FEDEX ST. JUDE CHAMPIONSHIP

August 16, 2026

Eric Cole

TPC Southwind

Quick Quotes

Q. Based on where you stand right now, it's obviously not 100 percent, but looking pretty good, kind of how are you feeling?

ERIC COLE: Yeah, I knew going into today that it obviously helps if I would have played well, which I didn't, but it was more -- there was more fluctuation based on how other people played, which was a little uncomfortable, but at the same time, it is what it is. I was trying as hard as I could, and whatever the results are, they are.

Q. How much was it in the back of your head, not only today but kind of the whole week?

ERIC COLE: I think obviously, like I said, I wish I would have played better and it wouldn't have -- yeah, if I just had a good week, I think it would have taken care of itself and not been so close. I mean, it's there, but there's always something to play for out here. There's never any easy weeks or anything like that.

You're always trying to accomplish something, so it just was added to the list this week.

Q. You were in the Signature Events last season, weren't in them this season. Kind of the idea of getting to pick your own schedule, what does that mean for 2027?

ERIC COLE: Yeah, it's a big deal. I obviously prefer being in those events and being able to play those courses. Those are great tournaments as well. Yeah, it's where everybody wants to be.

I didn't play in any until the Memorial this year. So you're just getting yourself off to a little bit of a head start to have those events to play in. With the changes coming to 2028 PGA TOUR, it's even more important to be in those.

Q. Are you a big goal setter? Was this a big goal heading into the season?

ERIC COLE: Yeah, I set goals, but this is -- top 50 is where you want to be. It's definitely on there.

Q. Do you know what '28 looks like?

ERIC COLE: What '28 looks like? I don't know what that means.

Q. It's a leap year for one thing, but how it's going to work?

ERIC COLE: Oh, no. I didn't follow the question.

No, not really, I just heard what people have been saying about it. We've had a few meetings about it, but yeah, I think if you're in the Signature Events going into next year, it will be much easier to finish higher on FedEx, which will give you a better chance to be in that Championship Series.

Q. I guess what they were saying was roughly 120-man fields for '28, and now there's so much focus on 70, 50, et cetera. It's certainly not easier, but doesn't that give you more breathing room next year?

ERIC COLE: Yeah. Yeah, I think you're right. There's a big difference -- like right now we have the Signature Events, and you've got to be top 50 to be in those, and it's looking like there's going to be roughly 80, 90 guys or something like that coming off of FedEx at the end of next year.

So that 40 extra spots and still being in the Championship Series, which is similar to being in all the Signature Events, I guess you could say it's a little -- I don't know if easier is the right word, but straightforward.

Q. Do you have an opinion on sponsor exemptions? They're going away for '28, but just from a standpoint of sponsors paying the bills and some guys probably getting too many of them, or the feeling they've gotten too many of them?

ERIC COLE: Yeah, I see both sides of it. Personally, I think one of the greatest things about the PGA TOUR is the meritocracy that it is. You're not really given much. I feel like sponsor exemptions is kind of the one exception to that. So in saying that, I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Like maybe it's a good thing, maybe it isn't. Maybe we should just go to what we're going to, which is straight how you played the last year or maybe the last two years, however it all works.