VERITEX BANK CHAMPIONSHIP

April 15, 2022

Chase Parker

Press Conference

Q. You are solo leader heading into the final round of the Veritex Bank Championship. How does that feel?

CHASE PARKER: Feels good. We obviously got a lot of work ahead of us tomorrow. It's going to be a tough day.

Yeah, playing great, so just going to try and keep that going.

Q. Is this a familiar feeling to you and how do you handle this feeling?

CHASE PARKER: I would not say out here it's a familiar feeling because I have not been in this position in quite a while.

You know, a golf tournament is a golf tournament. I've been in contention plenty of times over the last couple years at golf tournaments; this one is just a little bigger.

Q. All right, talk me through your round today. Any shots that stood out to you today?

CHASE PARKER: No, O just played really well on the front. Stalled out a little bit on the back. Didn't feel like I played terrible on the back; just putts didn't go in.

Yeah, played really well.

Q. You played with someone who has been up and down on the PGA Tour and he's been in this position before. Did you talk about the past at all or have any discussion out there today?

CHASE PARKER: No, not really. We talk about duck hunting a lot, and that's about it.

Q. I know you're an avid hunter. Is that kind of your peace away from the course?

CHASE PARKER: It is. Hunting and fishing, when I get out there that's kind of my calm. If I get a day off, that's what I want to do.

Q. So this week, if you could pinpoint your success to one thing, what would that be?

CHASE PARKER: I've hit the ball great all week. I mean, I actually missed some fairways today, but the first two days, I missed one fairway over the first two days.

So I've driven it really well. Need to drive it a little better tomorrow than I did today. Irons have been solid. Just really haven't been hitting a lot of greens and putter has been kind of streaky. This is kind of why you see some of the lines like they are.

But, yeah, overall pretty well.

Q. So is there anything you're going to go fine tune? What's the plan for tonight?

CHASE PARKER: Yeah, we need to go hit some drivers. That last one on 18 kind of frustrated me. Probably hit a couple putts, couple drivers, go to dinner, and relax.

Q. Talk a little bit about what the sponsor's exemption meant for you at the beginning of the year. It's kind of what catapulted you here.

CHASE PARKER: Yeah, it's huge. That's just such a big deal getting one of the first eight. I played decent there, made a little bit of money, and was able to reshuffle.

I mean, can't really explain how big that was.

Q. Obviously what's in front of you is a tough, daunting task. You're also not a young kid right out of college. Yeah it's a big event, but maybe a younger Chase would be a little daunted by it. Do you think you'll be able to kind of -- some veteran experience that you're not going to overplay it?

CHASE PARKER: We'll see tomorrow. I don't know. I mean, yeah, I've been around the block a couple times, but this is obviously the biggest position I've ever been in.

At the same time, I was pretty nervous this morning before we tee'd off and first couple holes, and I felt like I played well right out of the gate.

So feel like I can handle -- you know, I feel pretty confident in these situations.

Q. So would you kind of take the fact that you shot 58 on the front nine the last two rounds?

CHASE PARKER: Yeah, I wish we could just play the front twice tomorrow. That would be perfect.

Q. What is it about that?

CHASE PARKER: I don't know. I mean, it was my front nine today, back nine yesterday, so there is really -- I don't know. Just I've really just made some putts on that side. I don't know if there is anything to it. Just kind of got hot with the putter both times on that, maybe on that side.

Q. How do you settle the nerves out there, or did they just kind of...

CHASE PARKER: Yeah, they just kind of -- you know, they go away after the first couple shots. Get a couple holes under your belt, and, yeah, I was just -- you just kind of get into a little bit of rhythm. Obviously very helpful that I got off to a good start.

Yeah, I felt good the entire day.

Q. What motivates you to keep chasing this? You're passionate about hunting, but you're out here chasing a dream. What is it that keeps you out here?

CHASE PARKER: It's a lot. I put basically my entire life into it. It's kind of one of those things. I really felt like I was very close to quitting the game last year and doing something else, and kind of some stuff happened and I was able to get through Q-School.

I did not have a very good year last year 6and just started kind of playing well at the end of the year and got through and got the finals and got status, so I couldn't hang it up then.

Yeah, this year has gone very well so far.

Q. If you could go back and tell yourself before Q-School you're going to be leading tournament come April, would you believe that?

CHASE PARKER: I would, yeah. I have confidence in myself. I have confidence that I can do this and play out here and I can play at the next level.

Yeah, I would say yes.

Q. You have to be talked out of not giving it up or was that you?

CHASE PARKER: No. I mean, I've got -- yeah, some things happened at the end of last year and I was able to get through second stage of Q-School. Barely, but I got through.

Yeah, no, it's all -- I mean, everybody around me is super supportive and they would -- you know, they're going to love me whether I do this or I don't do this. They support me either way.

Yeah, it was all up to me.

Q. When you say barely got through second stage, what was that? Were you on the number?

CHASE PARKER: Yeah, I finished on the number. Had to make par on 18 to get through on the number, and I barely did it.

Yeah, barely got through.

Q. Is that pressure, did you know you had...

CHASE PARKER: I had a pretty good feeling. Yeah, I didn't know, but I had a pretty good feeling.

Q. The pressure of that nothing compared to the pressure you felt this morning?

CHASE PARKER: There is so many different kinds of pressures in golf. It's weird. It's like Q-School is like you got to do it or you're going home; you're done for the year.

There is pressure to make the cut every week. You know, if you're on that border, then there is pressure to win golf tournaments. There is so many different weird kinds of pressures.

I feel like leading golf tournament you're obviously playing well so you have some confidence under that pressure as well.

Q. What have you been doing in the evenings the past week?

CHASE PARKER: Went to a Rangers game last night. That was a lot of fun. Other than that, going and hanging out. Got a host family this week. They're fantastic. So, yeah, going back and hanging out with them.

Q. Did you eat any ballpark food?

CHASE PARKER: Yes, we did. So actually, funny story. My caddie is staying in the house with me, and I was trying to take a nap in the afternoon because I played early yesterday morning and just couldn't fall asleep.

Then finally like I was about to get up and I guess I fell asleep. My caddie -- like the game starts at like 7:00. My caddie comes knocking on the door. We hadn't met before this week so he didn't want to barge in and wake me up.

I finally heard him. He said he had been knocking for like 30 minutes. I asked him what time it was and he said 6:20. We better get going.

So, yeah, it's been good. It's been fun. There is tons to do in the Arlington area for sure. Yeah it's been a great week.

Q. Are you a baseball fan?

CHASE PARKER: Not that big of a baseball fan. I love going to games. I mean, seeing their ballpark here was phenomenal. That's the nicest thing I've ever seen for sure.

No, I love going to games, going to minor league games. We've got a team in Augusta that we love to go to.

But as far as following and stuff, I don't really watch it much on TV.