Q. High emotions right now in the best way possible --
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: In the best way possible. I was crying with my mom. Happy Mother's Day to her. I couldn't be happier. I couldn't be happier.
Q. What's this week been like and to have this outcome right now?
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: It was the goal coming in. I would love to win, but I needed to put myself in contention and make sure that I could finish in the top 10 in order to keep going, and what better way to go back to Canada. I haven't been back in a long time, and maybe some of my family from back east will be able to come over. I'm so excited. I'm so excited.
Q. What's this exemption mean and then to capitalize on it?
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: Yeah, it means the world. I don't know, I'm kind of speechless right now. All those guys from the Saturday game and Riggs from Barstool, Sean Riley, name so many of them, but it means the world to me. I couldn't be happier.
Q. Your mom and dad have been out here all week following?
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: Oh, yeah, yeah, and one of my best buds Dan Snelly. We're having a great time.
Q. What was it like to actually put that pink shirt on this morning on a Sunday?
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: It was the plan the whole time. It's a great shirt. Barstool does a great job. Feel good, look good, play good, so it's great.
Q. What have you proven to yourself this week?
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: That I can be here. I can be here, and I can play with the best of them. I can do it.
Q. Describe the moment that you found out about the sponsor's exemption.
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: Yeah, it was during my 30th birthday with all the guys at Grayhawk during the Saturday game, a bunch of beverages being consumed, and they surprised me on the 11th hole. Everybody huddled around. I had like a five-, six-foot putt to win the hole. We're not playing for much, but we're having a great time. They stopped me and they're like, hey, we've got a surprise for you, and it was the best surprise, greatest 30th birthday I could ever ask for. It was awesome.
Q. Are there moments when you're not really sure how your career is going to go? Money has been tight. Can you describe what lengths you've taken to make this work and what this check means to you?
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: Yeah. I mean, after I missed at second stage after the wraparound year, I didn't know where to go. I didn't know where I was going to play, and I went back to caddying at Silverleaf in Scottsdale. Met a few people, and a lot of people helped me out. I hung the clubs up for a little bit, but I ran into Riggs at the right time, played my ass off in front of him, and I impressed him enough that he's been helping me ever since.
Q. You're native Canadian --
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: Native Canadian.
Q. Going back to Canada, what are you most looking forward to?
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: Going to Toronto and wearing my Canucks jersey. That's what I'm looking forward to.
Q. It's an emotional day. How difficult is it on the course to contain those emotions? Once you birdied three of the last four holes, is it hard to think about the process and not the result?
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: My caddie did an unbelievable job. We stayed in the moment. I was really locked in all day. We made a bogey on 14, but I hit a great drive and a little slip from the bunker. I thought I got that up-and-down, but the putts just didn't drop. I was ready to go. I was focused the whole time. I knew what was at stake, but I was ready to capitalize.
Q. What goes through your mind on 18 when the putt drops, the crowd cheers?
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: I don't remember. I just reacted, and it fell. We read it perfectly, and it went right in the center.
Q. Have you heard from Riggs and those guys during the week?
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: During the week, yeah. I've had my phone on do-not-disturb. There's very select few that are able to get a hold of me, and Riggs is one of them. I actually FaceTimed him yesterday when they were out at Grayhawk and playing. They were having a great time. We were laughing and which just kept the vibes nice and high, and we were ready to go this morning.
Q. Have you checked your phone yet?
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: No, and it's going to stay off for a little bit. I was going to celebrate with my family and the people that are here, and I'm going to take it all in.
Q. When you were caddying and stepping away from the game, could you ever have imagined a moment like this?
ALISTAIR DOCHERTY: I dream about it. This is what we always want, just a chance. Just a chance and take advantage, and I did it. There's been times where who knows if I was going to keep playing, who knows if I was going to be able to financially be able to do it let alone get status in order to do it, and to receive the sponsor exemption and take advantage is unbelievable. It's awesome.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports