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May 7, 2022

John VanDerLaan

Press Conference

Q. Incredible week altogether. Just walk me through how your game is feeling, how this week has been for you?

JOHN VANDERLAAN: Yeah, it's been a good week. I've been hitting it great all week. Finally got a couple putts to go in on the back nine yesterday and kept hitting it good today.

I'm just giving myself a lot of opportunities, keeping it out of the bad spots, and trying to make birdies when I can.

Q. Is there anything about your game right now that's just sticking out to you that you feel like is completely spot on at the moment?

JOHN VANDERLAAN: Yeah. I mean, like I kind of just said, my ball striking, my distance control has been great. They put some of these pins in little sections and on top of ridges, and I've been able to control my spin and stuff and get it in a good spot where I have a good look for birdie.

So it's been good. Kind of stress-free today. I made a couple good par savers, but gave myself a lot of opportunities and took advantage of a couple of them.

Q. You made seven out of nine cuts that you've played in, so you've got to be feeling good about your game this season. Can you walk me through how it's been for you this year?

JOHN VANDERLAAN: Yeah, I been playing solid all year long. Haven't made as many putts as I would've liked to and typically I do make some putts, so just looking to get the putter hot and see if we can capitalize, and instead of finishing 20th, get some Top 5s and see what we can do tomorrow, do some damage.

Q. I saw you turned pro in 2018; went to Q-School 2019. Between those years what were you doing?

JOHN VANDERLAAN: Yeah, my first year out of school I went to Q-School and got to final stage but not good enough to get any starts out here. Ended up doing a bunch of Monday qualifiers and then went to Canada for half a season just to play some tournaments.

But it was good. I think it was a learning experience for me just to go to Canada, how to travel, be around other guys, manage your game week to week.

So when I got back out here in 2019, I kind of took off running and have played some good golf since then.

Q. I know it's a tough question, but do you feel like you're on track, on time, behind, or how do you feel your game is trending?

JOHN VANDERLAAN: Yeah, no, I mean, I think everybody goes at their own pace, but I feel like I've improved since I turned pro and that's all the I can really work on, getting better little by little over time.

I feel like I've been getting better, so heading in the right direction for sure.

Q. You're in a city that means a lot to you and Hannah. You proposed here. How does it feel being in a city that's almost comforting to you in a way?

JOHN VANDERLAAN: Yeah, it's a lot of fun. We have a lot of the great memories here. Like you said, I proposed to my fiancée Hannah here last December.

We actually went back there last night after the round and walked around and got to see it in daylight, see some of the things we missed, because I was a little nervous at the time, so missed some of it.

But it was fun to go back, and it's been a good relaxing week. We're staying with a host family on the golf course. They got three little kids that are two, five, and seven. Just really been trying to enjoy my time on and off the golf course and not be so intense or put so much pressure on myself, just enjoy my time.

Q. Speaking of that, heading into the round tomorrow most likely Top 5 as of right now at least. How does that nerves compare to you proposing?

JOHN VANDERLAAN: Oh, not even comparable. You can ask Hannah. I basically forgot how to talk. I had this whole thing I was going to say and I could barely get her name out.

Yeah, nothing could prepare me for this more than that, so it'll be nothing. It'll be a walk in the park.

Q. You tied your low round of the season yesterday; been playing great. Now you're in contention. How are you feeling going into the last round tomorrow?

JOHN VANDERLAAN: I'm feeling good. Like I said, Hannah and I kind of had a conversation on Thursday afternoon. I hit it great. Got a little frustrated. Wasn't making any putts.

But just got a little bit intense and put too much pressure. You get frustrated and that doesn't really help anything. So kind of just trying to relax a little bit and enjoy it out there and take it as it comes and see what happens.

So looking forward to good to day tomorrow.

Q. When you leave the course, do you all kind of talk golf or you just try to take your mind off somewhere else?

JOHN VANDERLAAN: Maybe a little quick debrief, but not for long. Maybe 10, 15 minutes or whatever0, how it went, what we're thinking, but then just get away from a it, enjoy some time away.

Q. You always have a big family presence out here with Hannah and your parents usually come out. What does that do for you in terms of your game?

JOHN VANDERLAAN: I love it. I mean, I know they support me no matter what, but it's always good to have them here. We bring our dog out and my parents bring their dog sometimes too. It's just nice to get away from golf away from the golf course.

Having a crowd or having people to do that with makes it easier. I love traveling with some of the guys out here, but sometimes it's hard to get away from it. Having family, friends, whatever, makes it easy to take your mind off it.

Q. (Regarding Hannah.)

HANNAH: Had to do some of that earlier. Yeah, I did an interview this week, that's true. Yeah, there we go.

Q. So Hannah, what's it like for you watching John out here?

HANNAH: Besides nervous, no, it's a lot of fun. I mean, I just sit there and I get to watch him live out his dream and work really hard. You know, it's really nice when things pay off. You see how much sacrifice and work goes into being out here. It's such a grind.

So just being here to support him and smile at him and give him some thumbs up and occasionally a birdie dance, it's really nice. It means a lot.

Q. Give some words to him about his rounds this week. Like how are you feeling, some encouragement.

JOHN VANDERLAAN: Pressure is on.

HANNAH: Yeah, I know. The pressure is on. It's on me now. We had a really good conversation this week about just letting go and letting -- letting go of the pressure and just kind of having fun with it and remembering like where you are and how much hard work you put in.

Just remembering to like enjoy that and enjoy that moment. I think it's so easy for these guys to get out here and feel the pressure because it's a lot of pressure, and he does a really good job of just kind of staying centered and grounded.

So really I'm just kind of smiling at him and keep reminding him to have fun and stay positive even when things aren't going his way.

Q. Who do you think is more nervous when he's about to make a big putt, you or him?

JOHN VANDERLAAN: Oh, I could answer. It's for sure her. Not though I don't get nervous, but I have gone through it like watching my brother play. He's trying to make it out here now, too. Like just not having control over it is definitely more nerve wracking.

HANNAH: Yeah.

JOHN VANDERLAAN: I would say.

HANNAH: For sure. When you know you have zero control, even though like you believe in his game and I'm like, okay, he's got this. No problem. It's always like, oh, my gosh, like I don't want to say he's got this and then jinx it. So definitely me.

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