THE CJ CUP BYRON NELSON

May 2, 2024

Raul Pereda

TPC Craig Ranch

Quick Quotes

Q. Take you through the ace. Longest par-3 on the course. What did you hit and how did you see it?

RAUL PEREDA: Yeah, I don't exactly remember how far it was. I think it was like 229, 230, something. I've started to not take notes on those things and try to just free up my mind and my game.

It's been just a rough of a season. I hit a 4-iron. Wind was a little bit off the left and I kind of trusted my line going towards those towers in the back because those left-to-right winds been hard for me lately.

When it came off the face it was just very solid and landed about halfway or middle of the green and it was tracking. I just didn't think it had enough speed, so I picked up the tee, and when I turned around I still see the ball, and all of a sudden I heard some people screaming and yelling.

JP my caddie was like, I thought it had a chance and all off sudden it disappeared. The volunteers told me it really went in in a good pace. Didn't really have to hit the pin; wasn't aggressive. It was good number out there.

Q. So you didn't actually see it drop, you heard it?

RAUL PEREDA: Yeah, I heard it, and that's when it hit me. To be honest, hasn't sunk in yet. I didn't really feel the rush of adrenaline after that shot. I kept going and doing my think and just focus on one shot at a time and just enjoy it.

I'll enjoy it for sure this afternoon.

Q. First ace on PGA TOUR. Do we have others playing a round for fun or in any other competition?

RAUL PEREDA: Yeah, this is No. 6, and second longest shot holed out on the PGA TOUR for me.

Q. What did you do with the ball?

RAUL PEREDA: It's in my bag. I'm going to keep that one. It's my first one. I'll give the other ones away.

Q. How do you typically celebrate a hole-in-one?

RAUL PEREDA: I think I'm going to have a good dinner with my team out here. Media center for sure has some beers out there already, so, guys, go enjoy some.

Q. What has been the struggle for you this season?

RAUL PEREDA: I think adapting for sure. I don't the type of playing and being more aggressive -- more than aggressive, just being better in general in every aspect of my game.

I had such a low spin going into the season, low launch, low spin, was hard to stop the ball on the greens. Made the adjustment to a different ball, more spin, more different shaft on my irons, more spin, more launch, different everything on my driver.

So I think it was just way too much spin that I was dealing with now and I didn't need it. I switched back to the probably 1X last week in Louisiana and I saw a lot more control.

I put some more weight on my irons to kind of have more control of the club face on my swing, and I think it's been an improvement this week. There is a lot of shots where I didn't feel like I was going to lose control of the ball. Everything was just a little starting left, starting a little bit right. I was able to do whatever I wanted to the ball, fade it, draw it.

So I think that's a lot of improvement, and it's going to get me back to where my game was coming prior to Q-School.