Q. How would you characterize how you played out there today?
RYAN PALMER: Yeah, it was a grind for sure. The greens were obviously a little different than they have been all week leading up to today, but a patient day. Kind of let a few get away in the middle part of the round, but to hit the tee shot I hit on 14 and two-putt and then the 6-iron I hit on 15, that really got me going for the last few holes. What a great shot on 16 to set up birdie, and then two solid swings on the last.
It was a patient day. I just told myself, relax. I never really got nervous or ahead of myself, and just stay calm. I knew I was going to be one or two back, worst case. It's going to be nice to be in the final group again, and we'll give it our all.
Q. I know you've been working hard to get yourself in a spot where you could win a tournament. What has the road been like to get back to hopefully contending?
RYAN PALMER: Yeah, it's been long for sure. It's been hard, the last three or four months for sure. But the game has been there, I think. It just hasn't been the results.
I've been working hard, putting the time in, physically, on the range, putting, and I finally kind of turned a corner, I think, at Wells Fargo last week. The 5-under on Thursday was all I needed just to get my positive mindset back. It carried over to this week.
I love what I'm doing. I just need to probably tighten up my swing a little bit more, my iron play, but those last few holes is a huge confidence builder going into tomorrow.
Q. You got things going on 14 with three birdies down the stretch. What was going through your mind during that drive when you got onto the green on No. 14?
RYAN PALMER: Just stay in there because I was only one or two back. I really wasn't too worried about it because nobody was really going anywhere. I knew 16 had already finished, so I was only three back going into 14, which was -- sitting there two back, so I wasn't really too worried about it. Like I said, the 6-iron on 15 got me going. That was about as pure of a shot as I could hit, and then it carried over to 16 and then two great shots on 18.
Yeah, so I love where I'm at. I'm anxious to hit that first tee shot and get it going again.
Q. Talk about the new mallet putter you've got. This is something new for you. Any change in the grip or anything or just the putter itself?
RYAN PALMER: It's a putter I used probably a year and a half ago. I was using this red mallet when John and I won in '19, so it's nothing I haven't used before. It's the same insert, it's a softer insert than I've used in the past year or two, I guess, and it's a lot quieter I guess you could say.
It's the same grip I've used when I started using the claw, and it's just working -- I keep my head still. I've put so much more focus into putting with my eyes. I tell myself to listen for the ball to go in. When I hit the putt, don't look up, and I'm listening for a lot of putts to hit the hole. It's kept my stroke more square and I'm definitely seeing the ball roll a lot better.
Q. Jennifer said you're really tired and need a good rest tonight. Will that help you tomorrow?
RYAN PALMER: Yeah, I'm excited to get home and relax. It was fun having the kids out today watching, and Jen and her parents. There will be a lot out there tomorrow, and it's going to be a great Mother's Day.
Q. Who's out there with you family-wise?
RYAN PALMER: Obviously I live 40 minutes away, so my wife and kids were out today, they had some friends with them, and my in-laws were out there today, and just a great team around me. They've all been out.
A lot of fans, a lot of Emerald High Sandies comments out there, a lot of "gig 'em Aggies" so they'll be back tomorrow. I'm excited.
Q. Did you think the putt on 18 was going to go in?
RYAN PALMER: Little early call probably, but I was like -- it was half a roll for sure. I thought it was dropping for sure, but it was fun.
Q. If it had gone in, would have been --
RYAN PALMER: That would have been a fist pump for sure. That would have been fun.
Q. There were a lot of Aggies that were pretty vocal on 18. What does it mean having that hometown in-state support for this tournament?
RYAN PALMER: It was great today playing with Scottie. A lot of Texas "hook 'ems" and I had my fair share of Aggies out there, as well. It's always fun to play back home, and when you're playing well, it makes it even that much more special and that much more exciting.
I'm looking forward to a lot more fun tomorrow.
Q. And then 17, seemed a bit rowdier today than it was the last few days. What do you make of the setup they've done this week?
RYAN PALMER: They were having some fun for sure. The bluebirds came out for sure. But they've done a good job setting that hole up to have some fun and bringing in the crowds. I'm excited to see how it comes out tomorrow.
Q. You've talked about being patient trying to find your way back into the winner's circle. The couple guys you're tied with going into the lead tomorrow, they've never found it on the PGA TOUR, either. Do you see any parallels between them trying to find it for the first time and you trying to get back to there, or do you feel like you have an advantage?
RYAN PALMER: It's hard to win, and I'll tell you what, winning that first one, you never know if it will ever come. I don't know if I'll ever win again. It's so hard to win. But I've loved my experiences I've had when I've been in this position. I've played well. I may not have won a handful of times when I finished second, but I've been there quite often and I've played well on Sunday, just haven't gotten over that winner's hump. I'm excited. It'll be fun getting to know those guys a little bit and show them what the old guy can do.
Q. I think last year you were tied for the lead at the halfway mark; is that correct?
RYAN PALMER: Yes.
Q. What lessons have you learned from a year ago that you've tried to apply this week?
RYAN PALMER: For me it's just playing a solid Saturday round. That's where I've hurt myself. I've kind of taken steps back playing Saturday. I haven't played as well on Saturday. Today was a huge step, getting a nice solid round, shooting 3-under, and keeping me up there by the leaderboard and now I'm tied for the lead. Huge step today for sure.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports