HONDA CLASSIC

February 24, 2023

Eric Cole

PGA National Resort

Quick Quotes

Q. Eric, good playing. 7-under through two rounds. If we could just get an opening comment on how today's round went.

ERIC COLE: Yeah, it was great. Yesterday was a good day, and today hit it well on a course that demands a lot tee to green. It was a good second round and good first two days to start the tournament.

Q. I was curious, No. 11, it looked like you ticked a tree there?

ERIC COLE: Yeah, that's going to definitely go in the good break category because I hit it pretty far left, and I think it -- I don't know exactly what happened, but I think it hit a tree and slowed it down and maybe kicked it a little right to keep it out of that water on the left there, so that was a good break.

Then I didn't hit a great second shot but worked hard to make 4, so that was nice.

Q. And you finished with three birdies down the stretch. Have you played this course much?

ERIC COLE: I haven't played it a ton. I played it in college, and then I live nearby, and I played some mini-tour events out here in the past, but I've probably played it maybe 15 times total. So a little bit.

Q. When you're in Delray, where do you usually play?

ERIC COLE: I actually practice up in Jupiter at Tequesta Country Club. It's a little bit of a drive, but it's a great club to be at, and it's worth the trip.

Q. I saw your mom was following you and your fiance.

ERIC COLE: Yep.

Q. Do you feel that hometown support?

ERIC COLE: Yeah, it's nice. I have them out here, which is great, and a bunch of people from the area that I'm friends with that are coming out. It's nice to have people rooting for you.

Q. I have to ask you, your dad was a PGA TOUR player, your mom LPGA. Who helped you more with your golf game?

ERIC COLE: It's a good question. I'd say probably my mom. I spent a little more time playing with her growing up. But they've both helped a lot. Like at a younger age, as a junior, I played more with my mom and we kind of hit it similar distances. It's kind of like a learned a little bit more from her because of that.

Q. Was there any doubt you were going to play golf? Like a lot of children of tennis professionals all went to golf.

ERIC COLE: Yeah, I always wanted to play golf. I was pretty focused as a young person. I always wanted to do it. There was some doubt whether I was going to have any success there for a little while, but I always wanted to be a professional golfer. It's nice to be on the PGA TOUR and on the biggest stage.

Q. You're living the dream, yours and theirs?

ERIC COLE: Yep, that's right.

Q. How much do you look at this week as an opportunity?

ERIC COLE: It's definitely a good opportunity, being a course that I've played before. As a rookie you haven't necessarily seen a lot of the courses, and it being a place where I can sleep in my own bed and stuff is really nice. Anytime you get a chance to play a PGA TOUR event right here is a big opportunity.

Q. What is it about this place that brings out the best in your game?

ERIC COLE: That's a good question. I'm not really sure. It's a very demanding course off the tee and into the greens. I'd like to think I'm a decent iron play. Even with good drives, you really have to hit your irons the right yardage. I think that might be something I'm better at.

Q. What was the best shot you hit today?

ERIC COLE: Good question. I actually hit really good shots -- probably the best shot I hit was the shot on 15. It didn't end up necessarily close, but that's exactly where I was trying to hit it, on, like I said, a tricky shot where you kind of have to pay attention, and I hit it just exactly how I was trying to, right where I was aiming.

Q. When it comes to the Bear Trap, is it more important to hit your number or strategize getting close to the target?

ERIC COLE: Yeah, I think the biggest thing is probably strategy because a really good shot typically isn't going to end up close to the hole for me. I tend to draw the ball, so it's hard for me to really attack some of those shots. It's mostly strategy and aiming in the right spot that's not at the pin most of the time.