PINNACLE BANK CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY AETNA

August 13, 2022

Ben Taylor

Press Conference

BEN TAYLOR: I mean, I knew it was a good birdie chance, so we fancied hitting it pretty close, but that was obviously a nice touch to get the people going and give them something to cheer for. It was a good feeling.

Q. What did you have coming in there?

BEN TAYLOR: I had 118 yards, so I hit 56-degree. I was on a steep upslope, so we knew we had to kind of drive it in low. I think the front was 113 or something, and we wanted to land it on the front. Hi-ho, we get up there and my pitch mark is like a foot short. Once I knew it hopped on the green and had some spin, I realized that everyone was getting on their feet, I thought, this could be going pretty close. That was fun. That was certainly a special moment this year for sure.

Q. 9-under to tie the course record; you've been playing good golf. Walk me through today and what specifically was going right for you.

BEN TAYLOR: Yeah, I had a good day yesterday. I really felt even was pretty solid in the afternoon. It was difficult in that wind. So today we knew that I could have had a couple more birdie chances. I knew there would be a couple low ones out there. We sort of got it going, made an eagle and then another one and obviously the last to put the cherry on top. It was a good day, great momentum, and it's put me in a good position for tomorrow.

Q. We keep hearing mixed reviews on this course, hardest course, toughest course of the year but people's favorite. Walk me through why that is.

BEN TAYLOR: It's a very championship-like venue. It feels like a major for this Tour, you could say, and obviously the turnout you get and the support from the city of Omaha kind of adds to that. It's tough, but it's fair. I think that's why guys like it, because you hit good shots, you get rewarded, and you hit bad ones and suddenly you're on the back foot. It's a great golf course, and I think Pinnacle Bank is the perfect partnership for this event. They've done a great job supporting the Tour, and it's proven to be a success, and I wish them much success in the future.

Q. Currently in the lead in the clubhouse. How does it feel going into the final round in contention?

BEN TAYLOR: It feels good. It's nice now that this position doesn't feel alien to me anymore. It's obviously something I've experienced a lot more the last couple years. I'll be surprised if I'm still in that position when the guys finish, but we know we're going to be up there, which is what we could have asked for.

Q. Is your goal 100 percent to win this tournament tomorrow and not that other thing?

BEN TAYLOR: Yeah. I mean, I'm due a win. It certainly means I'm not going to go out there and think of winning, but I know I can go out there and shoot another good score and see where it puts me. Guys can't play tomorrow thinking of the first most important thing. You've got to go out there and try and win a tournament. That will be the mindset tomorrow.

Q. You've had a little bit of a relationship with Sid Dinsdale and Pinnacle, haven't you?

BEN TAYLOR: Mm-hmm.

Q. What's that been like?

BEN TAYLOR: It's good. I've done well to behave myself in years previous with the off-course activities, but they're fantastic. Like I said earlier, that's one of the players' favorite partnerships out here. They always put on a great show. Like I said, I really hope that the success continues because they're a fantastic partner.

Q. When was the last time you had three eagles in a round?

BEN TAYLOR: I don't think I ever have actually. I was thinking about that today. I think I've only had two, so I picked a good time.

Q. Talk about the first two today.

BEN TAYLOR: The first one was -- I don't remember what my first one was.

Q. Hole 7?

BEN TAYLOR: Oh, yeah, the par-5. I hit it in there pretty good to 18 feet, holed a nice putt, and then 15, the second, was kind of a two-putt. I sort of snuck it in there from 35 feet, and then obviously the last was the exciting one. It was a good way to finish the day.

Q. Did you change anything earlier this week, whether bag-wise or game plan-wise or approach-wise or did you keep it the same?

BEN TAYLOR: No, everything is the same. The week in Springfield, Illinois, when I put the new TSR driver in the bag, that's stayed in there. It's a great club. This week there wasn't really anything I changed. It was just knowing that we were due a good couple days. Yeah, might have got duffed up a bit by Compton, but we'll remind him what I shot today and see what he says.

Q. How have you improved as a player in your pro career over the last few years?

BEN TAYLOR: I think it all just boils down to experience. Talking to Compton, he's like a big brother to me out here. He's always helped me, and he's someone with a ton of experience. You put yourself in these positions as often as I have in my short career, this is year seven, and I feel like I've got more experience than I did the first few times I was in that position. I think that's a huge part of it.

Now this is my fourth year playing this Tour. I've got two years of experience on the main Tour. It's just a matter of time, and I think it's all falling together at the right time.

Q. Do you feel like a veteran?

BEN TAYLOR: Dare I say, yes. I certainly am heavy like a veteran. I'm not quite as light as these rookie boys anymore. I do, because golf is just progressing where it's such a young sport now, so I'm 30, and I'm certainly much older than average out here. It just goes to show the talent that there is.

Veteran maybe, but I certainly feel experienced.

Q. Is there something to keep the English thing rolling on this course?

BEN TAYLOR: I hope so, yeah. We seem to have good mojo, don't we. That would be nice. Tomorrow is just another round of golf and another good score hopefully. We'll see where we fare come the end of the day.

Q. You were in this position four years ago (indiscernible). What is the difference now?

BEN TAYLOR: Yeah, I mean, last year that was the first time in that position, so always on my mind was trying to get the job done and not be one position worse than I was down a week. We've talked about it in practice rounds. We've talked about it on the phone. We're in this position now, and that's the last thing on my mind. It just goes to show that you've got to put your head in the right position, you've got to walk in the right direction, and I think that's all come down to my experience.

I certainly feel a lot more comfortable being in this position under pressure than I was, what was that, seven years ago, six years ago? It goes to show that I've come in the right direction, which I think is a good thing.

Q. You've got your back against the wall, and what you did today you'll never forget in your life. Holing out on 18, you'll never forget that.

BEN TAYLOR: That was pretty cool, man.