I was feeling good with my game. I felt like this course set up well for me. It was kind of short and firm. You had to be a pretty good ball-striker and good placements on the greens.

So I just played really solid golf. Hit a bunch of fairways, bunch of greens, and made a few putts here and there that ended up turning out to be good enough.

Q. At what point this week do you say, I can win this thing and I can be the champion this week?

CARSON YOUNG: Yeah, really after the second round I was -- I think I was two back at 6-under. I knew the scores were going to be higher. I didn't know how low or high the scores were going to be this week. I didn't look at past scores or anything; I was just playing my game.

After I saw I was two back after feeling like I still even left a few out there, I knew this could be my week, so...

Q. How did you settle after that bogey on No. 1 going through the rest of the round?

CARSON YOUNG: Yeah, the bogey on No. 1 I just hit it in the bunker and had a good putt from four feet and missed it. I mean, I hit everything like I wanted to so I wasn't too down on myself.

Really the big turning point for me was I made a huge par save on 4. I made like, I don't know, eight- or nine-footer, so that got me some momentum going with the putter.

Then I birdied 5 and 6, and I knew -- that kind of got me back in it.

But I didn't look at any scores all day, so I didn't know where I stood. I was kind of thinking I need to be at least double digits. I thought I was a little bit short until after I tapped in on 18. My caddie said, Well, you're solo lead right now.

So I was really wanting that last putt, but, Hey, I didn't even need it, so we're good.

Q. You turned pro in 2017; you chased Mondays and then you played on Forme Tour, and now you're out here. Did this win take longer than you hoped, or do you think it's the perfect time for you?

CARSON YOUNG: No, this is the perfect time. Honestly, it's even sooner than I had imagined, so...

But the Forme Tour definitely got me ready for this. I finished 11th or 12th at the end of the season for that. Got me through the second stage of Q-School and got me out here for the first time full status.

So to win in my third event out, it's really special. I'm excited.

Q. How much do you go back to those days when you used to beg your parents to play golf? Does that come up in conversation often?

CARSON YOUNG: Not really. I kind of wish it did, though. Those were the days when, you know, the game is new to you ask your -- that's all you want to do is play golf.

But I'm thankful for my parents for taking me out and letting me do what I loved and taking me to all the junior tournaments growing up. I wouldn't be here today without them.

Q. Absolutely. Do you still stay in touch with Harvey Brock, your local club pro?

CARSON YOUNG: I wish I did. Unfortunately he passed away about eight or nine years ago. He taught me the game. He was the one that kind of first time I was out there on the golf course he showed me how to hold it, and so I know he's looking down on me and he would be proud of me today.

Yeah, I'm thankful for Harvey and all he's done.

Q. Heard a story about you throwing up because you were so nervous heading into a tournament when you were younger. Were you more nervous then or today coming down the final stretch on 18?

CARSON YOUNG: I guess I was more nervous then because I didn't throw up today. Yeah, throwing up was a thing that -- I don't know, every tournament meant a lot to me back then. I just really wanted to win and I got super nervous.

Yeah, the story my dad tells is I was on the way to -- I was probably 10 or 11 and I was on the way to a tournament and I said, dad, pull over, and I jumped out of the car and threw up because I was, I don't know, going into the last day.

He was like, Son, we can turn around. You don't have to play golf if it means that much to you. I was like, I love it dad, I love it.

But, yeah, I'm glad I stuck with it. Thankfully I didn't throw up today.

Q. If you could go back to that car and say, Hey, in this many years you're going to win your third KFT event, what would you say to yourself?

CARSON YOUNG: Man, I don't know if I could even dream that or believe that. I always dreamed of being on the PGA Tour.

But, yeah, looking back, I mean, that's something I'm super proud of today, so, I mean, just thankful.

Q. Yeah, your wife Riley was on your bag the first two events; she couldn't be here this week. What does this mean for the both of you and to her?

CARSON YOUNG: Yeah, means a lot. She had fun on the bag the past two weeks. She used to play golf herself, so knew a thing or two about caddieing, I guess.

She wished she could be here this week, especially now. I'm sure she's kind of kicking herself that she's not here.

It means a lot. She's sacrificed a lot for me to be able to play and be gone all the time. I know it's tough on her, especially back at home. We just got a new puppy, a nine-month other Golden Retriever, so that's helping her have someone to hang out with and celebrate with right now.

Yeah, she means a lot to me and she's sacrificed a lot, so I'm super thankful for her.

Q. I know she's an incredible photographer. Do you think when you get home she's going to make you hold that trophy up and get some more photos?

CARSON YOUNG: I'm sure she's going to make me take a couple photos, but I usually tell her, you know, No photos of me right now. You do weddings, not portraits here, so...

Q. You're going to be photoed out by the end of this.

CARSON YOUNG: That's right.

Q. She couldn't be here this week, so who did you have on your bag?

CARSON YOUNG: I have Victory on the bag this week, my caddie. He's going to be caddieing the rest of the year after Bogota. Daniel Castle, he connected me with him. We played at practice round at the BMW last year when I Mondayed in.

I met him there and kind of got his number and got to know him, so I knew who he was, and, man, couldn't ask for a better caddie this week. He knows the language barrier, so it was perfect, yeah.

Q. So you won out here today but what's your go-to strategy for winning a Mario Kart 64 race?

CARSON YOUNG: Oh, man, it's all about drifting. There is a lot of shortcuts in Mario 64 that you got to know about. Just got to play a lot of years. I can't give away the secrets, but it's all about the drifts.

Q. Had some time to settle in, so just one more time just explain this feeling right now winning your first KFT event.

CARSON YOUNG: It just means the world to me. I'm honestly still kind of in shock. I'm probably going to cry later just because this is a huge deal for me. I've worked, you know, four, five years to try to get here.

So, yeah, just it means a lot.

Q. And just to follow up on that real quick, did anybody tell you, Hey, you're crazy for chasing Mondays? You should go do X, Y, Z, or was that process always kind of set out for you?

CARSON YOUNG: Not really. You know, I did all the Q schools every year and never made it past second stage. Never did try for the Canadian Tour or Latin America. I felt like that was just too much for me, especially with getting married and didn't want to be away from home.

But I'm thankful the Mondays, playing in the few events that I did kind of got me ready, and then the Forme Tour definitely prepared me for competing in four-day events and I'm thankful for that as well last year.

Q. Awesome. Congratulations again.

CARSON YOUNG: Thank you.

Q. How are you going to reward yourself?

CARSON YOUNG: Oh, in I gosh. I haven't even thought that far ahead. It will be pretty seeing to sit manage any bank account. Never had that much money or seen that much money. Yeah, I'm sure I might go buy some more fishing gear. I love bass fishing, so maybe the wife will let me buy a few rods and reels. That will be nice.