Q. Three rounds in, how are you feeling about your playing and with one round today?

DAVID FORD: I'm feeling good. I haven't taken advantage of all the easy holes this week, but I've controlled my ball fairly well off the tee and hit some quality iron shots for some tap‑in birdies this week. I've been rolling it great all week so the putter's kept me in it. I think I'm in the top‑10 right now, so overall I feel really solid. I feel if I keep controlling it well off the tee and hit some irons close tomorrow, then post a low one and see what happens.

Q. With nearly kind of a five‑month break this season, how would you overall assess the season so far?

DAVID FORD: It's been good. Yeah, I was looking at my stats just because it was so long since I played golf, but I think I made eight cuts this year in the, whatever, 13 or 14 starts that I've had, something like that, and I finished in the top‑25 four times. So I've taken advantage of the cuts that I've made, which has been nice.

I give it a B this year. It's been pretty good. I've definitely learned a lot from the tough finishes I've had to miss the cut by a few especially early in the season, but it's been a good year all things considered.

Q. Did you chat with any of the other Tar Heels this week and if so, what's that been like?

DAVID FORD: Yeah, I have. I've seen Austin Hitt in the gym I think before every round or before most of the rounds, so it's been nice to see him. We weren't teammates, but to spend some time with him and to know that he's going to have some time out here next year is great.

Obviously when I see Ben in passing it's the same thing, it's great. And Gerard and I played a practice round together on Tuesday. His game always looks good. He's just a lot of fun. I think he's one of the most encouraging guys out here towards other players, at least he is towards me and the other guy we were playing with. He was a great teammate for the year I had him at UNC and it's been nice to have all those guys out here.

Q. Have you leaned on them for any sort of advice or asked him anything?

DAVID FORD: Yeah, I've talked to them some about like workout stuff and just the ways that they've gotten better over the years. Picked up little things here or there that have been helpful.

I'd say the biggest of advice that I can remember is this time last year at the RSM, I asked Gerard if I should buy a house, and I didn't have a good year, but I was just like maybe I should buy a house or something.

He was like, D Ford, just give it a year, just wait and see what happens. It really meant a lot because I was kind of stressed about that decision, but he took time and just sat down with me and gave me good advice. I think the world of Gerard, I think he's super savvy and resourceful outside of golf as well, so just leaning on him for advice like that was fun.

Q. And last question. Two events left in the fall, just what's your approach, what's your mindset with those two events coming up?

DAVID FORD: Yeah, the goal is to win. My wife keeps reminding me that the goal is always to win, and when I'm just trying to get enough points to finish in the top‑100, a win is much better than that.

So I'm thankful to lean on my wife and my caddie when I get caught up in the points of it all. Yeah, the goal is to win.

Tomorrow, do as best as I can to win and then the same thing at Austin and RSM. I feel like my game is in a spot where I can give it all I've got and just see what happens. It's been a good return to golf after the five‑month break.