MORE INTERVIEWS: Shriners Hospitals Open transcript archive
THE MODERATOR: Chad, thanks for coming in. You moved to 17-under co-lead with Scott Piercy. If you can talk about your round a little today, and we will take some questions.
CHAD CAMPBELL: I started off a little slow, making some pars. I was able to make eagle there on 12 which kind of got things going and then birdied 13, birdied 15. 6-iron in on 16, and just came in a little low and it didn't quite carry, so I made double there, but I ended up 18 with a birdie which was nice. Overall decently happy with the round. It's nice to end on a birdie.
Q. Did the birdie take a little of the sting out of the double?
CHAD CAMPBELL: Yes, it did. I was pretty upset with myself after that, kind of a bad shot. I was aiming 20 feet right of the hole, pulled it toward the pin and low. That's the way it goes.
Q. You were at the lead at that point, did you feel you were playing with house money, take a shot at the pin?
CHAD CAMPBELL: No, like I said, I was actually aiming probably 20 feet right of the hole. It just pulled it, came out low. Unfortunately it didn't carry.
Q. Were you equally upset with the shot off the drop where you flew the green?
CHAD CAMPBELL: Yes, that was pretty poor. That was pretty poor.
Q. It would take you a hole to regroup.
CHAD CAMPBELL: I don't even know what happened there. A lack of concentration.
Q. On the other side, can you talk about your eagle?
CHAD CAMPBELL: Yes, that was nice. I hit a 3-wood down there. I hit 140 to the hole. We were hitting wedge. You don't want to get anything to that pin. Anything that flies anywhere near that pin usually goes over. I figured I couldn't get wedge to the hole. So I was playing a little bit short. Luckily I just killed it and that was as far as it could have gone. I was definitely happy to see it go in. It got things going for me.
Q. Did you think you had a chance, not sure?
CHAD CAMPBELL: I thought it was going to be a little short. Obviously you don't want to get anywhere near that pin, for us to get to the hole, I knew I hit it as good as I could. I knew it had a chance to get to the hole.
Q. No one from UNLV has ever won this tournament, no one from Las Vegas, yet you will be in the last group tomorrow?
CHAD CAMPBELL: It will be great. Hopefully this is the last year that record stands. I don't know if it's a record or whatever it is. It's interesting that nobody has won here, all of the great players that play college out here. Nobody has won. Hopefully I can come out tomorrow and have a good round and just kind of see what happens.
Q. What's been most consistent for you this week?
CHAD CAMPBELL: I've been hitting my irons pretty good and putting pretty well. That always helps. I need to drive the ball a little bit better and get in the fairway on those par-5s. I haven't been driving go it too well on the par-5s. If I can do that tomorrow it should be good.
Q. Anything you need to adjust to those par-5s?
CHAD CAMPBELL: Just try to get in the fairway. That's really all you need to do. Just get in the fairway, any where, you could have a good shot at the green. The same way with 13.
Q. You have been down the right side each day on 9?
CHAD CAMPBELL: I went right the first day, and then left the second day and then right today. So hopefully it's either going to be left or in the fairway.
Q. Didn't you say in the fairway those trees do come into play?
CHAD CAMPBELL: Yes, they are there. You notice them. They have always been there. It's not like you see something new. There is just more of them. They definitely come into play though.
Q. How did you pull together at 18 emotionally, you just calmed down and got your back on track?
CHAD CAMPBELL: I had a great shot there on 17. It just flew too far. It landed, it was right at the hole. I probably flew it 5 steps too far. I got on the backside of that ridge. I hit two great shots there on 18. That gives me a little momentum and confidence going in tomorrow.
Q. Did your caddy say anything to you to get 16 out of way?
CHAD CAMPBELL: No, he knows. I've played enough golf to know that you just kind of have to forget about it, just kind of go with it. It happens unfortunately. I wish it wouldn't have, but it did.
Q. You are in the lead?
CHAD CAMPBELL: Yes, look forward to tomorrow.
Q. It's going to be a wild finish, isn't it?
CHAD CAMPBELL: Yes, there is a lot of birdies out there, a lot of golf to be played.
Q. Obviously you have been in this situation before, but what's your mindset when you have a night when you are leading the tournament, it's kind of a unique situation in sports, I guess?
CHAD CAMPBELL: It's a normal night to me. It's what I play golf for, to be in this situation. That's what makes it fun. Playing for 40th, 50th spot on Sunday is not very fun. That's what you look forward to. Look forward to tomorrow, being in the final group, and have a chance to win a golf tournament.
Q. Do you know Scott very well?
CHAD CAMPBELL: No, I don't know him well. I say hi in passing. He seems like a good guy.
THE MODERATOR: Thanks a lot. Good luck.