THE PRESIDENTS CUP

September 21, 2022

Taylor Pendrith

Quail Hollow Club

Press Conference

TAYLOR PENDRITH: It's been a dream week so far. It's an honor to be on this team. All of us are super excited to be here and get going tomorrow, and got some good prep in the last few days, and really looking forward to getting it going. The golf course is in amazing condition and it's going to be a good test.

Q. (No microphone).

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, it was -- I mean, it was amazing, but I was kind of surprised. Not surprised, but shocked, I guess. I mean, I know I've had a really good last two months after coming back from injury. But, you know, obviously, to be a part of this team is, like I said, an honor, and I was super excited.

A lot of the year, this year, has been kind of weird for me with being off for so long. And then to cap it off with being here this week is awesome, and really enjoying it and can't wait to get going.

Q. (No microphone).

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I think I gave myself enough time to fully recover. Probably could have maybe come back a couple weeks earlier, but I've had some injuries in the past and have tried to rush back from them, and it hasn't ended well for me. So I think getting it fully healed and having that time off, you know, we never get time off. So as much as it did suck sitting out, it was nice to kind of rest and then hit the ground running when I was ready to go and, yeah, been playing nice golf ever since.

Q. A lot of people have pegged you to play well at this golf course. How do you see that?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, golf course is awesome. Big golf course. Still a little soft, but it's going to get firmer. But yeah, lots of drivers. I would say that's my strength in my game so if I can drive it in play, should be good. Set my partner up with some shorter irons into the greens and tricky around the greens. Greens are super slopey and very quick so need a good short game as well.

But, yeah, I love the looks of it. Suits me very well. Yeah.

Q. Who is your partner?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: You'll find out.

Q. A lot of chemistry on this team. Obviously, you and Corey have been teammates very well. You know each other very well. How big an asset is it that you've played together and are good friends.

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, it's awesome. Obviously, it's his first one as well. So to be with him is really cool and comforting. You know, he's probably the person I've played my most rounds of golf with ever. So, you know, we live in Florida. Play the same golf course. Played in many rounds there as a team. So it's really cool.

And to share this experience with him, there's never been two Canadians on a team before so it's also very cool. To have Mike Weir here as well, who has played in numerous Presidents Cups, to get some information off of him is awesome. So we're having a good time.

Q. What in your mind makes a good partnership?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I mean, all these guys would be great partners. I think our team has looked at the golf course and the statistics of the golf course and how it plays out. But I think each pairing is going to have a good driver of the ball and a good iron player because the fairways are pretty generous here, but you've got to get it in the fairways with the rough being a little squirrely. Iron shots into the green are key.

Q. How do you feel about the underdog status that the international team has?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, I mean, we're embracing it. We're ready to go. All 12 of us are ready to go. And, you know, obviously, it's been a challenge for Captain Immelman over the last few months, but we're here and we're ready to battle, and it's going to be a fun week.

Q. What's it been like dealing with kind of the LIV story line. It's bigger for your team, affected more guys. How are you approaching that?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Like I said, I mean, he's had his challenges over the last few months. But we've got 12 guys here who are great players, and we're going to be a solid team, and we're ready to go.

Q. Has there been any kind of surreal or pinch-me moment this week, where you go, wow, I'm here?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, basically, all of it. It's awesome. I mean, the build-out here, the grandstands, seeing all the people today. Golf course is in amazing shape. All aspects of it. The team room at the hotel is unreal. Everything has been great.

Q. What do you think it is after playing one year at the PGA TOUR, from the Korn Ferry Tour, that helped adopt this level of play to get to this point.

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, I think the Korn Ferry Tour does a really good job preparing. A lot of those weeks, you have to take it super deep. So it teaches you, I guess, how to continue making birdies and play aggressive. And aggressive play at the Presidents Cup is what you're looking for.

So my time on the Korn Ferry Tour was great. Had some great times, good experiences, and really, I guess, learned how to make as many birdies as possible.

Q. What's been the convo with Mike Weir, questions you've asked him about what it's like to play in this tournament?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: It's been great to have him here. He's said lots of good things to the whole team, but me and Corey specifically. I've asked him a few questions. Obviously, he's a legend in Canada and somebody who I've really looked up to my whole golfing career. To have him here and, you know, to ask him if you're uncomfortable with something or his experiences during his time in the Presidents Cup or on the PGA tour is great, and he's been awesome.

