Catching up with Tanner Napier: Q & A
As athletes head to Ponte Vedra Beach, FL for Final Stage of 2024 PGA Tour Q-School, we caught up with APT champion and member Tanner Napier as he prepares to chase a PGA Tour card. Napier, a native of Paris, TX, had quite a year with a win at the Texas State Open and five top 10 finishes on the All Pro Tour. After facing the difficulties of chasing a spot at Final Stage for the past six years, the Arkansas State alumnus is now one step closer to playing on the big stage.
Q: How would you describe your 2024 season on the APT? Do you feel the tour helped prepare you for Q-School?
A: I felt like I had a pretty good year on the APT. I wish I could have picked up a win and made a few more cuts, but it was a solid season. In my opinion, the APT is the best mini-tour to prepare you, because it's hard to find four day events like the ones they host. Those four day events are where you really learn a lot about your game and help fine tune the areas you’re lacking. The APT does such a good job of having well-run events.
Q: With this being your seventh year attempting Q-School, would you say this time felt any different and if so, how?
A: I have played Q-School every year since 2018 and had bowed out at Second Stage each of the last three years, so I’m glad to break that streak. It was really nice to know/feel that I was able to make it to Final Stage without feeling like I had my absolute best game at Second Stage. In years past, I’ve felt like I didn’t play that poorly, but I still wasn’t really in contention of moving on. So it felt good to flip the script on that, knowing that my B game could still hold up in that situation.
Q: What were your emotions when you realized you made the cut to qualify for Final Stage?
A: I was excited because it was something I had never achieved before, but my mind immediately went to what all I had to get done to get to Florida. It is a very quick turn-around especially when you are traveling from the west coast to the east coast. I am just thankful for the opportunity and trying to stay in the present.
Q: What is your goal heading into Final Stage?
A: My goal at Final Stage is super cliché, but I just want to go out and put up the best score I can with the game I have that day. I know I won’t be perfect every shot or every day, but I just want to do my best and roll with the punches.
Q: If you had one piece of advice for younger golfers, what would you tell them?
A: I would say for players of all ages who are looking to improve, that you just have to keep working at it. You have no idea how much you can improve in this game. You can improve rapidly in some areas and much slower in others, but with dogged pursuit, you can reach levels you didn’t know you had in you.
