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European Tour: Viktor Hovland Previews First Start at 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 22: Viktor Hovland of Norway during the pro-am event prior to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 22, 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

PGA Tour and European Tour professional Viktor Hovland speaks with the media about his incident at last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship involving slow play as well as giving a preview of what he expects out of his first start at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic.

European Tour: Viktor Hovland speaks with the media prior to making Omega Dubai Desert Classic debut

CLARE BODEL: Welcome to the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic, Viktor. This is your second week out here in the desert, but your first time here at Emirates Golf Club. What have you made of your week so far?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: It’s a little different course than last week. Everything’s very intimate and all the holes are very close together, and obviously seeing the skyscrapers in the background is really cool.

Conditions are a little different, too, as well. I would say the greens are a lot firmer and faster, and the greens are a lot smaller, and the rough is probably thicker than it was last week. So it will be a little interesting.

CLARE BODEL: Obviously last week didn’t go as you wanted it to, but what do you take from that week? What have you learned about sort of playing in this region, playing in the desert?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Obviously with the new pace of play policy, I had one instance, we were the first group off, and on my fourth hole, I had to readjust my line, and I’m normally not a slow player but I had to readjust my line, and we were already on the clock, and I spent a little bit more time than I should have. That kind of flustered me a little bit. And the rest of the round, I was only focusing on trying to play fast, instead of you know, trying to perform, which you’re ultimately there for.

It was a little bit of a learning experience for me just to trust my routines, and obviously it’s the first tournament of the year, so I’m just trying to get back into it.

CLARE BODEL: Your first time playing here on The European Tour, and we won’t give anything away, but we know you were filming a content piece with Beef the other night. What’s it like getting to know those guys?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: That was a very different challenge, or very different thing from what I’ve done before, and obviously having to do that with Beef, that was awesome. I just briefly met him before, but he’s a great guy and made it super easy.

Yeah, I would say definitely a round on The European Tour, guys are a little bit more laid back and I kind of feel more at home here, if you can say that, because of my Norwegian heritage. So yeah, it’s fun to be out here.

Q. Just to go back to the incident in Abu Dhabi, and as you say, you’re not normally a slow player. Have you had anything like that in the past in your career as an amateur or since you’ve turned professional?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: We’ve been on the clock before. But normally, or from my perspective, I wouldn’t say I was the reason because of that. We might have had a bad hole or something.

I’ve never felt stressed in that way before. You know, I was given a bad time, so I don’t want to have another bad time before I have a penalty shot. I always want to err on the other side, so your mind is going through, oh, when are they starting the time, does this count, or do they look from the other side; but you’re just trying to hit the ball. So that was a bit of a rookie move from my perspective, but I felt like we got it cleared up with the rules officials and now more comfortable with that.

Q. As you say, you can learn from that going forward. Didn’t help you last week, made you stress, but going forward, that can be only good for you.
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it’s a lot better than it happened here than maybe another tournament where I was in contention, so I think I can only learn from it.

Q. When did you actually know? Did they tell you right away, after the shot?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I believe it was — I think it was right as soon as I holed out. Made the putt, and then we walked to the next tee and then he came up and said that was 57 seconds or whatever it was. So, yeah, he let me know right away, which was good, I guess, because I don’t want to hear that after.

Q. It seems to me that the grey area is exactly when they start to time you. Is that something that was cleared up?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, obviously they let me know that they have done some testing before they started doing this, and their standard deviation was within a certain parameter.

But it was just, you know, longer putts, obviously you want to spend some time looking at both sides and then you’re spending a lot of time just walking to the hole and behind the hole and then back.

So it’s just clearing those things up, and yeah, I’ve got a pretty good handle on how it’s being done now.

Q. So we won’t expect that to happen again then?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: It should not. It should not.

Q. Sort of a rough week last week rules-wise. Robert Karlsson was weighing in on incident on the first hole, you weren’t aware of regarding the signage, too. Not the sort of week you were looking for?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I hit it right of the green on 10 for my second shot, and my ball rested up against the sign there. Yeah, I wasn’t aware that you’re not supposed to mark it. I didn’t want the ball to move, so I marked it, picked it up and placed it to the side, which you’re not supposed to do.

So that hurt a little bit looking back at it, because I missed the cut by one. And I felt like I was playing some decent golf, and obviously with the leaders being at maybe 9-under after two rounds, you would think a couple good rounds over the week and then you could climb a lot of spots. So that hurt a little bit.

But you know, once again, it’s better that it happened here or last week instead of a U.S. Open or a Masters.

Q. Was it good playing in Robert’s company last week the first two rounds, because Robert was in that group, sort of Ryder Cup situation, and looking at you as a prospective member of The Ryder Cup Team this year, was that good?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: I don’t know if it was good for me (laughing) it was good if I made a good impression I guess.

Q. Did he talk to you about the sort of aspirations and stuff as you went around?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Not really. We didn’t talk about The Ryder Cup that much. Obviously with him being Swedish and me being Norwegian, we just talked about pretty much everything else. We talked about, it was kind of funny, he’s played The European Tour in five different decades, which he’s seen a lot of really cool golf and he’s played with a lot of good players.

Yeah, just kind of listening to him talk was really fun.

Full Leaderboard: Omega Dubai Desert Classic 2020

Q. You’re getting a lot of attention, which is understandable, with your amateur career and how you started off as a pro. Are you comfortable with that, and also, how important is it just to keep things in check and not get carried away and focus on what you’re trying to achieve?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: It is a little weird. But I mean, I guess it’s just how it is, and it’s a good thing; I’m not complaining about it.

It is a little weird, for example, being at the Hero Challenge last week. You know, you’re going up against guys that have won five, seven times, world No. 1; Bernd that won three times last year, it’s an impressive resumé.

I’m happy, but I haven’t won anything. It’s kind of weird just to be in that group of guys already, but I’m trying not to think about it too much. I’m just trying to get better and hopefully I can win some tournaments.

Q. Where exactly do you stand on the PGA Tour in terms of how much you’re going to be able to play this year?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Well, my schedule is not set in stone as of right now. I’m going back after this, and I’ll be looking to try to play some tournaments. It kind of depends where I’m at in the World Rankings and what tournaments I get into. From there, just set my schedule.

But you know, this is brand new for me. I’m just checking out, okay, is this a tournament I want to play in next year; how does that work with this tournament for next year. So I’m just trying to piece everything together.

Q. So it’s hard to plan, is it?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: It is. The schedule is very fluid for me at this point.

CLARE BODEL: Thanks, everyone. Thanks, Viktor. Good luck this week.

January 22, 2020

Dubai, UAE

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

Categories
Professionals

European Tour: Henrik Stenson Talks Omega Dubai Desert Classic and Offseason Preparations

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 22: Henrik Stenson of Sweden in action during the pro-am event prior to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic at Emirates Golf Club on January 22, 2020 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

European Tour and Major winner Henrik Stenson speaks to the media prior to the start of round one of the Omega Dubai Desert Classic in his hometown of Dubai. Stenson touches on his offseason preparations for the year as well as the longevity of his career, Ryder Cup, and the 2020 Olympic games.

European Tour: Henrik Stenson speaks with the media prior to the Omega Dubai Desert Classic

CLARE BODEL: Thank you for joining us, Henrik, nice and early. So here we are at the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic, a place where you won in 2007, you’ve had a bunch of Top 10s. What do you like about this place? What fits your game?

HENRIK STENSON: I have made Dubai my home as you all know for ten years, and great to be back and be in a very familiar environment. Know a lot of people. Obviously I know the golf course very well. Played it probably as much as any golf course that we play on Tour, and possibly one of the ones I’ve played the most out of all the golf courses in the world.

So yeah, I think at this stage, I know where to be and not to be, and it’s a question if I can hit it where I want to be and not the other way around.

So yeah, we talked before about all the great facilities, weather, food, hotels, everything. It’s enjoyable weeks to start out the year, and yeah, it’s great to be back.

CLARE BODEL: You obviously ended 2019 with a win over in the US. Feeling good coming into the new European Tour season.

HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, I think as anyone knows, when you win a tournament, it’s probably better to keep on going. Possibly would have been better to have the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic in mid-December, but yeah, I’ve had a nice break, and we’re just trying to kind of pick up where we left off.

But it’s still early, and got a few things that we’re working on, and we’re just going to try, as any week, you try and do the best you can out there and hopefully come Sunday, you’re somewhere within reach, and anything can happen. It’s tough competition and a lot of guys want to win the golf tournament these days, so if you can be there, you’ve always got a chance.

Full Leaderboard: Omega Dubai Desert Classic 2020

Q. As your career has progressed, you used to start the season really well over here, and now it looks like the middle of the season is becoming more of your kind of a game.
HENRIK STENSON: That sounds great, all the majors in the summer. (Laughter).

Q. Is that the right picture?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, I think you’re right. I certainly had some better runs in the early part of the year, probably a few years back, than it has been, I don’t know if that’s also a sign of long seasons and short breaks and then you kind of get going again.

The problem when you have not much of an off-season, we don’t really have a chance to both take the breaks and have time to practice and prepare before you start up the season again.

So in a way, I guess the early tournaments, at the same time you want to play your best and play well because they are great events; it’s also a bit of a chance to get going and pick up the pace for the year ahead, because if you’ve got four or five weeks off, you’re not going to be out there on the range grinding it out during those four or five weeks. You need that mentally more than anything to get away from the game a little bit and rest up, and get ready to head out again.

So it could be a combination. I mean, awhile back, I used to live here, as well, so it was quite easy. You’re just rolling out of bed and you’re on the first tee. That might have something to do with it, also.

Q. And when you win a tournament towards the end of the year, how much of a confidence can you take into the new year, despite having that break?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, there were a few things that were really positive for me. Again, winning is never getting old. Doesn’t matter how many times you’ve done it, and it certainly is a limited field in the Bahamas, but it’s a stellar field, and it was a tight Sunday lineup with Gary and Justin Thomas, Tiger and myself I think within two shots, and then another couple, Jon, as well, and a few guys behind us.

So to come out victorious out of that game was very pleasing, and didn’t really have much chances to win other tournaments in 2019. So when you pretty much have one chance, it’s the last event, it was great to take that opportunity, and it’s a confidence boost winning, even though I didn’t feel like — I probably played, I don’t know, 80, 90 percent. I didn’t feel like I played at my absolute best, but still did everything well enough to be able to get to 18-under, I think the winning score was in the end.

I think that was one of the key things for me. A lot of my wins, I feel like I’ve played really, really well, and I think in the Bahamas, I didn’t feel like I played as well as I’ve done with some of my other wins. So to beat those guys when you still feel like you have a little bit extra, if everything is working, that was certainly a boost, as well.

Q. You said you had just about five weeks between the win and you would have loved for the season to continue. So what did you do? Did you put the clubs away for those five weeks?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, they were due for a break.

Q. Did you try any new clubs?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, there hasn’t been a lot of golf before I headed out to Singapore. So a little bit of shaking the rust away in America. I stopped for a day here to see Pete on my way to Singapore, and obviously we’re back up here this week.

Yeah, not much golf during those four weeks. I was driving a 40-foot RV in the California countryside. That normally doesn’t improve — it can improve your driving, which I think it did, but not much else in terms of golfing.

Q. This is the Olympic year, and you had a great 14 years ago. So I’m sure it’s very much up there on your list of things. How do you look forward to it, four years of great memories of that, and now coming back?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, I hope to get one of the two spots for Sweden in the Tokyo Olympics, and I had a great experience in Rio. It fun to see the Games from the inside and be a part of that.

As a sporting fan growing up, I always watched the big events in both Summer and Winter Olympics. Following that, it was never something on my mind really because golf wasn’t in it, and then it did come on board in 2012. So we had a few years to really set our sights on being there, and we had a great time and did well.

I was having a good match against Justin there for the gold on Sunday and came out one short, but still, I think most people would take a place on the podium when you go to the Olympics. So it was a great week and I look forward to having another shot in Tokyo.

Q. There’s a lot of good, young players in the game just now, but it’s been a good spell you winning, Lee winning, Matt Kuchar winning. What message do you think that sends out, and is it good for the game that the older players can still compete with these young guns?
HENRIK STENSON: Definitely I think it’s good for the older players to win (laughter).

Yeah, the golf course doesn’t know if you’re 20, 30 or 40 when you’re teeing it up, right. It’s all about bringing as good of a game as you can do, and we know experience is a good part in this game to have, and played it in different conditions over the years and different courses and all the rest.

So I think we — at times we can’t really compete with the longest players in the game but we can compete with other factors, and of course, that’s something we try to do as good as we can and yeah, we certainly keep the dreams alive of winning golf tournaments.

Henrik Stenson talks Ryder Cup

Q. You’ve done pretty well yourself getting on to Ryder Cup teams. How difficult is this one going to be given the talent that’s around at the moment?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, every time there’s new and upcoming players that are going to take a spot, and that means a few of us who has played a few of them are not going to be on there.

It’s certainly one of my main goals this year to play in Whistling Straits. I’ve had a pretty nice run at The Ryder Cup. I’ve played five and been part of the winning team three times, but they have all been in Europe. So I feel like it’s one little box to tick and that would be being on a winning team on away soil and I think if that’s going to happen, 2020 is the one.

Q. You mentioned the break that you needed and the time to practice, but you also mentioned the Olympics, The Ryder Cup. With the four majors and Scandinavian, how would you pace yourself in an ideal world?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, it’s going to be busy. I’m having all February off from tournament play, and I play all of March in the States, and then it’s a little bit of an on/off for the next couple of months there.

Once we get to Sweden, then it’s straight back to U.S. Open, and yeah, from kind of when the early part of the summer, it’s going to be quite a lot of golf, a lot of travel and big events. Yeah, you don’t want to get into that part of the year being exhausted, because you will run out of fuel at some point then.

So yeah, hopefully that break in February, we can come out ready and strong and pick up some momentum for that spring and summer.

Q. Similar to the question about Lee Westwood winning and longevity, the success of both your careers on The European Tour, what do you put that down to, and did you send Lee a text or anything after that win?
HENRIK STENSON: Sorry, say again, if I?

Q. The longevity of your careers on The European Tour, what do you put that down to, and can you share with us a story of you and Lee, maybe on Tour in your early days?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, I actually played with Lee one of my first — it might have been the first time I played the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth, and we were far back in the field. I guess we needed some motivation, so I ended up taking 20 quid from him on the back nine at Wentworth (laughter).

I know we’re not supposed to be betting against each other, but we needed something to spark, and I got 20 pounds from him back then. So that would have been one of the early memories. I think that was the first time I played with him.

Quite long careers. I guess we pace ourselves. I don’t know if it’s down to possibly swing; if your swing is not taking too much toll on your body and not wearing your back down too much, you probably can keep it going. It’s down to I’ve spent a lot of time on the physical side the last ten years to try and buy myself some extra time, and for recovery and practice everything and else.

I guess both Lee and myself, we’ve been solid ball-strikers, and if you have a good foundation to fall back on, you can be out here a long time.

Henrik Stenson speaks about life outside of golf

Q. In the last few years, you’ve successfully done things away from the golf course, the golf course designing, the book, Hank. Is Hank making a comeback, first of all, any time soon? And how is your designing business going? Are you looking into any new course, and what’s the kind of feedback that you received for your course in Sweden?
HENRIK STENSON: Yeah, Hank, he’s still alive. He’s still around. I don’t think he’s going to make any new — we need to sell a few more of the old books before make a new one I think (laughter).

I mean, those were kind of some fun, side projects. Yeah, the business in the golf course design, it’s still going very much. We’re trying to launch the brand in America. So we’ve got some people over there that’s going to do some work and see if we can get it going in the States, because as you know, a big part of the golfing world is in America, and golf course design-wise, we opened the first course in Stockholm in September last year. It’s been well-received and had some really good feedback, so that’s great for your first project.

We’ve still got another golf course to design there in the next couple years, and yeah, we’ll have a few requests here and there around the world and we’ll see where the next one will be.

Q. We just spoke about Stockholm and your Scandinavian Masters. Can you tell us about how the Scandinavian event, with you and Annika hosting it, how did it come about and will it be a mixed event?
HENRIK STENSON: So the Scandinavian Mixed, it’s really a brand new concept. As you know, The European Tour has been very innovative in the last five or ten years working with promotors and coming up with some different concepts.

Yeah, we lost the ladies tournament in Sweden about five or six years ago, and given the history we have with so many great women players coming out of Sweden and with the success they have had, it’s really a shame that we didn’t have a ladies tournament anymore.

Yeah, the thought came from the guys who have been running the event, really, LET jumped on board and Annika came along and it’s going to be the first of its kind. One first prize, 78 men, 78 women playing, different tee boxes of course, but everything else is as is, and I think it’s going to be a very exciting week. I think it will be a great week for any golf fans in the northern part of Europe, and feel free, if you’ve got your week off, then you can come and join us in Stockholm.

I think it’s going to be great for all the golf fans to see men and women playing together. Imagine the time savings, you don’t need to go to two different tournaments, you come to one. You’re saving a week’s time and vacation. We should be thanked a lot (laughter). Time management at its best. Look forward to seeing you here this week and in Stockholm in June.

CLARE BODEL: Thank you, Henrik.

January 22, 2020

Dubai, UAE

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

Categories
Team South Africa Team UK

European Tour: Amateur Phenoms Josh Hill and Jayden Schaper Preview Omega Dubai Desert Classic

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 16: Josh Hill of England plays his second shot on the 8th hole during Day 1 of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 16, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

15 year old J Englishman Josh Hill and 18 year old South African Jayden Schaper talk about their experiences on the European Tour so far at such a young age and also preview their expectations for this week’s Omega Dubai Desert Classic

European Tour: Amateaur Phenoms Josh Hill and Jayden Schaper at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic

Q. Just ask both you guys how you’re feeling coming into this week. Very exciting for both of you?
JAYDEN SCHAPER: Yeah, I mean, just excited to be here. Great opportunity. Obviously last two weeks, a bit of a different feel, but yeah, I mean, I’m just excited to be here and give it a go.

JOSH HILL: Yeah, obviously last week was a bit disappointing, but excited to come back here.

Q. Obviously South African was pretty impressive and what do you take from that?
JAYDEN SCHAPER: Getting a Top-10 in the SA Open is a pretty nice achievement. Give myself an opportunity over the weekend to get the win is pretty cool.

Yeah, I mean, come off that great experience playing an event like that. I’ll approach this week the same. Shouldn’t be too much different between tournaments.

Q. Josh, what did you learn from Abu Dhabi, and have you put that into practice already for this week?
JOSH HILL: Yeah, I missed a lot of fairways, which you can’t do around there. You can’t score well around there. I just put a new shaft and driver, so hopefully that will improve it. I played nine holes yesterday and it did, so hopefully keeps going that way.

Full Leaderboard/Tee Times: Omega Dubai Desert Classic 2020

Q. From what I’ve been hearing, the rough is pretty juicy, more juicier than Abu Dhabi. Is that how the course is set up?
JOSH HILL: I don’t know. I feel like it was a bit better than last week. I think because the greens are a bit firm that they can’t really put them as thick as last week, otherwise it would just be so hard to stop the ball. But I don’t know, I thought it was better than last week to be honest.

Q. How big was the Junior Players Championship for you? You’ve won 11 times, I was just going through your stats, and 11 times in the last 104 weeks, and I think the biggest must have been the Junior Players Championship, isn’t it?
JAYDEN SCHAPER: Yeah, so the Junior Players was pretty special to go out and play TPC Sawgrass. I mean, you watch THE PLAYERS Championship every year and it’s one that every player wants to play in. To be able to play with Junior Players in that and with my idol, Rory McIlroy, yeah, it’s pretty special to go out there. The golf course is unreal. Not too often you get to play a golf course like in conditions like that.

Yeah, it was a pretty good win, and yeah, just experience playing tournaments like that gets you to a place like this.

Q. You just mentioned your ideal being Rory McIlroy. What about the South Africans? You have such a good system for juniors and I know guys like Ernie, they are so much more involved over there. I’m a little surprised that you didn’t mention somebody like Ernie and said Rory.
JAYDEN SCHAPER: Rory is just something special. From even off the golf course, it’s pretty special to watch him off the golf course and on the golf course he’s just magical, his swing, the way he approaches the game and obviously South Africa we have so many great golfers. Obviously Louis Oosthuizen being one of them, I look up to him. Yeah, I played in the SA Open two wreaks ago with him in the first two rounds was pretty special.

Yeah, there’s so many people to look up to, and I see Rory as a guy that I want to go up and kind of compare my game to his and just work towards that. Again, Louis, he’s an unbelievable player. He is definitely one of the best from tee-to-green that I’ve seen, and yeah, I was just fortunate to play with him.

Q. For both of you, playing two huge events, is there any little bit of information or advice that you’ve taken from anyone that you’ve played with or that you’ve spent a little bit of time with, whether or not it’s practice or during the tournaments itself?
JOSH HILL: Well, not for me. It was mainly just all the practicing and with Brooks and stuff like that. But yeah, obviously I’ve got some stuff from people but the biggest thing was from Brooks, from being world No. 1, hearing from him was great.

JAYDEN SCHAPER: Yeah, going back and playing with Louis two weeks ago, he basically said, you know, just keep doing the same and have fun and with my team my dad my coach, we just approach it the same as any other tournaments. He said it’s the same 14 clubs in the bag, same golf course, just different field. That’s the way I’m looking at it. Nothing should change how you approach the game because how you’ve been playing to that point is what got you there, so nothing should change.

Q. How have you found the increased media attention?
JOSH HILL: I think you’ve got to learn it. You always get media. You’ve got to fit it around your practice which is a good lesson to learn, but I don’t mind it. Just do it and then go out and do what you need to do on the golf course.

JAYDEN SCHAPER: I agree. Media is a big thing for us when you’re just coming up. Obviously it’s a big thing coming up. Yeah, we’ve been exposed to quite a bit of media obviously back at home, trying to get us to get used to moments like this, so it’s not something that we’re not used to, but yeah, I mean, just between practice and going out on the golf course, yeah, kind of used to it, so quite normal.

Q. Have you set any specific targets this week?
JAYDEN SCHAPER: Basically, everyone wants to come out and go for the win. Obviously that’s what you want to do. But I mean, I’m just going to take it one step at a time, one shot at a time and one hole at a time and I’m just going to take it as it comes and enjoy the experience overall.

JOSH HILL: I agree. I think if you don’t aim to win, you’re preparing to fail. Aim for the win and just go out there and have fun and see where that leaves you.

Q. You played this golf course quite a few times. What do you like about it and how much has it suited your style of play over the years?
JOSH HILL: A lot of tee shots, like 8, for example, such a great view, it always makes you smile before you hit the tee shot, which I think helps you a bit.

Q. But the kind of doglegs, you have so many on this golf course, does that fit your eyes?
JOSH HILL: Yeah, I think so, because when I try to hit it hard I like to hit a massive hook. I find it fun doing that. So yeah, there’s a lot of holes which are doglegs right-to-left, so it suits my eye a bit.

Q. How did you like the golf course? You’ve played a couple of rounds.
JAYDEN SCHAPER: So yeah, so yesterday was my first day here. Just went out and played the front nine to get a look and a feel of what the course has to offer, and yeah, I think it suits my game pretty well.

Obviously you’ve got to hit the fairways. The rough is up. So yeah, I had quite fun around the greens yesterday around the rough, and I’m pretty sure it’s not impossible to play motivate of the putts. I think chipping is one of the strong points of any game.

And I’ve heard the back nine is more of a drawer’s paradise, so I’m happy to go out there. I can shape the ball both ways pretty easily and that’s basically what I’ve been working on with my coach. Yeah, if I just trust my game and I go out there, I’m pretty sure I’ll do what I need to do.

Q. Have you got a new nickname?
JAYDEN SCHAPER: Oh, yeah. There’s been quite a few nicknames. Two weeks ago was the “Shaper,” my surname, but yeah, I’ve got so many different nicknames.

Q. Was “Clutch” one of them, as well?
JAYDEN SCHAPER: Oh, yeah, Junior Players, given a few by my mates. Obviously when I’ve had the lead back home a few events, I kind of keep my cool and don’t let go.

Q. What would you prefer for this week?
JAYDEN SCHAPER: Probably the “Shaper” would be a nice one. Obviously I like to shape the golf ball both ways. I don’t know, it’s pretty catchy.

Q. Have you spent a lot of time watching this tournament, like following it?
JOSH HILL: Yeah, a fair bit. I remember when Tiger came here how big the crowd was. It was probably like eight-deep and I was so shocked. I remember being on my dad’s shoulders just watching it from perfect view rather than behind people.

Q. What age would you have been then; do you remember?
JOSH HILL: Four, five.

Q. And what about further on down the years, have you spent much time taking it in?
JOSH HILL: Yeah, I’ve watched a bit of it, but I think I’m — yeah, I’ve watched a bit but not too much. I don’t know, probably playing this week with my friends at clubs, so yeah, I haven’t really done much.

Q. Would you have believed that a few years down the line that you would be playing in this?
JOSH HILL: No, but I mean, it is obviously a dream come true now. Hopefully I can keep on going with it.

Q. Is Steven going to be on the bag again this week? Did he do a good job last week?
JOSH HILL: Yeah, did he a very good job. In between shots, we laughed probably a bit too much. But it was quite nice, laughing with him, especially as I know him so well, so yeah, he’s definitely on the bag this week.

Q. And Toby is taking it well?
JOSH HILL: Yeah, Toby’s done well. It was hard to tell him but he took it well. He said he’ll be down here on Friday, which is nice. So hopefully I’ll see him.

January 21, 2020

Dubai, UAE

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

Categories
Team UK

European Tour: Tommy Fleetwood Meets With The Media Ahead of Omega Dubai Desert Classic

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 19: Tommy Fleetwood of England looks on during Day 4 of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 19, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Francois Nel/Getty Images)

European Tour professional Tommy Fleetwood speaks to the media ahead of the 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic previewing what he expects and also speaking on coming up just short at last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Champion where he finished in second place behind winner Lee Westwood.

European Tour: Tommy Fleetwood talks 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic

CLARE BODEL: Well come to the Emirates Golf Club. You started with a great tied second place last woke in Abu Dhabi. You must be feel coming good coming to the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Yeah, last week was good. Spoke a couple of times, there’s a bit of unknown when you come back out. Last week, I think Thursday, I struggled Thursday I struggled, but in a good sense that I saw my tendencies come out. I saw I struggled a little bit, practiced and moved on to the next day and got better throughout the week and by the end of the week. The way I played and the way I hit my irons over the weekend, you know, I was struggling to actually build a lot of confidence and I felt really good.

You know, first week out, it’s easy to say like when I’ve done well for a few years, but it’s more the weeks where it can build a lot of momentum, but it’s not something that you put too much pressure on or look at too much. It’s just a week to build on, and it just happens to be a very big week of the year now with it being a Rolex Series Event and lucky enough to play well the last few years.

Full Leaderboard/Tee Times: Omega Dubai Desert Classic 2020

CLARE BODEL: Obviously there’s something about this part of the world that suits you. You’ve won a couple of times in Abu Dhabi, had a couple of Top-10s here and played well at the DP World. What is it about playing in the desert that you like?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: I think most players feel very at home when they come out here. There’s so many events now in the Middle East or the UAE; for me, you always start the year out here and hopefully you end the year here. It’s not a given but generally we always end the year in Dubai.

You get used to the golf courses. That’s one side. But I just think as I’ve been playing better, I think there is certain — there’s certain players or there’s certain like styles of golf that fit and people do well around. I’ve not always done well in the Middle East. I feel like I’ve grown to improve, and actually I feel comfortable and it is such a great place to play golf.

I always feel like when we get to this stage, you’re throwing yourself into the game and it’s the first couple of weeks out and you can practice and you feel like you want to be here and you feel really good.

By the end of the year, it’s a great thing to have such a great event and yeah, just always feel like I’m very into golf when I get here.

CLARE BODEL: Is it important, do you think, for momentum to have a good start in the desert? Obviously you won in the region before going on to win The Race to Dubai. Does that help?

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: It definitely helps. I don’t want to put too much pressure on it because the year goes quick, but it is a long year in general. You know, so when you play good or bad, I think it’s important to keep the same attitude, so just because you’ve done well last week, doesn’t mean you come into this week feeling great, everything’s fine. You want to prepare and play this week like you missed the cut last week almost and make sure you’re pushing. There’s things everybody wants to improve. There’s things that people have worked on over the winter that really you’re only going to find out how it goes when you get under pressure.

So you know, you don’t want to put too much pressure on it but clearly people like Shane, myself, Sergio, Danny, they have won majors after winning early on, and in particular, last year Shane and myself, and ’17, I ended up winning The Race to Dubai. It clearly makes a very nice difference if you do well.

Q. You’ve probably grown up — trying to be respectful — you’ve probably grown up reading about Lee Westwood winning victories around the world. The fact he’s won over four decades, what does it say about his longevity in the game, and as a fellow Englishman, would he be an inspiration to people like yourself?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Yeah, I think Lee — I think longevity, it’s going to be like the standard word used for him now. I think the thing is, you know, just because he’s — what is he, 47, 46? His swing hasn’t changed since he’s about 20 and it’s been working fine for the last three decades, so it might as well work in this one.

I think he’s in a really good place himself at the moment, and it’s a different inspiration now. Because you watch him play as a kid, and now you know, as well as he is a competitor, I class him as a friend and somebody that we can speak to and great to hang around with and learn off. I think we’re all lucky to have Lee out on the Tour and absolutely if you can aspire to somebody, Lee is a fantastic person, looking at his career and the way he’s played and how good he’s been for a long time. It’s very, very impressive. I think he’s a great person to have around.

Q. Just as a follow-up to that, obviously we know the role Lee had at The Ryder Cup in France, and got a long way to go to get back as a player, but how much of an achievement would that be if he could do that?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: 100 per cent, yeah. I loved having him around. He was the vice that was around me for two or three rounds, and he had a very calming influence. I guess when you’ve been there for ten, you’re pretty used to it and he knows what he’s doing. There’s no reason why he wouldn’t be on The Ryder Cup Team. I think we’d all love to be there. As a player, I think he’s got a lot to give.

Of course people, it’s going to be something people talk about now that he’s won the first event of the year, and I actually thought he would be on The Ryder Cup Team about six months ago. I think he’s been playing consistently really, really well for a year and a half, two years, and with a win, I don’t see any reason why he wouldn’t be on the team.

Q. I missed the tee time over here, so I don’t know if you’ve been asked about this or not, but second at the DP World Tour Championship, second in Abu Dhabi; you must be sick and tired of being bridesmaid in the UAE?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: It’s better than third. You know what, sometimes — I think one thing that I am learning is that — I think the great thing is, and the positive thing is, I’m putting myself up there now, and last year, I looked at the year and it was clearly frustrating that I had not won an event when I felt like I played some great golf.

Sometimes people just play better. You know, Jon in DP World played the best golf — he played the best golf throughout the year, really, and deserved to win The Race to Dubai. He played the best golf that week. I came up one shy last week; Lee was the best player on the weekend.

You know, there’s plenty of times that’s going to happen, but I’m not going to crumble at this at the moment. Of course, it’s so easy to look at, I missed the cut on Friday or I could have done this better. The great thing is that I’m there or thereabouts and if I can keep going that often enough and keep doing the same things, eventually get it will be my turn. I’d like to be the one that wins, but also, I’d rather be the guy that’s second or third or fifth and if I can keep my golf consistently, and if this is the level I’m playing at more often than not, then it’s a very, very good thing.

Q. Is there something about desert golf that you really like? Is there something technical about the golf course or something that really suits your eyes?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Not really. No all honesty, Abu Dhabi has felt like a hard golf course for me for a long time. I think after 2017, I turned up in 2018 and felt like it suited me a lot better but even this year there’s shots that just don’t fit my eye that often and I feel like I could do better on this course. I feel this course, I almost feel more comfortable on it than Abu Dhabi, but I haven’t played anywhere near as well on it.

I’d like to feel that the way I work and how I try and improve certain areas of my game, that generally most golf courses I feel like I’ve got a chance of competing on and doing well on. So just so happens that the Middle East has been very kind to me at the moment.

Q. Do you ever take much of an interest in the field at the start of the season? Obviously it’s been new names coming about, a 15-year-old this week, new young talent every week. Do you take an interest or do you just carry on?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: No, I’m very self-focused, really. I love the game and I love following the game when I’m kind of not playing, if you like. I still enjoy watching it on TV.

But I think, yeah, I just think any time I come to play, it’s how do I get the best out of it. I don’t really look at rankings too often. I just think there are extra things to think about that get in the way. Players, to be honest, there’s so many new players coming through, I think so many different dynamics to the Tour these days, I think last week is a prime example of how strong the standard is. That golf course, and the way Friday played, the cut nearly went to 2-under around this golf course, and that’s an unbelievable standard.

So guys are getting younger I guess, and new faces that are coming out that are hungry and talented. It’s always changing, but all I can do is improve myself, really, so I try and stick to that.

Q. You just said that you love playing golf in the Middle East and your record is pretty impressive here. When you do win at the start of the year, is there a temptation to add a couple of events as the year goes along?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: I guess so — our schedule was done and started before Christmas and we’ll pretty much stick to that. There might be one that comes out or one that gets added it in. It really won’t change much.

I guess I’m getting used to the notion the last two years; trust yourself to play well when you decide you’re going to play and not just bulk up and play. I’ve always been somebody that plays a lot, and I think that as you get better and as more things arise, if you take this year, for example, hopefully there will be a Ryder Cup.

Hopefully there will be an Olympics and hopefully I’ll get all the way through to the end of the FedEx. You know, hopefully I’ll be at DP World in a chance to win in The Race to Dubai, and I think there’s so many things that go on in the year and I think it’s important that you trust yourself and you’re going to do the work and you’re going to play well when the time comes and not just get carried away with just trying to play all the time and hope for a result, if you like.

That’s something I’ve done in the past. Maybe that’s the wrong way of putting it, but it’s just different, and as my career is progressing, hopefully it keeps going in the right direction, and it is about knowing exactly what you’re going to play and not changing it and backing yourself to play in those events.

Q. What is an ideal stretch for you? Is it two weeks, three weeks, four weeks?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Honestly, I don’t really have one. I think more than four is getting a bit carried away, and I’m not somebody that likes to play one week on and then two or three weeks off. I definitely like at least two, but no more than four and then take it from there.

Like you say, so easy if you play well for three weeks in a row, so easy to carry on because you know you’re playing well. But yeah, it’s going to run out eventually, so you need to rest up.

Q. I was going to ask you about the major venues this year. Apart from Augusta, what do you know about the other three venues? Do you feel as though when you go to majors, you have the talent to be a Major Champion?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: I hope so. I’ve been very close. Things could have gone either way in one or two majors in the past.

I haven’t played St. George’s, ever, and I’ve never played Winged Foot, but I know they are obviously very classical U.S. Open and an Open venue. I played Harding Park; I played that in the match play and enjoyed it. Actually played well that week and obviously Augusta is Augusta.

The majors are the toughest tests and that’s it. They challenge every part of our game. They challenge your mental side. They challenge patience and if you’re up there with a chance to win, they challenge how ready you are to go on and win those events. Unfortunately it’s not happened for me yet, but like I say, hopefully my career is progressing in the right way to eventually become a Major Champion.

Those are really the events that change your life or change your career. They can definitely add to your career. Any time they come around, like I say, it’s a test, really, because everybody wants to win those ones. You can put so much emphasis on, which is actually right, and some people are better at winning than others. I think last year, preparation, I got a couple of things wrong; disappointed but you learn, and hopefully I’ll be better at that this year.

You’re talking about second-place finishes in the last couple events in the UAE or second-place finishes in the in majors, the positive thing is they’re second-place finishes, I’m up there plenty of times, and hopefully it’s just a matter of time and eventually it will be my time and I would love to get one whenever that is.

CLARE BODEL: Thank you, Tommy.

January 21, 2020

Dubai, UAE

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Team UK

European Tour: Lee Westwood Revisits Last Week’s Win and Previews Omega Dubai Desert Classic

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - NOVEMBER 17: Lee Westwood of England acknowledges the crowd on the 18th green during day one of the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates on November 17, 2016 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

European Tour professional and 25 time winner including last week’s Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship speaks with the media ahead of the Dubai Desert Classic, talking last week’s win, preventing injury, and the Super Bowl.

European Tour: Lee Westwood previews 2020 Omega Dubai Desert Classic

BRIONY CARLYON: We welcome our latest winner from The European Tour, Lee Westwood, to the OMEGA Dubai Desert Classic.

It’s great to have you here this week, but question on everyone’s mind is how you celebrated on Sunday night.

LEE WESTWOOD: I think because I had not had a drink for nearly two weeks, it affected many he really quickly. So I was a really cheap date for somebody, after about four beers, I felt I was flying. I just went to the sports bar and watched Liverpool beat Man-United with Thomas Björn, so he was pleased. A few beers, a few pints of Guinness. Went back around 3.00 for a chicken shawarma some chips, watching the 49ers. It was a perfect day, really, round of golf and watching the 49ers get into the Super Bowl.

BRIONY CARLYON: We spoke a few days ago, 25 wins on The European Tour, and obviously how much that meant to you, but have you had time to process its in past 24 hours or so?

LEE WESTWOOD: I think the more you win, the more you get used to getting back to being on an even keel, really. A lot of people, if they are won early in their career, they struggle to bring themselves back again, but I’ve won a lot of tournaments and I’ve won weeks back-to-back.

Full Leaderboard/Tee Times: Omega Dubai Desert Classic 2020

Obviously over the years, I’ve had to really kind of evaluate everything, take it all in, process it, if you call it that — I hate that term — and then get ready for the following week.

Yesterday I came up, hit a few balls, but being here, letting people congratulate me, kind of being around, being present and getting that out of the way, let’s me focus on this week’s tournament quicker.

Q. I would imagine you’d been inundated with people congratulating. Any in particular?
LEE WESTWOOD: All of them, really. Anybody who’s texted me, they are all my friends and they obviously are all very special. Everybody from Gary Player and Greg Norman to Ronan Keating and Robbie Williams. It’s a fairly broad spectrum of friends I’ve got. You know, got like 150 WhatsApps to reply to, 70 text messages and 30 e-mails. I love all the congratulations, but by the end, I was sending the thumbs-up back (laughing).

No, it’s great. I’ve got a lot of good friends, friends from years ago when I was at school sending me e-mails, and that’s really nice.

Q. Not just from golf, larger than sport —
LEE WESTWOOD: It’s nice, kind of — I don’t know how to put it, like you say it wasn’t just golf. People, you know, nearly 47 and he’s hanging in there and still got the drive, four different decades.

Yeah, it’s obviously a big achievement because nobody’s ever done it before. I’m proud of that, and you know, come back down for this week and get focussed on trying to play well again. I might play great and not win this week. But obviously playing great is a priority.

Q. I think I’m right in saying that you’ve been fairly focused in terms of not suffering from various ailments and injuries.
LEE WESTWOOD: I really have.

Q. How have you addressed that? Is it exercise or what you eat or whatever it is?
LEE WESTWOOD: I tell you, what I just spoke to Helen, my fiancé, she’d tell that you my diet could be better, and there’s times when I drink a little bit too much.

But over the years, I’ve worked out a lot and I’m very fortunate to play practice rounds with people like Greg Norman and Nick Price, Nick Faldo in the early years and Gary Player and just obviously impressed upon me working out. I don’t so much need to be skinny, but I’ve always concentrated on maintaining the areas of my body that take a battering, knees, back, shoulders, I’ve done a lot of exercise over the years on them to try and prevent injury, really, rather than getting an injury and then having to fix it. I’ve only really been out once and that was when I tore a calf muscle, basically.

Q. You see various injuries nowadays, ailments.
LEE WESTWOOD: I think also the way I swing it — well, without knowing, I was fortunate when I was a kid that I played lots of different sports. I didn’t start playing golf at five years of age, so I played lots of different sports, rugby, football, cricket. I was a good runner. And all those kind of give me a base, a physical base to work from.

I was just a strong lad growing up and pretty fit. Then I started playing golf at 14. I do sometimes worry about these kids who start playing golf at the age of five now, because golf, you’re bending over, you curve your spine that way, you rotate, as well. It’s not the ideal movement for a six- or seven-year-old kid. You’re just going to end up.

Q. Do you think five is too young?
LEE WESTWOOD: I think, yeah, it probably is. Mentally, you’re not ready for golf at that kind of age. It’s a pretty draining sport mentally, and certainly look at my son, if he’d taken it up at a young age, he wouldn’t have enjoyed the game as much as he’s enjoying it now. He just started at 13, 14 years of age, which I did.

Yeah, I’ve been lucky with injuries, but I’ve also done the work when it’s needed, going to the gym in my late 20s. I probably should have gotten there earlier, but just didn’t switch on quick enough. So I got in the gym around my 30s which coincided with getting to No. 1 in the world and I did a lot of hard work with Steve McGregor kind of from 2006-ish to 2012, which is going to be a good foundation. I’m back working with him again.

So you know, doing a lot of leg strength and flexibility, and a lot of work on my back to try and pull my posture into line. In golf, you’re always like this (hunched over) you need to open them up.

Q. From a 23-year-old who won in 1996, there was so much show of emotion, you running after the ball when you made that long putt at the Scandinavian Masters to the celebrations now, just tell me, how much has the celebrations changed, and also, how much has the week after winning, say, your first tournament, if you just look back at it, and now after winning the 25th tournament, the week after, players go through a lot of highs, highs almost, not any lows. But what have been your experience?
LEE WESTWOOD: Well, that putt — I don’t have quite that energy anymore.

But yeah, you’re right, the following weeks used to be difficult. I took the week off, actually, after winning Scandinavia and I came back and missed the cut. It was difficult. Your first win, you’re obviously in a dream world and it’s very difficult. You’ve not had that experience before, so you don’t know how to handle it. It just comes with experience and winning more tournaments. Now, you know, it takes me — it took me, you know, a day. My drinks are a bit more grown up and my celebrations, as well (chuckling). No more shots.

Q. And nobody has done the UAE quadruple, when I asked you in Abu Dhabi, as well. Is that something that’s a thought as you go into this week?
LEE WESTWOOD: No, I didn’t even realize it happened to be honest until people started talking about it. It’s not something that even registered with me. But obviously it’s nice to do it, and I think as a golfer, you just — you should just focus on the bare facts, break it down trying to play well that week. If you’re good enough and you play your best game, then you’ll have a chance of winning out here.

Q. When did you hook up again with Steve?
LEE WESTWOOD: About March last year. I had a sit-down with him. Didn’t really fully commit to it and didn’t get into it, but he’s always trying to get me back into the gym and doing stuff like that. If somebody pushes me to something, I just kind of shut off, and I think now he’s kind of learning to just tease me in there. I went on holidays, Thailand over Christmas and the new year, and went in every day. Maintenance stuff, exercise work, shoulder blades, more flexibility in my shoulder. It’s all based around just trying to swing the golf club and injury prevention, really, and he obviously said gaining a bit of weight, it’s easy to turn fast, when you don’t have to shift all this fat around.

Q. So team Westy would be Steve, Ben, Phil, Rocky, Helen?
LEE WESTWOOD: Helen, who was caddying for me that week, yeah. I try to bring them all together, and so we’re all singing off the same hymn sheet.

Q. You obviously talked about the Ryder Cup on Sunday, but have your other goals changed for this year as a result of how well you played last week and the win, obviously being in the majors, in particular?
LEE WESTWOOD: Yeah, I didn’t really have any goals. My goal is simply, you know, this is the work with Ben, the goal is to work on the mental side of the game because I feel like that’s where — that part of the game, if anything, has been lacking and that’s going to enable me to play my best more often.

So I’ve been working on that part of the game, and it is basically just go out, try my best, have fun, and just control what I control. You know, the movements in my golf swing and stuff like that. I know if I get it in the right positions on the golf plane, I hit the ball straight, and you know what, shock; if I hit the ball straight and starts holing a few putts, I’m talented enough to win tournaments, and if I win tournaments, I move up with the World Ranking points and move up the Money List and start qualifying for World Golf Championships and majors and possibly at the end of the year, The Ryder Cup Team, who knows.

Q. In Abu Dhabi, if we really look at the entire tournament, first round was not your best round?
LEE WESTWOOD: I played well the first round.

Q. Just looking at the scores. But what I wanted to ask you is that I saw you on a few holes with Eddie and Poulter and you were really having a blast and you were really enjoying the round, even though those two or in the really playing as well?
LEE WESTWOOD: They struggled a bit. But to answer Martin’s question, my goal is to just go out there and have fun and if I’m playing with two lads that are friends of mine and that I get on with, and I love Eddie’s sense of humour; and I’ve always gotten on with Poults and you know what Poults is like, he’s like a peacock out there, bouncing around, chest out, and he just makes me chuckle and he gets me in a good mood.

You know, first two rounds of the year, nobody we’re just out there really breaking ourselves in for a year. I played solid over the first two days, and then obviously played better over the last two days, you know, started holing a few more putts. My stats were pretty good over the first two days. I hit a lot of fairways. After three rounds, I hit as many fairways as anybody, so it wasn’t like the first two rounds was a bit scrappy or anything.

Q. Get a text from Padraig?
LEE WESTWOOD: I haven’t, no. He’s probably trying to not put too much pressure on me, not that he could.

Q. When you have played as much as you have, and when you have won as much as you have, is there anything else that you look forward to in your career, and what’s kind of the legacy that you’d like to have?
LEE WESTWOOD: My legacy, I don’t want — when I die, I don’t want people to sit down and golf be the first thing they mention about me. I want them to focus on other things. You know, he was a nice lad or you know good fella and you could always go towards him. He was never nasty to people. He always tried to do the right thing, and then he won a few golf tournaments.

Q. 49ers is your team?
LEE WESTWOOD: Since the late 80s, Jerry Rice — they only showed one game a week in England. Channel 4.

Q. Can I ask you one last question? Of all the 18 holes over there at Majelis, which one is your favorite and why?
LEE WESTWOOD: There’s a lot of good holes on this golf course. I think 6 is probably the toughest hole. You know, you’ve got to hit the fairway, narrow green — well, it certainly helps if you hit the fairway. But I think 18 is a cracking finishing hole. Always provides excitement.

But I think as far as looking at a hole, the 8th is one of the most spectacular holes, and also with the new tee on 9, 9 is going to be one of the sneaky hard holes again this week. Got to hit the fairway. I mean, I haven’t been out there yet but I like the way everybody is talking about it. They have added a little bit of length. It’s just a golf course that I’ve always enjoyed playing. Whenever I’ve come out here on holiday, I’ve come here and I’ve always enjoyed playing this golf course. Obviously you look the results, you’d say it suits me.

BRIONY CARLYON: All the best this week.

January 21, 2020

Dubai, UAE

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Categories
LPGA Tour

LPGA Tour: Nasa Hataoka Recaps her Playoff Loss at The 2020 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 20: Nasa Hataoka of Japan plays a shot on the sixth playoff hole during the continuation of the final round of the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions at Tranquilo Golf Course at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando on January 20, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

LPGA Professional and three time winner on Tour Nasa Hataoka speaks with the media following her playoff loss to Gaby Lopez at the 2020 Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions. Hataoka finished the tournament with a final score of -13 under par and in second place.

LPGA Tour: Nasa Hataoka speaks about coming up just short at The Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions

Q. What was this whole experience like? Were you feeling pressure? Were you ready to go? What was this like?
NASA HATAOKA: A lot of feelings, all the feelings, everything. Being so long and taking so much and just having this playoff, it’s a lot of feelings, yeah.

Q. Tell me about the first hole, the first playoff hole, when you were short and had that amazing chip up onto the green.
NASA HATAOKA: I’ve been practicing those shots all this time, so I just went for it.

Q. And then the second shot when you knew Gaby had made the birdie, what were the thoughts going through your mind as you stood over that putt?
NASA HATAOKA: I did feel the pressure when she made that birdie putt. I thought I was going to be able to make it. I was going to make it, but it was not a putt that a person who was thinking they were going to make it could do it.

Q. Tough putt?
NASA HATAOKA: Yeah.

Q. What do you take from this experience? A lot of pressure, a lot of feelings. What do you take from it to grow for the future?
NASA HATAOKA: As much as I thought with all the pressure and everything, I was able to play as usual. So I think for the future I would try to adjust myself for that, to not feel the pressure, just keep playing the way I always do.

Q. But this is still a great way for you to start your season. How do you move from here? Is this a good way to start your season?
NASA HATAOKA: Being a celebrity Pro-Am, I thought I was going to just enjoy it and have fun, but then being able to be in the final and do the playoff, that was a really good experience, and I think this would help me in the future. When the tournaments start to get harder and harder, it will be a good lesson for me.

January 20, 2019

Lake Bueno Vista, Florida

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Categories
Ladies Tours

LPGA Tour: Gaby Lopez Recaps 7th Hole Playoff Victory at The Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 20: Gaby Lopez of Mexico poses with the trophy after winning the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions at Tranquilo Golf Course at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando on January 20, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

LPGA professional Gaby Lopez speaks to the media following her victory at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions, coming on the 7th playoff hole during a Monday finish. Lopez bested Nasa Hataoka and Inbee Park in the playoff with a final score of -13 under par.

LPGA Tour: Gaby Lopez speaks with media following the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions

Q. What makes this win so special today?
GABY LOPEZ: Today I was thinking thinking of my first win, and I dedicated my first win to my granddad that passed away a month before my first win. Yesterday I called my dad that I wanted to have my grandmom with him and my family this morning so she could see me dedicate this win to her.

Q. Was she watching TV?
GABY LOPEZ: She was watching the TV. I just FaceTimed them, and she was there, and I was like, my first win was for my granddad, and this one goes for you.

Q. What’s her name?
GABY LOPEZ: Vania.

Q. And what’s your granddad’s name?
GABY LOPEZ: Jose.

Q. What did you hit here?
GABY LOPEZ: I hit a 3 hybrid.

Q. Was that what you were hitting yesterday, or did you have to change?
GABY LOPEZ: Yesterday was really funny. The last round, when I first made birdie, it was into the wind, so I had a perfect 3 hybrid. In the playoffs, it was coming downwind, so I had to switch to my 4 hybrid. I wasn’t very sure if I needed a 3 hybrid or a 4 hybrid. I was switching all the time on those six holes that we were playing.

This morning, my coach, my caddie, and I were on the TrackMan, and we were looking at numbers because it’s freezing right now. So we just took the number, and we knew it was downwind, but it was a perfect 3 hybrid.

Q. Saluting the grounds crew, is that something you got from Lorena? She used to do that all the time.
GABY LOPEZ: Yes, Lorena started this tradition, and I think that was the most important thing from her. She was No. 1 on the golf course, but she was so humble, and she was being able to take the time to sit down with all the gardeners, the Mexican gardeners that we don’t get to see, and they’re here since 4:00 in the morning, and they leave at 9:00 p.m.

I think they need more recognition than we actually give them.

Q. And wearing Mexico’s colors on Sunday, winning in them today, just tell us about that.
GABY LOPEZ: Yes, since I’m a little kid, I got in love — in golf, I got in love with representing Mexico outside of Mexico in the U.S. It was always team events, and we were always wearing red, white, and green. I don’t know, it was something that comes with me since I’m a little kid. I’m extremely proud to represent Mexico, especially because we have now two Mexicans on the Tour. For a long time, it was Lorena only, and then it was Violeta Retamoza, and now it was only me. This year Maria came with me on Tour.

So I’m just hoping that it’s not only us two. I’m really hoping that a good ten Mexican girls can jump in the LPGA, and we can all travel together and achieve our dreams together.

Q. You’ve played this hole seven times now, eight if we count the regulation. Are you glad that you’re not seeing this hole anymore, or because you have half the birdies on this hole, it’s not so bad?
GABY LOPEZ: No, I really like it. I have lots of respect for this golf course. It plays extremely difficult when it’s windy and especially when it’s cold. I don’t know, I just feel like being able to feel comfortable here since last year. Last year I was playing great until the last nine holes. I came in fifth, and I ended up top ten, and it was my first top ten of the year. Those memories were positive to me.

To me this year, I’ve changed a lot of things on my swing. I’ve changed a lot of things on my stroke. I’ve changed a lot of things. To be honest, coming into this week, I had no idea if I was going to play well. I wasn’t hitting the ball great in Mexico. It was funky. It was all over the place. I had discussions with my coach if I really needed a change on my swing, but I did because I went to the hospital to get a neck thing.

So, yeah, being able to kind of trust the process and trust in him and being able to believe in myself and in my team, my caddie, I mean, it just takes a team effort. My family in Mexico, they’re a huge part of my team.

Q. To get up this early and the weather changing so drastically, how tough was it to get here and get on the range?
GABY LOPEZ: It was tough to sleep. I mean, yesterday it was calm. It was easy for me to play the six holes in the playoff, or five, but this — I mean, last night was hard. I could not sleep. I was meditating. I was listening to music. I was trying to stay calm.

So as soon as the alarm hit the clock, I’m like, okay, let’s go. Let’s roll. I got here at 6:00 a.m., and I started my warmup like it was a normal day. I needed to get in the routine that I was going to play 18 holes. That was my mindset. I don’t know how many it’s going to take us to make a birdie here. I just asked Dan, I mean, are we going to move from the hole? It’s hard to make birdie here. He said, no, we’re sticking here. So I’m like okay.

So my goal was to hit the green every time I teed up. And I knew — I knew one was going to drop because I’ve been hitting that putt every single time. I guess the seventh time’s the charm.

Q. How did that compare to the putt you had on the last hole in regulation?
GABY LOPEZ: To the last putt?

Q. Yeah, you had the birdie on your final hole to get into the playoff. How were they compared?
Q. Different spots on the green, right?
GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, different spots. I was above the hole on that one. That was actually — when I had that putt, I used to talk with my coach in Arkansas that, if you ever have a putt you want to make, you want it to be downhill because you just need to hit the right line. I mean, you just hit it, and the slope is going to take all the work. So, yeah, as soon as I had the putt, I remember Shauna telling me, hey, we want this, we want this, embrace it.

I’m just happy to be able to pull off the shots under pressure that I needed to.

Q. How long was that putt in regulation? In the final hole, your final 72 holes.
GABY LOPEZ: Yeah, that was 17 feet, downhill.

