THE PRESIDENTS CUP

September 25, 2024

Taylor Pendrith

Royal Montreal Golf Club

Press Conference

Q. Obviously you guys were at Habs' practice couple days ago. What was that like for you?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: It was really cool. A lot of the guys probably have never been to a hockey game before. So we got there early and met a couple of the players, got to watch the warmups on the bench, which was awesome. A couple of the Korean boys got hockey pucks so they were really fired up. Really cool.

They put us on the JumboTron, the big screen, and it was neat. It was a fun time. And good to be with all the guys there and show them what Canada is all about.

Q. How important is it to have the sort of team-building exercises? (Indiscernible) the group was formed only two months ago and (indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: It's huge. I feel we've done a really good job of having team dinners, doing outings like that to try and get everybody comfortable as they can be for the week. But we're feeling good. I think everybody's in a good frame of mind and comfortable with each other. And we're ready to go.

Q. You're such a different player than you were two years ago. Where do you think you changed the most, in terms of your game, psychologically?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, obviously had a great year individually this year and my putting has come a long way. Had a great year.

I changed putters probably about a year ago and I've been working on the same stuff and it's nice to see it's finally paying off. So hopefully we'll roll that into this week because it's going to be a big factor in all the matches is putting.

So got some good work in this week and feel good on the greens. Hopefully make some more.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Maybe just a little bit of a confidence. Made some big putts the week that I won, which gave me some confidence. But, like I said, I've been doing the same stuff for years and years and doing the right things. And it's nice to see it finally paying off.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Routine is the same. It's been the same. I guess the only thing that's new is the new putter and a little bit more confidence. But I seem to be rolling it well this year. It's going to be huge this week. So hopefully bring that.

Q. Which putter?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: It's an Odyssey Jailbird, center shaft.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: It's in Canada, which is really cool, obviously. But, yeah, we've done a lot of cool things. I think the team looks really good this year. I feel a little more comfortable personally around guys who I didn't really know al all the last time.

Got to know them a little bit better through the last two years. And especially in the last few weeks we've done a lot of team things together.

So feel a little more comfortable around the guys for sure. And we've got a great group and everybody's having fun. And we're all prepared and ready to go.

Q. (Question about other sports feeding off the crowd but in golf you have to do something to make the crowd feed off of you).

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Absolutely. And I think this week we want to get off to a great start early and hear the roars. You'll know the group ahead of you made a birdie or won the hole with it being here on home soil.

I think the crowd's going to play a huge factor and hopefully we can get some big roars early and just fire the boys up and keep it going.

In Charlotte, we had lots of fans there but it was majority for the other team. So I think this year the crowd's going to be a big factor for us and we want them to be loud. So hopefully we've got to give them some good stuff to cheer for.

Q. (Indiscernible) teams, like Min Woo (indiscernible) have been ready (indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: It's great. It's great. It's a really good group of guys this year. Like I said, everybody feels comfortable around each other. The Korean guys are really funny and they're having a great time.

But everybody's getting along great. I think at the team dinners and team functions, everybody's all in, which is what you need to be.

And, yeah, it's a solid group of guys. And we're having a really fun week. And it's Wednesday afternoon and we're getting fired up for tomorrow and we're ready.

Q. (Indiscernible). How would you describe the impact it is (indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: It's been awesome. He's been here the last two days walking with us. And just to see the smile on his face is awesome. He's meant so much to the three of us through our years at Kent State. I know he's really proud to be here and proud of us. And we want to make him proud.

To share the last two days with him has been really special. And we've kept in touch with him through the years. And to see all of our hard work paying off that he taught us on the big stage here is really cool. We're all super pumped that he's going to be here, and it's going to be a fun week for him.

Q. (Question about influence)

TAYLOR PENDRITH: When I first came to Kent, I was not really that good at golf. I was a diamond in the rough, as he likes to say. And he taught me a lot. Him and Rob Wakeling, our assistant coach, they taught me so much -- how to play the game, how to score my golf ball, but how to be a good person and get my priorities straight and time management and all that.

And they really prepared me for professional golf off of the golf course as well. That's all transitioned -- it's been 10 years of me being a pro and three years on the PGA TOUR. It's a credit to them for sure.

Q. (Inaudible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I've had a weird journey. I've been up-and-down lots of times. I've had quite a few injuries that I've had to come back from. And I was a 30-year-old rookie, which I'd rather be a 30-year-old rookie than not a rookie at all. So, I was fine with it.

I feel like I've played some really good golf in my first season. And didn't have the outcome personally that I wanted at the last Presidents Cup. And I really wanted to get more comfortable in bigger moments.

I think this year I've played some really solid golf and I feel more prepared and more comfortable being here this week.

So I think just a combination of all that. It's been a wild journey, but I feel like I can compete with the best players now.

Q. You say big moments (indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I think just experience. I mean, I've played in big events prior to my time on the PGA TOUR. But I think just the more times you can get comfortable playing late on Sundays in big events they'll just help you mentally and just getting a little bit more comfortable.

But I think over the last two years I've been able to do a good job of that. And feel like I'm comfortable and feel like I belong out here.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I'll probably never play another one of these in Canada. It doesn't happen very often. So it's going to be really special. It's already been an amazing week and to share it with Corey and Mack is really cool and one that we will all remember forever.

But once it starts tomorrow, it's going to be all business. But it's going to be really cool, and I'm just trying to enjoy it, have fun.

It's not going to happen again in Canada, in my career. So I want to give the home fans a good show, and I'm super pumped.

Q. (Indiscernible) how do you take that responsibility? The specific (indiscernible) can be crucial.

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Like I said before, I've had a really good year on the greens. And I want to keep that rolling. I know the last time we did most things better than the American Team and they just crushed us on the greens.

So I think we've got a really good group of putters on this team, and everybody seems ready to go. The last few days, everybody looks like they're dialed in. We'll go get a little bit more work done this afternoon.

But putting's huge in this format. It's what wins you holes. I'm hoping to have a great putting week. I feel good and feel ready.

Q. I guess the nerves will be a little different tomorrow. If you look at yourself five, six years ago, I guess you'll be better able to manage the stress (indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Oh, absolutely. I'll be nervous 100 percent on the first tee. It's going to be a really cool moment. All the Canadian fans rooting you on and walking through that tunnel. I didn't know what to expect last time. It's the most nervous I've ever been over a golf shot.

Hit a good one. So at least I'll know, I guess, a little bit what to expect this year. But there's 100 percent chance I'll be feeling the nerves, and that's a good thing.

And more excitement, I guess, than -- I don't know, it's going to be a very cool moment.

But the biggest event of the year for us, and I think we're all going to be a little bit nervous early. But that's normal and that's how you control that. So I'm really looking forward to it.

Q. How many times or how many holes in that kind of event does the nervousness go away a bit?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I don't know. I mean, I still get a little bit nervous on the first tee shot of any tournament. I don't know, it's just the way it is. It means you care and want to do well.

But just going to try to enjoy it and have fun, play great. We're ready and we're ready to go.

Q. How do you mentally approach it? (Indiscernible)? I guess you'll want to start well (indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, it's something we've talked about as a team. The first day's huge to get off to a good start. The first couple of holes is big to set the tone early.

Yeah, we've got some good pairings that we think can put some points on the board on day one and hopefully get off to a great start and kind of set the tone for the week. But getting off to a good start is big.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Favorite part of my card ceremony? Probably hearing my name called as you're now a PGA TOUR member. It's a pretty cool moment for me. Like I said, it's been a long journey for me to get to the PGA TOUR. And to see that card in your hand is a really cool feeling.

I'd say, yeah, hearing your name called as the newest PGA TOUR member is really cool.

Q. Is there someone on your team that you're jealous of?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Adam Scott, I would say.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Mack Hughes for sure.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I don't know. Maybe Corey or Tom Kim, maybe. I see him on his phone. He has all the Korean music going. I don't know any Korean songs.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I think they're going to be huge. We don't get to play this in Canada ever, really. And I think the fans are going to play a big part in it. We need them to be loud. And we had some of the boys trying to pump the crowd up today, and we want them to be loud.

If you hear a big roar from a couple of holes over you're going to know what happened it's going to pump the guys up. So I think the fans are going to be huge this week. And I think they're ready to go and they want to see the whole team do great. They want to see the Canadians do great.

But everybody on the team's going to feel like a Canadian this week. They'll see the love.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Not necessarily. I mean, just the roars for the U.S. Team were so loud. Sometimes you'd hit a good shot and you wouldn't get much. That's fair. We're in Charlotte. I wouldn't say it affected it, really. But it's going to be nice to hear some cheers for you and for your teammates.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Yeah, I mean Canadian sports fans are awesome. They're obviously big hockey fans. Hockey fans are super passionate. And the Canadian golf fans are very passionate. They love their game. They love their Canadian players.

We feel it every week. Doesn't matter what city we're in. There's always some Canadians out there.

And we have one event a year in Canada, and the Canadian Open is always amazing with the support.

And this week I'm sure everybody's really been looking forward to it. It's going to be the second time that we get to play in Canada this year, and it's going to be sweet. The fans are pumped and we're pumped to put on a good performance for them.

Q. Did you ever curl?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I never have, actually. I really want to. Looks awesome. I've never curled.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Potentially.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: He's a legend at this event. And I've got to know him a little bit better the last few weeks. And he's great. He'll give you tips on what to expect and share stories from past Presidents Cups that are pretty funny.

But he's such a solid, solid guy. Phenomenal golfer. His golf swing is perfect. He's played really, really good this year.

So if I get to have him as a partner I'd be thrilled. But he's just a great dude and good to be around and very motivating.

Q. (Indiscernible) win one for Scott (indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: You see how badly he wants it. He wants it so bad. I think that's rubbing off on everybody. We all want to win. We want to do it for Mike in Canada. We want to do it for Scottie. We want to do it for us. We're ready to go.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: I would say I mean the whole back nine's really good. I think 14, 15, 16 are really strong holes where you need to hit two really solid shots. The tee balls are tricky. 14, especially, we've hit a lot of different clubs off that tee trying to figure out what the best option is off that tee. So we spent a lot of time on those three holes.

But the whole back nine's great. 12's a good hole too. If you can get one in the fairway there, it's a big advantage.

But I'd say, yeah, 14, 15, 16, if you can get a ball in the fairway, and in four-ball, if you can get two balls on the green on all three of those holes, it's really good. It's a good stretch, especially -- depends on the wind direction, but they're very strong.

Q. (Indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: Depends on the wind again. But we've played some shots from further up. If it's downwind you can get it close to the green depending on where the box is.

But it's all wind-dependent. If it's in reach, I'll probably go for it.

Q. Do you know if they're going to (indiscernible)?

TAYLOR PENDRITH: They're going to move it up three days. I don't know what distance. I think they're planning on moving it up. I don't know which days or how far it's going to be.

But I think it's just a really tricky green from the fairway. So if guys can get it around the front edge, they'll probably try and push it up there. If you bail right, it's pin high right is no good to most of those pins.

It will all be wind-dependent.

Q. (Question about playing with Adam Scott)

TAYLOR PENDRITH: It would be super cool. He's obviously a legend in this event, and he's played so many. And you see how badly he wants it, he wants to win. He's very motivating. When he speaks, people listen.

I've got to know him a little bit better over the last couple of weeks, and he's such a great guy. You see how badly he wants to win and beat the Americans.

If I was partnered up with him, it would be awesome. He's somebody I've looked up to. And his game is so solid and he'd be an awesome partner.