Change of attitude has worked for
Tyler Aldridge at Q School

FROM THE US PGA TOUR WEBSITE
By HELEN ROSS
LA QUINTA, Calif. -- Tyler Aldridge felt like he had nothing to lose. He was going nowhere fast after shooting consecutive rounds of 75 during the first stage of the US PGA Tour National Qualifying Tournament at Carlton Oaks in Santee, California, back in October. So Aldridge decided an attitude adjustment was in order.
"I'm like, you know what, let's just go out and play good golf," he recalled. "Don't think about anything: just go out and play. And so far, it's worked."
It has indeed. Aldridge shot five under par his next two rounds and tied for 15th to advance to the second stage. Another tie for 15th there sent him back to California for this week's six-round Q-school finale, where the Boise State University product is one round away from what would be his rookie season on the US PGA Tour.
Aldridge ended a streak of sorts when he made his first bogey of the tournament in Sunday's fifth round. But the 74 he shot on PGA West's Stadium Course still kept him firmly entrenched among the leaders in a tie for sixth with Brian Stuard and Robert Garrigus at 18 under behind leader Harrizon Frazar, the man who shot a 59 on Saturday.
"I feel real good," Aldridge said standing by the busy practice green after he finished a live interview on the GOLF CHANNEL. "I just didn't have any putts drop today and the ball-striking wasn't quite there. But we'll work on that. I'm going to hit some putts and see what happens tomorrow."
Aldridge finished in a tie for 74th at q-school a year ago, earning a Nationwide Tour card in the process. Should he maintain his position among the low 25 and ties after Monday's final round, though, the 24-year-old from Idaho will get to take the next big step.
"I'm not playing scared anymore," he said. "What happens, happens. You've just got to remember it's still golf. You're still hitting a little white ball. I'm not going to die. I'm going to go home and see my family -- most importantly, that's what it is. You go home and see you kids and your wife. Golf in the long run really doesn't mean anything. So yeah, (the difference is) not playing scared anymore."
Even though his earnings left something to be desired, the Nationwide Tour offered Aldridge a chance to learn how to travel and play in different kind of terrain and conditions. He learned what pressure means, too.
"It's an adjustment," Aldridge acknowledged. "When you're growing up just playing with your buddies it's not the same. It's tough to deal with people watching, the cameras, media, everything."
Helping him handle the pressure this week at Q-school are several friends from back home in Idaho. One is caddying for him. Another flew in on Saturday.
"I don't know what it is, I just feel at ease this week," Aldridge said. "Maybe because I've been here before, I know what to expect, but I feel at ease."

HOW THEY STAND WITH ONE ROUND TO GO
Par 360 (5x72)
+Top 25 and ties after sixth round earned 2009 US PGA Tour playing rights.
333 H Frazar 69 64 72 59 69.
338 J Nitties (Aus) 69 63 69 70 67, D Fathauer 70 69 65 67 67.
341 J Huston 74 69 65 65 68, G Day 70 67 64 70 70.
342 B Stuard 67 69 70 70 66, R Garrigus 69 64 71 70 68, T Aldridge 68 66 70 64 74.
343 G Woodland 70 64 71 71 67, C Stroud 69 69 72 66 67, J Oh 71 63 70 70 69, T Kelly 66 68 70 70 69, J Walker 69 68 68 69 69, B Molder 68 67 69 67 72, J Williamson 67 68 69 66 73.
Selected score:
348 Matthew Richardson (Eng) 67 74 65 73 69 (jt 38th).
353 M Brooks 66 69 70 72 76 (jt 97th).