January 20, 2020

Lake Bueno Vista, Florida

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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Professionals

European Tour: Victor Perez Revisits Final Round 63 at The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 19: Victor Perez of France celebrates after putting in for an eagle on the eighteenth green during the final round on Day Four of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 19, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

European Tour professional Victor Perez speaks to the media following his incredible final round of 63 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in which he finished in a tie for second with total score of -17 under par.

European Tour: Victor Perez speaks to the media following final round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Q. You’ve made incredible strides this weekend, today alone out in 33 coming back in 30 for an incredible 63. What was the difference?
VICTOR PEREZ: Really hard to tell. It was one of those things, you just play and you kind of get in the flow of the round, and obviously I felt like I needed to have a good round. I felt like I was well-rested starting the first tournament of the year.

I felt like I had a really good off-season preparing for the upcoming 2020 season, and obviously very pleased to be able to hold a fourth round on the first event of the year. It’s one of those things, I started to make a few putts. I feel like I putted very well this week, which is always needed for this kind of performance and obviously delighted.

Q. I think you had a well-needed break, as well, because after that incredible win, Alfred Dunhill Links, you went on to make some incredible results at the WGC and some Rolex Series. What have those results done for your confidence?
VICTOR PEREZ: Yeah, obviously a lot of confidence from these tournaments. Just thrive on these moments. I think you take a lot from it, and you try to take all the positives.

Full Leaderboard: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2020

I think it shows you that you can do it at that level, and then obviously you come into these types of tournaments feeling a lot more comfortable compared to 12 months ago when this was my second Rolex Series Event. So obviously it’s a lot different than it was 1 months ago. It shows how quickly things can go in this game and obviously I’m going to try to keep on going.

Q. This time last year when you walked off the course in Abu Dhabi, you were 13th in the world and today you stand in the Top-50. What a difference a year makes?
VICTOR PEREZ: Yeah, it shows everyone that it’s doable and that I can get better. You see guys playing really well, but it’s about me to continue getting better.

Obviously I’m very pleased with where I am, but I think it’s a continuous process, and you always try to learn. This year is going to be brand new again for me like last year was, being my first year on The European Tour last year, and this year I’m going to be getting in some majors. So obviously this will be all new, so it’s learning, and that’s the great thing about golf, you always learn, good or bad, really.

January 19, 2020

Abu Dhabi, UAE

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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Team USA

PGA Tour: Scottie Scheffler Reflects on Third Place Finish at The American Express

LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Scottie Scheffler plays his shot from the 14th hole during the final round of The American Express tournament at the Stadium Course at PGA West on January 19, 2020 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

PGA Tour professional Scottie Scheffler recaps just falling short of a victory at the 2020 American Express as well as his hot start to the 2020 season including four top 10 finishes to this point.

PGA Tour: Scottie Scheffler speaks with media after third place finish at The American Express

Q. Great finish. What’s going through your mind? How would you describe today?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I’m a little disappointed. I didn’t have my best stuff today. Swing felt pretty loose again and got the best of me early and just put myself too far behind. I still had a chance there at the end and I hit a really good shot on 17 that I thought was going to go a lot closer and just didn’t.

Q. The shot at 16 was pretty close. That was pretty special to pull within one?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: That was good. It was about time. I felt like I started to play some good golf, just couldn’t really get anything going, hit a few lips, had some good looks and I thought the chip on 15 was going to go in too, that one looked good. I was close all day. I wasn’t too far off, so it definitely gives me some confidence going into next week.

Full Leaderboard: The American Express 2020

Q. You have four top-10s at the start of this ’19-‘ 20 season. That’s pretty impressive.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Thank you. I appreciate it. Top-10s are great. I feel like I’ve been playing pretty consistent. Hoping to get a win soon, though. But you got to stay patient with that It’s not easy to win out here and there’s a reason that the winning percentage isn’t very high, but I’m off to a good start.

Q. You come up a little short today. You fought hard, you had a great attitude out there, and then all of a sudden at the end you actually gave yourself a chance to win. How happy are you with your golf this week?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I feel like I played solid most of the week. My swing felt a little loose, for the most part, but I played great up until today. When the swing feels loose like that it’s tough to play under the heat of competition. Timing has to be so good. Things speed up there towards the end and just wasn’t sharp enough today. And happy for Andrew, he played great and looking forward to next week.

Q. Swing didn’t look real loose on that 5-iron on 16 that went sky high in there close and ended up making an eagle. Talk us through that one.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, it was pretty good. I had a good number there. It was about 220 pin and just had to carry it onto the front edge. And shot looked good, it was about time, I needed to pull something off if I wanted to have a chance and that was a fun shot.

Q. You had great success on the Korn Ferry last year, you’re off it to a great start you’re rookie year out here, this has to be encouraging for you.
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Very encouraging. I’ll take a lot of confidence from this week, just because I feel like I wasn’t swinging my best, but to get around here in 23-under is awesome. I was just coming in this week hoping to shake off some rust and was lucky to play some good golf. So I feel good going into the next few weeks and the rest of the year.

Q. How would you assess how the final round played out today?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I struggled for the most part today, my swing felt pretty bad. But I was able to kind of right the ship and start hitting some good shots and still had a chance to win there towards the end. So overall I’m happy with how this week went, a little disappointed in today, but I’m encouraged going forward.

Q. As you’re watching Andrew make bogeys on 13, 14 and 15, at what point were you like, I’m still in this tournament?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Well I never really felt like I was that far out of it. On a course like this you can make a lot of birdies and there’s some tough holes coming in. So I was just really just waiting for a spark. And I really hit some good shots, nearly made a long putt on 14 I thought was going in, I thought I chipped in on 15, and then eagled 16, and the shot on 17 was actually I thought I stuffed it, I don’t know how it came up that far short but it happens.

Q. So what do you take away from this week? You’ve done so well on the Korn Ferry TOUR, you come out in the fall and you play well, third place finish this week. How much confidence is that building for you?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Definitely a confidence boost. I was just coming in this week hoping to shake off some rust and was fortunate to play so well and give myself a chance to win. It’s a lot of fun being in contention, so I look forward to hopefully doing it again next week.

January 19, 2020

La Quinta, California

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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Team UK

European Tour: Matthew Fitzpatrick Talks Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship and 2020 Season

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 19: Matthew Fitzpatrick of England lines up a putt on the on the eighteenth green during the final round on Day Four of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 19, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

European Tour professional Matthew Fitzpatrick speaks with the media about his hot start to the 2020 season as well as recapping his performance at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship in which he finished in a tie for second place with a score of -17 under par.

European Tour: Matthew Fitzpatrick recaps Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Full Leaderboard: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2020

Q. A final round 67 here in Abu Dhabi, and the incredible Rolex Series performances that you bring continue. How do you feel about today’s performance?
MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Good, yeah. Apart from one missed putt, wouldn’t take a shot back, and to come off the golf course, that’s a great feeling, despite not enough to win, it’s been a great week.

Q. It’s very rare that we see you not have two great putting days in a row. It looked like after 2,3, and 4 we were going to see one of those days today?
MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: Yeah, definitely. Front nine I felt like could I hole everything and managed to hole one putt for par, which was nice to keep a bit of momentum going.

Yeah, just on back nine, just couldn’t make a thing. It was just one of those days, but hey, that’s golf. I’m delighted. It’s a great start to the year, and sort of you’re always a little bit nervous when you come into the start of the year after taking so much time off. So to come back and play as well as I felt I have done is a positiv,e.

Q. You took a share of the lead after 4 and I’m sure would you have noticed on the leaderboard Tommy making a run today. At what point did you think things weren’t turning for you after the turn; that you might pull something or stick to the process?
MATTHEW FITZPATRICK: That Tommy Fleetwood, he’s so annoying. He just comes from everywhere, but yeah, he’s definitely one of those, I have to stick to what I was doing; and he’s probably the most disciplined golfer I’ve ever played with, just picking targets and sticking to them and not even being tempted to be greedy, really.

January 19, 2020

Abu Dhabi, UAE

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports