Q. Bogey‑free 65, best round of the week. What did you like about your third round?

RYAN GERARD: Just did a really good job of staying patient. Just got off to a really bad start, didn't do anything particularly positive on the first three holes and just kind of told myself that there's a lot of golf left, to just kind of stick it out and see what happens.

Just played really solid from there on in. Didn't really make too many bad swings, just kind of kept leaving myself in positions where if I missed on the short side or whatever, I had an opportunity to get up and down, whether that be because I had green to work with or a slope into the wind to kind of hold it. Did a really good job of that.

But besides just keeping it where I wanted it to and staying positive, you know, just a grind of a day and played all right. You know, feel like we need to play better tomorrow.

Q. With that, be playing in the final group tomorrow. What's the key part of the game where historically this course kind of go low for the winner in the final round?

RYAN GERARD: Yeah, I think just doing the same things we've been doing. I need to clean up a couple things here on the range, continue with the putting.

I switched putters today. Just been putting with the same putter all year and something about these greens and that putter weren't lining up, so switched to something I've had success with on Paspalum.

Yeah, just rolled it pretty nicely all day. Feel good about the pace. I just need a couple of them to go in tomorrow and to keep hitting the center of the face and we'll be fine.

Q. What was that putter switch?

RYAN GERARD: Switched from a Scottie Cameron Phantom 3 prototype to 2015 Newport 2 Timeless. So just something that I bring with me just in case. It's kind of more of a training aid at times, but yeah, just felt like I needed a slight mojo switch.

You know, it felt pretty good on the greens, and missed a lot of six‑footers yesterday not for lack of hitting good putts but just felt like my speed and my line just weren't matching up the way that it needed to. Burned a lot of edges. Figured I'd give her a shake and it worked fairly well I'd say.

Q. Switch‑up on the bag with Mason this week. How's he been with calling numbers or keeping you entertained in the fairways?

RYAN GERARD: Mason's great. He's a very calming influence I would say. He likes to get fired up, but I've known him for forever. He was freshman year roommate in college. Like we've done everything together for however many years. Just a nice kind of comfortable situation. He's stoked to be here, I'm stoked to have him here. Just been really positive.

Q. We had David Ford up a little bit ago and he said that you gave him some very good advice to not buy a house. Just wanted to know about that story maybe.

RYAN GERARD: I think he might have not taken my advice because I believe he's closing on a house or just closed on a house.

No, I think it was something along the lines of he came to me at RSM last year and was talking about buying a house. I kind of just rammed through, you know, my home buying experience and how in the first three weeks I had to replace the air conditioning and call a plumber multiple times. So it isn't all sunshine and daisies.

Just kind of talked to him about financing a little bit, make sure if you feel comfortable with this, if you feel comfortable with that. I think he chose something that was really comfortable for him at the time, which was renting in a spot with some of his friends.

I know him and his now‑wife are buying a new house and moving states about a couple hours away from Atlanta. So I'm excited for him. He's going to be in a good spot, but kid's got all the game in the world, he'll be just fine with or without my house buying advice.

Q. Last question, he had about a five‑month break. How cool is it to see him back out here playing well?

RYAN GERARD: It's awesome. I'm sure it was really difficult for him just because he's the kind of kid that just loves to practice, loves to play. I've been around him for such a long time. You know, when I was a senior, he was a freshman. Just kind of the kid that came in, pushed me to be better as I was going out the door. I've seen him put a lot of dedication into this.

And obviously it can be very frustrating when your body doesn't line up with what your mind wants to do. I think he's put in a lot of effort with his body and had some unfortunate circumstances with some injuries. It's nice to see him feeling better, being more healthy, doing the things that he needs to do because he's a really, really talented player. I'm just excited to see what he could do with a full couple years of no issues.