Q. You're so used focusing on your own performance on the PGA TOUR. Is there anyone's game this week that's been eye opening to you that you maybe learned something about another player?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, I mean, there's some guys here who I haven't played much golf with, but played with Sungjae the other day, and he just flushes it. He hits it so good, very straight. It was cool to see. All 12 of these guys are superstars and do everything great. So it's been cool to hang with them and watch them play golf and see how they get around.

Q. (No microphone).

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I've played lots of team sports growing up; hockey, baseball, you know. Basically, just got to be a good team member. If that means I'm not playing, I'll be out there cheering my team on. Obviously, want the success for my team, not myself individually. So sure, I want to play good, but I'm rooting for all 12 of the guys.

Q. As a rookie, are you more quiet, listening to other golfers or teammates or coaches?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah. I'd say I'm listening a lot. There's years of experience between our captains and some of our players who have experienced more than I have. Me being a rookie here, but a rookie on the PGA tour last year, I'm still learning a lot about the golf courses, about how to handle myself, certain experiences, and there's tons of knowledge in this room that I can lean on.

Q. What are you expectations? Corey, you know his game better than others (no microphone).

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, I mean, I hope I get paired with him. It would be comfortable for both of us. We've played a ton of golf together and are super close friends. So to get paired with him would be great. He's obviously an unbelievable iron player. So I think with -- if I drive it well and set him up well, he can do his job in the fairways, and I think it would be a great pairing.

Q. What's your favorite, like, team you've been on in your life before this?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: This definitely tops the charts. But, I mean, either being at Kent State, I loved the college golf team. It was awesome just to be with all those guys and travel with them, and they all have the same goals in mind.

Being a part of the World Amateur Team for Canada with Corey Conners on that team was really cool in Japan, and we had a chance to win so it was a super fun week.

But this is going to top everything.

Q. What were you saying was your favorite team you've rooted for, where you think that team is the coolest team?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I root for Toronto every year. Hoping to not get disappointed again this year.

Q. What's your favorite Leafs team that you've watched?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Honestly, I think last year. Last year, they looked really good and obviously went out early. But yeah, they were exciting, an exciting group to watch last year. Tons of talent and hopefully they can get it done this year.

Q. Do you think the Leafs are an underdog team since it's been so long since they've won a Cup?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yes and no. I mean, on paper, they look like they should win every year. But, yeah, it's been many, many years, and I haven't seen a whole lot of success, although I'm a true fan and love following them. And obviously, growing up near Toronto, it's been great to root for them and we're hoping that they turn things around this year.

Q. Do you feel like a chip on your shoulder as part of international team, knowing you guys have gone so long without a win. Or because you're new to it, do you not feel that?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, obviously, I know the history of our team and I think they've done some amazing things in the last three years to really prepare us for this, make us as comfortable as we can be.

Some of the guys on the team have said some really cool speeches that's kind of opened up my eyes. And, you know, we're here, all 12 of us are ready to go, and anything can happen. I think we're really looking forward to it. We've got some good pairings, and yeah. Can't wait to start.

Q. How has your season come around since the injury?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Honestly, before I got injured, I was playing well. I just came off three solid weeks and had one of my best finishes at the players, and then I was out for four months, and I think just taking the time to fully heal my body. And during that time off just got my mind right and really kind of made me excited to practice and to get back and to get back playing well.

I'd say I kind of surprised myself the first week. Hadn't played in so long and was shaking some rust off. But I just kept getting better from there and been on a good run.

Q. How is it to come back (no microphone)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, no, it's definitely tough. I mean, I had a very slow progression back into the game. I was hitting 60-yard shots for three days, ice it down, see how I feel. Then I went to 9 irons, 7 irons, 5 irons, 3 irons, and then finally hit a driver probably ten days into it.

So it was a long progression, but I really wanted to, you know, play it kind of safe and make sure that it was fully healed and ready to go before I went out and played a tournament.

Q. Was it tough to be patient?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, totally, yeah. Canadian Open, I really wanted to play that and I started hitting balls Wednesday the week before that. So it was really not possible for me to play that, but I was really hoping to.

But just kind of took it slow from there and was able to come back Barbasol week and play well, and that was week 15.

Q. If there were ever PGA TOUR golf team event, would you play in that?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I mean, I've spent my whole life trying to get to the PGA TOUR, and I'm finally here. Just finished my rookie season. Being at the Presidents Cup is amazing. It's so cool for me to see not as a young guy, but as a rookie, first time being on the PGA TOUR with my card, first time being here. It's a really cool experience. The fans are amazing. Everybody's happy to be here. I'm quite happy where I am.

Q. Have you changed your swing at all since you got injured to protect against future injury?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Not really. You know, I'm really not sure how exactly it happened so I would say when I first came back, started hitting drivers, my speed was a little slower, whether that be my mechanics were a little off or I was a little scared to swing hard.

Through the weeks, it's gotten better, gotten faster, almost back to where I was. But yeah, I've been hitting it -- I've been hitting it really nice, and I don't know if that has to do with the time off or the hard work that I've put in since I've been back. But swing's the same.

Q. (No microphone).

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Just repetition. I've always kind of swung fast, I guess. Baseball, hockey was powerful. So I guess it's natural. But, yeah, just lots of reps. Like I said, making sure I was fully healed and then finally getting enough confidence to swing hard and just playing lots of golf.

Q. Have you done some driver testing?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Not recently.

Q. Do you still have the same driver?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Same driver, yeah.

Q. What do you like about it?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: It's an older model, but I'm comfortable with it. Just when I set it down, looks great to me. Sits a little open. And like I said, I've got lots of confidence with it. I've been using the same model for three years, probably, now, and I've driven it great the last three weeks. So the numbers, I don't think, really can get much better. I'm quite happy with it.

Q. How would you describe your road to the PGA TOUR and how it's different from some of the guys that made it at a really young age?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, there's been tons of challenges for me. My first year as a pro, I went to Q School, did not get through. Played on the Mackenzie Tour, finished second or third. I can't remember. Went to the Korn Ferry Tour, finished fourth in my second event. Thought everything was good and had lingering injuries. I think I missed 10 or 11 cuts in a row that year, was back down to the Mackenzie Tour, kind of injured for those two years.

Finally was feeling good, 2019, Mackenzie Tour, finished second. Went to the Korn Ferry Tour and had an awesome two years there with the COVID year.

And so, yeah, it's been a rocky road, but I don't mind, you know, being a 30-year-old rookie. It's an honor to call yourself a PGA TOUR member, and I think just makes it that much better that it took me a long time to get here and I've finally achieved it.

Q. Did you learn anything from 2016, looking back on it?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, I just found myself playing too much golf and trying to copy people and hit too many golf balls. I was injured that year so it was just not ideal trying to grind and play 10 or 11 weeks in a row with an injury.

So, I mean, maybe that helped me this time around where I didn't want to take a chance on that and wanted to be fully ready before I got back. But yeah.

Q. Does having that year make this experience sweeter, having seen that side?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, totally. This year has been -- it's been so weird, you know. Like being a rookie, being excited to be full-time member, having unbelievable week at the players. Had a lot of confidence. And then to just shut it down for four months was not how I envisioned my rookie year going.

But obviously, take the time off, get better, and come back, and finish the year strong and still had a chance on Sunday to make it to the TOUR Championship, an outside chance. That's all I can really ask for.

I mean, it's been a really weird rookie year, but it's been awesome. Obviously, to be here just tops everything.

Q. As someone who roomed with Corey, what should golf fans know about him that they probably don't?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: He's very smart. Actuarial math major. Very smart guy. Very calculated. He may come off quiet and reserved, but he's not when he's around his buddies. Great dude. One of my best friends. Just an awesome person and, obviously, phenomenal at golf. But he's a fun guy to be around.

Q. Have you always known that you were going to make it eventually?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah. Tons of doubt. I mean, yeah. When I first, I guess, advanced from the Mackenzie Tour, thought it was good. Obviously have seen my buddies go from there to the Korn Ferry Tour, win the Korn Ferry Tour, come to the PGA TOUR, win the PGA TOUR.

Everybody's path is different. Mine took a little longer, which I'm okay with. Bouncing around, being hurt multiple times, there's definitely some doubt. But to finally get here, you know, I always kind of knew in the back of my mind if I was healthy, my game's good enough to compete out here, and most of this year, I showed that. Obviously was hurt again. But yeah. So I'm just happy to be healthy and be back.

Q. For match play from the guys on your team, who would you pick drive the ball, iron shots, short game, and putting?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I would say driving, maybe me or Adam Scott. Iron play, Corey or Mito. What was the other one, putting?

Q. Short game.

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Short game? Hideki. Putting, Tom Kim.