Category: Professionals

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European Tour: Tommy Fleetwood Talks Closing Round 63 at Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 19: Tommy Fleetwood of England tees off on the 16th hole 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 and PGA Tour professional Tommy Fleetwood speaks to the media about his final round 63 and his 29th birthday. Fleetwood finished the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship with a final score of -17 under par and in a tie for second place.

European Tour: Tommy Fleetwood revisits closing round 63 at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Q. You’re 29 years old today, one more than that number to the turn, 63 to close. Tell us about it.
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: It was good, really good. Felt like the whole week, really, gradually got better. Felt like I struggled on Thursday. Had a really about practice session and played really good Friday when it was really tough conditions. Felt like I played so good yesterday and hit a couple of ropey drives and missed a couple of putts and 5-under was really the worst the could have been and then today just got out and played great, really.

It’s weird, a little disappointed on the last, just got the tee shot way, and even then, the last, the wedge, can’t seem to get it right all these years. But you couldn’t really complain about 63, final day.

Full Leaderboard: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2020

Q. You know how the final few holes are playing. Is 17-under going to be a little shy?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: Yeah, I’m pretty sure. I don’t want to call it, you never know, but I’m pretty sure. I think Lee obviously looks like he’s playing really, really good, and with sort of — yeah, the way the last four holes played, I think 15 is a nice wind for that pin and it’s always a pretty flat green, and 16, 17, 18, you’re hitting tee shots downwind. Looks like Lee is playing great. I’m happy to have put a weekend’s golf in and it’s a nice start to the year.

Q. Incredible 63 in your final round. You must have felt disheartened that every time you’re making tremendous strides through the field, Lee is making birdies matching yours?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: I think you just concentrate on what you’re doing and every time, every week we play, somebody is going to play great golf and at the moment that’s Lee. I’m very, very happy with my weekend, felt like I played some really good golf.

At the end of the day, golf is very, very difficult and there’s so many top, top players now, I think this week shows the standard when the cut was nearly 2-under and it felt so difficult, and then you always look at the winning score. The winning score is better than what you think it is and to have another good result in these events is great. Just happy with my own performance, and if Lee goes on to do it, then fair play to him.

Q. Is there one part of your game you’re most satisfied about coming back, new tournament, new season?
TOMMY FLEETWOOD: I think the week’s been satisfying in a way that I struggled on Thursday, and I think after — I’ve been practicing really well, and Thursday, got out there, didn’t play as well as I wanted to. I said after the round, I think it was good in a sense that the tendencies showed up, I can work on them, come back the next day and try again. As the week progressed, my prep’s been good and my iron play has been brilliant, especially over the weekend, I feel like it’s been as sharp as it has been for the last year and years gone by.

Putted well over the weekend. So the game is progressing. My short game this week, I didn’t make many bogeys; that’s something to be happy with. It’s always the first week of the year, and you never quite know what’s going to turn up, so happy that I performed, happy with how I feel and it was nice getting the juices flowing really, on the last, knowing that I could post a score.

January 19, 2020

Abu Dhabi, UAE

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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Professionals

PGA Tour: Abraham Ancer Speaks With the Media Following Final Round at The 2020 American Express

LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Abraham Ancer of Mexico reacts to his putt on the 18th green 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 Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

PGA Tour professional Abraham Ancer talks to the media following a final round charge with a round of 63. Ancer finished solo second behind winner Andrew Landry with a final score of -24 under par.

PGA Tour: Abraham Ancer Talks late round surge and runner up finish at The 2020 American Express

Q. So first off, what a great round. 63 in the final round. What was working so well for you out there?
ABRAHAM ANCER: I was hitting it. I hit the ball well off the tee, really good iron shots and I started making some good putts. All week, really, I hit the ball great off the tee and iron shots, and in the first three rounds I feel like I didn’t score as low as I should have for how good I hit the ball, but stayed patient and today the putts started to fall in.

Q. At what point did you look up at the leaderboard and realize you might have a real chance at this?
ABRAHAM ANCER: On 17, right before I hit my tee shot I realized I was tied. I thought I was going to be maybe two, three back, and then I looked up. At the beginning of the round, I just said I just need to make as many birdies as I can and try and see what happens. So I wasn’t paying much attention to the leaderboard. And then that’s when I noticed and I was like, all right, well, we got to make two other birdies. I made the putt there on 17, which was big, and then just couldn’t make it happen on 18. But I played good, man. I’m proud of how I played.

Full Leaderboard: The American Express 2020

Q. You’ve been knocking on the door for your first win out here on the PGA TOUR for a couple of tournaments. What do you take away from this week that’s going to help you down the line?
ABRAHAM ANCER: Well, it was good shooting a low round like that when I needed to, shoot a very low one to have a chance. And I knew that and I knew the shots I had to pull off and that just gives me a lot of confidence. Seeing the ball go in a lot, making a lot of birdie, obviously, moving forward definitely gives me confidence.

January 19, 2020

La Quinta, California

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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Team UK

European Tour: Lee Westwood Speaks Following 2020 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship Victory

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 19: Lee Westwood of England poses with the trophy after the final round 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)

PGA Tour and European Tour professional Lee Westwood speaks with the media following his 25th European Tour victory and 44th victory overall coming at the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

European Tour: Lee Westwood talks to the media following Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

CLARE BODEL: Lee, second Rolex Series win, your 25th European Tour win; 40-something worldwide; you’ve won in four decades —

LEE WESTWOOD: That’s the one.

CLARE BODEL: That’s the one. Pretty good day?

LEE WESTWOOD: Very good. I felt pretty comfortable all week, and not sort of wanting to say how good I felt, I’ve been swinging, but more trying to keep a lid on how good I felt I’ve been putting.

I don’t know why it is, I put in a lot of hard work with Phil Kenyon and I’ve been working with Ben Davis on the psychological part of it, but I really felt quite calm on the greens this week and rolled a lot of good putts. That was the key to winning, really. You’ve got to putt well to win any tournament, but especially these in the desert because the greens are so immaculate, you know that everybody is going to hole their putts.

It was great, and like you say, four different decades. Feel really old when somebody says that, don’t you. Luckily most of you have been here throughout, so I know you’ve all aged, as well. Looking at hair, for starters.

CLARE BODEL: Talking about being one of the more experienced gentlemen on Tour, you said that one of your ambitions now is to make The Ryder Cup Team again. Is that something that’s now at the forefront of your mind, as you beat three young pups who were also amongst it to second place?

Full Leaderboard: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2020

LEE WESTWOOD: It’s not only an ambition, it’s only come to the forefront of my mind, that now I’ve got a chance to make The Ryder Cup Team. I thought I was done in The Ryder Cup to be honest as a player. I’ve played ten, and I really enjoyed watching everybody else suffer in the last one.

You know, now I give myself a chance to play, so yeah, I’ll just play week-in, week-out, just to see. I’m not going to increase my schedule or anything like that. I’m just going to play week-in, week-out and see where that takes me. But I’ll be playing in all the big tournaments again. The World Golf Championships are all on the calendar now and obviously every major, so who knows.

CLARE BODEL: And just a bit about this tournament, a place that you’ve played quite a few times over the years. How special is it to win here in Abu Dhabi?

LEE WESTWOOD: It’s great to win. I’ve played well here in the past. Obviously a couple of years ago, Helen caddied for me, the first time she caddied and we finished Top-10, and the first time I ever came, I finished second I think to Martin Kaymer, tied with Henrik.

So it’s a golf course I’ve always felt like, yeah, it suits me, but you know, just never really quite putted well enough, but this week certainly did. What did I make, four bogeys all week? That’s pretty good golf.

CLARE BODEL: Certainly a good week.

Q. The four decades thing, you’re the first to do that. You think of the names who haven’t done it, Ernie —
LEE WESTWOOD: I can’t see it being five (laughter) but you never know, do you.

Q. How much pride does that give you?
LEE WESTWOOD: It gives me a lot of pride to set new sort of targets for everybody. That’s what sport’s about, isn’t it. I’m surprised I’m the first one to do it.

But you know, I’ve been out here a long time, this is my 28th season. So yeah, I’d like to add a few more to that. But I think it just shows the level I’ve played at for such a long time, longevity in sport is difficult to achieve.

And obviously I kept myself supremely fit a finally tuned athlete over all those years and paying off now. I feel as healthy now as I ever have playing golf. Don’t groan too much when I get out of bed in the morning to put my socks on; you know what that’s like.

I’ve got like a new commitment to the gym. I was in there this morning and I did 40 minutes’ cardio, trying to get a bit of weight off, just so my body functions a bit better in the golf swing.

If I’ve got that kind of drive, then I feel like I can continue to move on like this.

Q. And the tears, you’re not really known for your emotion but they were obviously flowing on the 18th.
LEE WESTWOOD: It’s Tim Barter; every time I talk to him, he makes me want to cry.

No, I think it’s to do with handling my emotions really well on the golf course, and when it’s all over, that’s the time it just releases and I can let myself go. It just happens to be that Tim’s always there (laughing.)

CLARE BODEL: Quickly, hate to tell you, but you’re not the first, but you’re in a very elite group along with Des Smyth and Mark McNulty.

Q. On the Senior Tour or European Tour only?
CLARE BODEL: We’ll work it out.

Q. You’ve talked to us a lot in the last couple of years about just going out there, and there is still a massive competitive drive that is still coursing in your veins.
LEE WESTWOOD: Yeah, Ben has instilled in me the fact that I’m playing the game I love for a living, and I should enjoy it, and sometimes it gets to the point where you don’t enjoy it enough.

You know, we’re lucky to be doing what we’re doing, and a lot of people are far less fortunate. I’ve tried to go out, if things are going wrong, I don’t really lose my temper anymore. I’ve never been a club breaker, but I don’t really get wound up too much. I’ve become much more analytical and less emotional on the golf course.

He’s tried to impart that on me, and I think that’s just spreading through my whole game and my putting everything, and I’m on a very even keel; and if the ball doesn’t go in, the ball doesn’t go in. The only thing I can control are the movement and the actions I’m doing to roll it on line to the hole. It might hit something or I might misread it, but I brush it off and move on to the next, and it’s served me well.

Yeah, that’s kind of the way I’m trying to play it now.

Q. You’ve shown you’re just a big softy, really.
LEE WESTWOOD: Sorry?

Q. You’ve shown you’re a big softy, really.
LEE WESTWOOD: I’ve always known I’ve been a big softy.

Q. Is that why it means more to you, maybe you thought these days were gone? And even before Sun City, because it had been a few years, hadn’t it.
LEE WESTWOOD: I certainly wasn’t playing well enough and hitting the ball well enough and putting well enough to win golf tournaments.

Yeah, ’98, ’99, 2000, ’98 I think I won eight tournaments in one year, and 2000 I won eight tournaments and year and ’99 I won seven or something stupid like that, and they were coming along like taxis, and I didn’t appreciate it enough, I don’t think, and now I appreciate it and I appreciate all the hard work that has to go into it.

I was working hard back then, but winning was coming easy, and I think that’s just because I was a young man and I was rolling with the momentum of it all.

Q. I think Tim mentioned you’re up to 29th in the World Rankings and that gets you in all the majors and WGCs. What’s that mean to qualify so early in the new season and have the assurance of being in those events?
LEE WESTWOOD: Well, you can make a plan, can’t you. You can schedule a little bit better. I was going to play this week, Dubai and Saudi and then I wasn’t sure when I was going to play again. I know I’m going to play at the Honda in Palm Beach Gardens, but I didn’t know whether I would be going into Mexico the week before and I didn’t know whether I would be in the Match Play.

So I probably — well, I’ll definitely go to Mexico and I’ll play the Honda, and then I might try to get a tournament in between then and the Match Play. I’m playing the week before the Masters in Texas; they have been good enough to give me an invite, and then obviously the Masters.

But I won’t play a massive amount more. I’ll still probably only play 24, 25 times a year. That’s just the way I feel like I’ve got to play now to turn up to a tournament and be in the best possible shape to compete.

I think gone are my days of playing 30, 30 events a year. I am 47 in April and body and mind just won’t take that quite as well.

Q. How do you think about Francesco Laporta? I’m an Italian journalist.
LEE WESTWOOD: I was very impressed with his game. He got a couple of brutal breaks out there in bunkers. He got a plug lie on 13, which is probably the worst lie I’ve ever seen in a bunker. And then he plugged it again under the lip on 14.

But yeah, I thought he’ll learn a lot from today I think. He needs to work on his game a little bit, but I think there’s definitely the makings of a tournament winner there.

Lee Westwood Talks Landmark Victory on European Tour

Q. This is a landmark 25th win for you on The European Tour and 44 professional wins. You had an off-season in Thailand and you tested clubs. How are you going to celebrate this now?
LEE WESTWOOD: I didn’t take my clubs to Thailand. I had no intention of playing golf there. I was just there to relax and a lot of sleeping, and I did have a couple of glasses of rosé and a couple of beers.

After Thailand, I decided to do Dry January, which right now seems a massive mistake (laughter) and I’ll do really well to get through tonight without a drink. Everybody’s offering me one, but I’ve held out so far. Normally you’d see me with a glass of champagne or Corona in hand, but I’ve managed not to have a drink so far.

I’ll give you an update tomorrow whether I’m still committed to the cause. But I would like to. I would like to get right through the next two weeks and then we’ll see. I’m trying to lose a bit of weight, so I can’t really drink.

Q. As impressive as your putting was throughout this week, even your driving was outstanding. I thought it was one of the best exhibition of driving from anyone in the field this week. Just talk to us about the driving aspect.
LEE WESTWOOD: I’ll tell you a little story — my driving was very good this week,, but it’s down to the work I’ve done with Robert Rock.

He sent me a text last night and he said, “Don’t tell me that I’ve actually won something that you’ve never won.”

And I said, “Give me a day.” So I can’t wait to text him (laughter). So now he’s not won something I haven’t won. I’ve got my name on there, as well.

But yeah, obviously the key to playing good golf is getting in the fairways, especially on a golf course like this. You know, work the ball right-to-left and left-to-right whenever I wanted to and I hit a lot of fairways. I think I hit the most out of everybody before the final round. Golf courses like this play easier if you can play from the fairway.

Lee Westwood previews next week’s Dubai Desert Classic

Q. Next week, Dubai Desert Classic, is now the only tournament in the UAE that you have not won. You’ve even won The Race to Dubai. It’s like the UAE quadruple waiting for you to happen over there. How are you looking forward to that now?
LEE WESTWOOD: I’m just looking forward to Dubai Desert Classic, anyway, because I think it’s one of the best tournaments on The European Tour calendar.

I love playing the Emirates Golf Club. Hence, I played well in the past. I finished second a couple of times. A bit unlucky to lose to Miguel in a playoff a few years back.

So I’m looking forward to going back there with some form and you’ll see me on the range tomorrow afternoon working on my swing and preparing properly for Thursday to try and hit that first shot down the fairway and go on from there. Carry the form in from this week.

Q. When you walk on the range next week and all the young guys congratulate you and shake your hand —
LEE WESTWOOD: I’ll have no idea —

Q. What will you say —
LEE WESTWOOD: I’ll have no idea who most of them are. I suddenly realized a few months ago why everyone has their name on their golf bags; it’s for people on me; you walk along there, who is that lad on the range hitting it 330 yards.

I’m always open to people coming and asking questions, yeah.

Q. If you were asked, in a short sentence, what’s the key to winning over four decades?
LEE WESTWOOD: Hard work. Yeah, you’ve got to be dedicated and you’ve got to love it and you’ve got to love practicing. Because there’s no shortcuts. It’s just hard work. You know, when you think about leaving the range in one afternoon, going and sitting by the pool or having a beer or something like that (shaking head) stay on the range another hour.

A few years back, there was Tiger, myself and Vijay were the last three on the range, and it wasn’t a coincidence that the best players are the hardest workers.

Q. Your amazing Ryder Cup career, and then it seemed to end on that jarring note in Hazeltine last time. Just wonder how much you’d relish the chance to put that right in Wisconsin?
LEE WESTWOOD: Yeah, I didn’t really feel that jarred by Hazeltine. You know, I’ve been on losing Ryder Cup teams, and I’ve been on seven winning ones. It’s a big honor to represent Europe in The Ryder Cup.

I was joking when I said, you know, I would love to play another Ryder Cup as long as I’m good enough. I wouldn’t want a pick, but if I qualified, I would definitely play.

So you know, I’ll be trying my hardest, there’s no doubt about that, but you can’t control qualifying for a Ryder Cup Team. You can only control what you do that particular week, and obviously like this week, you win lots of points and it moves you up the list. I’ll just be trying to do the small things right and it will lead on to the big things, like qualifying for The Ryder Cup Team and other things like that.

CLARE BODEL: Thank you, everyone. Congratulations again, Lee.

January 19, 2020

Abu Dhabi, UAE

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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Team USA

PGA Tour: Andrew Landry Recaps His 2020 American Express Victory

LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Andrew Landry poses with the trophy on the 18th green 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 Andrew Landry speaks with the media following his victory at The American Express, Landry’s second career victory on the PGA Tour.

PGA Tour: Andrew Landry recaps his final round performance at The American Express

Q. Your second PGA TOUR win. It didn’t come easy. It looked like smooth sailing until the 13th hole. You looked so in control but then three bogeys in a row. How did you overcome that?
ANDREW LANDRY: I just, I’ve been swinging it well all week and putting the ball well all week. The putt on, what is it, 15? I don’t know how that ball didn’t go in. And then I hit another great putt on 16 and so I was look, hey, look, I’m stroking the ball really well. I got a little bit closer to my shot on the par-4, 15, on the tee shot, and it kind of flattened the driver out for me and so I was able to get a little bit more extra out of it, and so I had a good swing thoughts coming down the stretch and just got the job done. Made, I mean, I think the biggest shot of the tournament was probably the one on 17.

Q. No argument there. How about the fact that two years ago you lost in a playoff to Jon Rahm. How satisfying is it to get a win on this very golf course?
ANDREW LANDRY: Yeah, for sure. This is a golf course that has suited me very well in the past. And just to look back on some of the things that happened a couple years ago and then now, just to be able to finally get it done. I didn’t want to have to go back into a playoff again and we’re running out of daylight so it’s good to finally get the job done again.

Q. Almost a year ago we were talking, when you were defending your title at Valero, you were saying it almost hurt you to win because then you started doing things differently, things started creeping into your head. What happened after that?
ANDREW LANDRY: I just, honestly, they have still been crept in my head. I’m not doing anything different. I’m just trying to just have fun out there. And the biggest thing is to just believe in myself. I haven’t had a lot of success lately, but it’s bittersweet now.

Full Leaderboard: The American Express 2020

Q. You got your son waiting here. Maybe made you a little bit sick last week. The whole family is the out here. How special is it to share this with them?
ANDREW LANDRY: It’s great. This has been the second time they have been out and just to have them this here to do this again, it’s awesome.

Q. There is a change that you made, by the way, because we were talking about the 3-iron and one of your wedges. How impactful was that?
ANDREW LANDRY: Big. Wedge on 18. That was a number that I was feeling really comfortable with. It was actually, I’ve been hitting that club a little bit further than I normally hit it, so we knew right on the last hole that it was going to be a perfect wedge. And so it was a good shot, hit my line perfectly, struck it nice and went up there close.

Q. What kind of confidence can a win like this give you?
ANDREW LANDRY: Big confidence. I’m still riding the confidence from Valero and Oakmont. So I’m just going to continue doing the same thing that I’ve been doing and just try to get better every single day. If you wake up and try to get better every day, you’re going to be look back at the end of the year, you should be getting better. So I haven’t had a year, but last year — last year was the first year at that I’ve looked back and I’ve been like, hey, look, I didn’t get better at all. So I worked really hard over this off-season. I just got sick right before Hawaii for a weak and it just didn’t work out it. I mean, it definitely showed in Hawaii. I think I shot a pair of couple hockey sticks or something, but it was bad. But just to come out here, get some good weather, get some good practice in and work really hard and it definitely paid off.

Q. That was an awesome fight. Really enjoyed watching it. Two-time PGA TOUR winner. How does that sound, Andrew?
ANDREW LANDRY: It sounds good. Ready to get back to Maui and the Masters, so it’s going to be pretty cool.

Q. How much of a test — look, we were just talking about how it looked like were you in complete control. How much of a test was this part of the middle of the back nine?
ANDREW LANDRY: You know, it was a test, it was a big test because the tee shot there on 13, that’s a tough tee shot. 14 was kind of a hole where it was kind of an in between and I didn’t really want to hit driver, but I was just trying to take the bunker out of play completely and I wanted to have more of a full shot in there. And I pulled my next shot, my second shot into that hole and thank God it didn’t go in that bunker, because that was dead. And then just didn’t really hit the iron shots that I needed right there in that three-hole stretch, and then a bad chip, most likely it was nerves on 16, just a bad club selection, chipping-wise. And then just kind of calmed myself down and said, hey, look, these are two holes that we can go out and get, they suit my game very well, especially 18.

Q. Let’s go to 17 first. We got these in here. On this tee shot, mentally from yourself, thinking you got to step up, there’s pressure from that leaderboard as well right now.
ANDREW LANDRY: For sure. Yeah, I didn’t really pay any attention to the leaderboard until, honestly, hole 18. I looked a little bit — I actually looked up one time on 15 and then Scottie made that eagle there on 16, and I just said, hey, look, we need to make a birdie coming in.

Q. Rickie gave you a good look at the line, didn’t he?
ANDREW LANDRY: Yeah, he did. He asked me if I wanted him to go first and I said yeah, go ahead and I took a little bit of time. And it was a good visual that he just hit one close. And so, but —

Q. What’s this feel like?
ANDREW LANDRY: Great. It’s one of the greatest feelings. This is what we play golf for.

Q. Masters beckons now. Maui. What does this do for you going forward confidence-wise, belief in yourself? We were talking about it just now, validation in you that you can get it done?
ANDREW LANDRY: Yeah, for sure. It’s great because I kind of blew it a little bit there at Oakmont, and that U.S. Open really hurt me, but it also helped me to where I can go out and win a WEB.COM event — or a Korn Ferry event that following year after losing my card and just getting my brains beat in out here. And then winning out there and then, on the Korn Ferry TOUR, and then just having a great season out there and then leading it into a great fall season on the PGA TOUR. And I eventually picked up, you know, I lost in a playoff here that year, and then I picked up a win later on in the season. All those moments help. It’s one of those things that you just keep looking back, and the biggest thing for me is to control my pace, and the more that I can control my pace of walking and the more that I can just try to relax my shoulders, and just small things like that as a player you figure out. And those are some key things for myself that help me get the job done.

Q. Those three straight bogies kind of derailed you a little bit. What’s going through your mind when that’s happening?
ANDREW LANDRY: Just stop the bleeding somehow. I didn’t hit that many bad golf shots. It was a 3-putt — well, it was my first one of the week — just bad speed — and then maybe a poor decision on the next hole for chipping in. And then I hit a great chip on 15 and it just kind of got stabby and stuck in that collar there and didn’t want to get on. If that ball rolls another 2 inches it’s down there by the hole. So I just kept telling myself just keep grinding this out. You don’t want to go into a playoff. You don’t — you had a big cushion and just try to go out and make a birdie on 16, and I didn’t do that. I hit a great putt. And ball position got a little bit farther back on some putts and I moved it up just a tiny bit there on 16 and hit an unbelievable putt, and then I finished it off with the next two.

Q. Clutch tee shot at 17.
ANDREW LANDRY: That was probably the shot of the tournament for me. Just to be able to go over there and, to that right hole location, and just hold one up and hit a good distance and have a 7-, 8-footer to look at. And Rick said, man, I was trying to hit it just a little left of your ball so I could show you the line. Thankfully it went in and kind of made 18 a little bit easier.

Q. Golf’s a funny game. You missed seven of eight cuts to start the season and here you are in the winners circle and you putted out of your mind this week. Isn’t it crazy?
ANDREW LANDRY: It’s crazy. This is the wildest game that you can play. That’s why you just got to keep grinding it out. We all search for these weeks, and the majority of players out here are going to have them, four, five, six times a year and top-10 players are going to have them a little bit more often. So these are the weeks that we search for and we just continue to just play our ball and keep doing what we do, and hopefully they come sooner than later.

January 19, 2020

La Quinta, California

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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Team USA

LPGA Tour: Lexi Thompson Talks Return to Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - JANUARY 16: Lexi Thompson plays her shot from the 17th tee during the first round of the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions at Tranquilo Golf Course at Four Seasons Golf and Sports Club Orlando on January 16, 2020 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

LPGA professional Lexi Thompson speaks with the media following her opening round -5 about her offseason preparations as well as her 2020 goals.

LPGA: Lexi Tohmpson speaks with the media following opening round of the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions

Q. (Indiscernible) good playing. I agree. Good ball striking. You seem to be in midseason form.
LEXI THOMPSON: I didn’t take much rest in the off-season. Really seemed like I only had about two weeks off. I took one week fully off, not even touching a club, but that was about it. I slowly got back into it, and I was grinding away.

Q. Do you refresh your goals and aspirations?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I do. Like Olympics being this year, that’s my number one goal. But I go into every tournament wanting to win. That’s the drive I’ve always had. I just want to play consistent golf and keep trying to improve on everything on and off the golf course.

Q. You’ve been out here for a number of years. Do you make changes so that you peak at the right time?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I think overall in the off-season work, it’s a lot of short game work for me, but this off-season was actually a lot of ball striking as well, trying to work on those little swing changes I worked on towards the end going into CME were big changes for me. I think that’s making my ball striking a little bit more consistent now, which will be good for my future.

Q. Lexi, a solid 5 under opening round at the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions. How good does it feel to get back in competition mode?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, it feels good. It’s a little different of a tournament playing with celebrities, but it’s just an amazing feeling coming back to 2020. This is a great event. It’s a lot of fun. To start off with a nice 5 under start, it’s a good start to the season, just hopefully keep it going.

Full Leaderboard: Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions 2020

Q. Is there something when you can compete with other professional athletes that play at the highest level, just like you do, is there something you pick their brains about when you’re out there with them?
LEXI THOMPSON: Honestly, I just try to respect them and enjoy their presence. This is such a great event for that. I don’t really want to pick their brain because they get that all the time for sure. I want them to go out there and enjoy themselves. I think that’s what this tournament is all about. We want to take it seriously, but at the same time, I want to enjoy being around some of the best athletes that have been in the game or in their sport.

Q. What is it about this course that sets up to your strengths?
LEXI THOMPSON: Overall on this golf course, I can hit a lot of drivers and 3 woods. I can play it pretty aggressively. A good amount of the par 5s, I can reach and go for in two, so I take advantage of that. It’s just in great shape. That’s what we really look forward to in every tournament we go into.

Q. You put a lot of work in in the off-season. What was working well today that you felt like was a direct reflection of that hard work?
LEXI THOMPSON: I think overall having my ball striking being very consistent today. I hit it very solid, committed to my lines a lot out there, and I made some good putts. So a lot of positives to take from today. Just hope I keep it going.

Q. Did Larry pick your brain at all?
LEXI THOMPSON: He asked me like one or two questions, but really not much of anything. We just really had fun out there, enjoying ourselves and saying good shots and just feeding off of each other.

Q. What did you think of his game?
LEXI THOMPSON: I was impressed. He hit a lot of irons off the tee, but he had an amazing short game. I was very impressed. He had great touch around the greens and rolled it very well.

Q. Any theme to this year for you? Anything new to the way you want to approach things?
LEXI THOMPSON: Really I’m just going into this year trying not to get too down on myself and my game. I’ve put in the work in my off weeks, in the off-season, and I’m just going to go into every tournament knowing I put in the work and just letting my game show that I put in the practice. If I struggle and have a bad day, I’m not going to let it get to me. I’m just going to try to have more of a positive outlook on life.

Q. At the end of last year, you talked about your swing and some of your footwork. Have you just built on that? Have you changed anything about that?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, I’m doing the same footwork change that I worked on towards the end of last year, just trying to patent it and get it more ingrained in my golf swing. It’s been working pretty well. I feel very confident with it. It’s just a matter of repetition and keep going with it.

Lake Bueno Vista, Florida

January 16, 2020

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

Categories
Team USA

European Tour: Brooks Koepka Recaps Opening Round 66 At The Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 16: Brooks Koepka of The United States tees off on the ninth during Day One of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship at Abu Dhabi Golf Club on January 16, 2020 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)

PGA Tour professional and 4 time major champion Brooks Koepka speaks with the media following the opening round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, his first competitive round in nearly three months.

PGA Tour: Brooks Koepka talks first competitive round following knee surgery

Q. Your first competitive round in nearly three months resulted in a bogey-free 66. I imagine it feels good, but tell us from your point of view?
BROOKS KOEPKA: It does. It’s good to be back. Missed the competition obviously. Played really solid. Missed a few putts early if I really want to pick it apart. Drove the ball well. Controlled ball flight and controlled distances really well and that’s what you have to do out here.

Q. What’s your sense of how the golf course played today?
BROOKS KOEPKA: Pretty good. Usually in the afternoon the wind picks up, and you know that going in, so when you have a morning tee time, you have to take advantage of it. I did that today. Hopefully tomorrow the wind stays down a little bit because this golf course into the wind, or with the wind, can be very difficult.

Full Leaderboard: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2020

Q. When we chatted on Tuesday, you said you were particularly targeting an improvement in short game and touch around the greens. 17 from back of the green, horrible lie, very difficult and needed a great touch. How pleased were you with the short game today?
BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, it was, it was really good. To chip one in there, I wasn’t expecting that, but short game was really good. The strike was really good. I worked hard with Pete in trying to make sure that I know what I’m doing, and understand what I’m doing and can make it repeatable.

Q. A new driver in the bag. How did it feel today?
BROOKS KOEPKA: It works. When they hand it to me and it works; we had a long session on Tuesday trying to figure out — we couldn’t get it quite right but we got it dialed in and it worked, so I’m very pleased with it.

Q. How did the knee feel in competition?
BROOKS KOEPKA: It feels fine. It was a little sore last night. Just did some treatment on it. That’s expected. This is a first week I’ve walked 18 holes and I’ve done it three times already. It’s a little tired.

Q. 66. Your analysis of how today went for you?
BROOKS KOEPKA: I played really solid. Controlled distances. Controlled flights. Controlled spin. Everything that’s exactly what you want to do. Felt good to be back out playing, just feeling the competition again. I’m pretty pleased with it.

Q. We’ve heard from a lot of players leading up to this week how key it is to stay on the fairway, on a day which probably wasn’t your strongest off the tee as far as accuracy. Not a bogey on the card?
BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, some of these fairways are like 12 yards wide, so I’m not really expecting to hit them. When you put it in the rough — you just have to position. You know where the pins are at. When you know the pins are at, you can kind of play the hole backwards and figure out if you can be aggressive off the tee and hit driver, and then sometimes it pays off to have that lob wedge, even when it’s in the rough, and other times you’ve just got to lay it back. You’ve got to understand the golf course and really how to play it.

Q. You’re often noted and praised for how strong you are and how long off the tee. Your short game has always been impeccable. Do you feel like you don’t get enough credit in that area?
BROOKS KOEPKA: I don’t know. I feel like I’m doing just fine. I’m not really worried. I’m worried about what Pete tells me to do in the short game and that’s about it.

Q. 17, incredible chip and Tommy nearly matched it, and a giggle we didn’t pick up on the feed. What happened?
BROOKS KOEPKA: We were just laughing. My caddie wasn’t exactly helping out. He was too focused on talking and Shane had to face his caddie with Tommy there for a half-second because Bo was in the bunker with Shane. Then I was just grabbing the pin, and Rickie was just — it’s his first week back, put it that way.

Q. The pace of play policy rolled out, this is an area you’ve been outspoken in the past. You must be delighted things are moving in this direction?
BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, the game is evolving. You see it with the technology and the way the golf courses are build. The rules are starting to change a little bit with it, and I think it’s a good thing. We’re moving forward, moving in the right direction. I’m sure in ten years’ time, there will be a lot more things have changed.

Brooks Koepka speaks on return from injury:

Q. After an injury layoff to come back in that manner must be very satisfying?
BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, solid. I like the way I’ve played. I’ve kind of known I’ve been hitting it really well, putting it really well for a couple weeks. I think the first day I picked up the club, same thing. Felt like I hadn’t left. I’ve done it for years and years. You don’t forget how to swing the golf club.

Q. When you are in the midst of an injury layoff, do you ever worry that you might not be able to pick it up as quickly when you are able to get back?
BROOKS KOEPKA: No, not really. The only thing is if the injury actually prevents from you swinging the golf club and I wasn’t going to swing a golf club until I knew I was able to do that. I got the green light from everybody to be able to start hitting balls and I did, and it’s fine.

Q. It’s one thing to do it in practice, but then under the gun of competition. To go bogey-free as you did today, and have the moments that you did must be very, very pleasing?
BROOKS KOEPKA: I’m very pleased with how I played today. I’m excited and it will be nice to be able to practice again. I haven’t been able to practice; last year, I just couldn’t practice. It was too painful and wasn’t being able to do the things I wanted to do.

I told my team in the last year, I was just going to really rededicate myself for the next five, six years, and we’ll see where we are. From there, you know, who knows, other things might be a priority.

Q. And physically, how do you feel about your first round in competition back?
BROOKS KOEPKA: I feel fine physically. I’m out of shape but —

Q. You don’t look out of shape.
BROOKS KOEPKA: Well, it takes a little bit to get in golfing shape. You stand on the putting green for 30 minutes and putt and your back starts to ache. Just little things like that. But it will be fine. Only take a couple more weeks.

Q. And you’ve given yourself a great platform for the week.
BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, hopefully just keep it the rest of the week.

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

Abu Dhabi, UAE

January 16, 2020

Categories
Team Spain

European Tour: Sergio Garcia Talks Round 1 of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - JANUARY 16: Sergio Garcia of Spain plays his second shot on the 18th 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)

PGA Tour professional and Masters champion Sergio Garcia speaks to the media following the opening round of the Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship about playing in the dessert and his recent equipment change

PGA Tour: Sergio Garcia recaps opening round of Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship

Q. Slight disappointment, the only bogey you make on last hole, but overall a round of 67, how pleased with your day’s work?
SERGIO GARCIA: I’m very pleased. Obviously putted nicely. Felt like I hit the ball quite well. So drove the ball fairly well for the most part. Yeah, just a little unfortunate on the last that that pitch bounced on that pitchmark and just died.

Other than that, I thought I did well. I made a couple really good saves here and there when I needed them, and you know, made some birdies where I had to.

Sergio Garcia talks equipment change:

Full Leaderboard: Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship 2020

Q. Tell us about the new equipment, why you made the change and how it feels?
SERGIO GARCIA: Well, it’s quite simple. Obviously we were with Callaway. Unfortunately I wasn’t comfortable enough with the golf ball, and they needed me to play it. You know, we decided to kind of part ways. Nicely, though, so there was no bad feelings from any part or any side which was great, and then I just started playing whatever I tested this Christmas, what kind of felt best for me.

It was quite good today, so I’m happy with it.

Q. You have a wonderful record in the desert; what is it about this style of golf that seems to bring out the best in you?
SERGIO GARCIA: I don’t know. I can’t put my hand on it or I can’t tell you exactly why, but I’ve always enjoyed the desert. It feels like you can hit different kind of shots. Usually I’m fairly good in the wind, and usually it gets a little breezy here, so that kind of helps me game a little bit, and I was happy to see a nice start for the year.

Q. 5-under, what’s your analysis on today’s performance?
SERGIO GARCIA: It was a very solid day. Obviously I would love to par the last but unfortunately that didn’t happen. Other than that, I felt like I played pretty solid. Hit a good amount of shots, good, solid shots, a couple here and there that I didn’t quite commit as well as I should have. But other than that, you know, putted nicely. Chipped quite nicely other than the bad bounce on the last but it was a good day.

Q. With the new sticks, everything will feel different. How comfortable are you at the moment?
SERGIO GARCIA: I’m fairly comfortable. I had some good practice sessions throughout Christmas and New Year’s. So you know, it’s been feeling quite well. It’s just a matter of kind of getting a bit more used to it as the year goes on, but for the most part, you know, it feels quite good and I’m happy the way it went today.

Q. Conditions as you would have teed off, as you made the turn, things would have changed more with the climate and sun coming up. How much did you have to accommodate for that?
SERGIO GARCIA: Well, a little bit. The ball started going a little bit farther as we made the turn and everything started getting drier and a little bit of a breeze coming up. You had to pay attention to that but nothing that we are not used to and we haven’t done before. It was a pretty nice day.

Abu Dhabi, UAE

January 16, 2020

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

Categories
Team USA

PGA Tour: Grayson Murray Recaps Opening Round 64 at The American Express

LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 16: Grayson Murray plays a pitch shot on the ninth green during the first round of The American Express tournament at the Stadium Course at PGA West on January 16, 2020 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

PGA Tour professional and one time winner Grayson Murray speaks with the media following an opening round 64 at The American Express. Murray is currently in a tie for first heading into round two.

PGA Tour: Grayson Murray talks about his opening round 64 at The American Express and what to expect over the weekend

Q. Did you see something like this coming, 64 in the opening round?
GRAYSON MURRAY: Probably not, but I mean I’ve been here since December 30th working on the game and I feel like I probably am the most prepared of the field for all three courses. Coming off of a long off season you never expect to come out the gates like I did firing, but I’m comfortable around all three of these courses, the Stadium I’ve had pretty good success in the past few years and, yeah, I mean, I love it out here in the desert.

Full Leaderboard The American Express 2020

Q. The fall was kind of tough, you missed some cuts, you withdrew at Houston, that was your last event in the fall. So you had plenty of time to work on things, what specifically did you work on to gets this thing turned around?
GRAYSON MURRAY: My body, first and foremost. I got in the gym and started losing a few pounds, getting my cardio going and just feeling better in general now. And still got work to do, but that was kind of the main thing is to — I mean, seeing all these guys who are older than me in the gym and I’m like, Why am I not? I mean, if they’re working that hard, you see Phil and them, and so I had to turn that around to feel better about myself, first and foremost, and then my game will never be that far off.

Q. How does this change your approach to the rest of this week, 64 in the first round? It has to do something to you mentally.
GRAYSON MURRAY: It does, it obviously puts me in good position. And to go see the other two courses, La Quinta and the Nicklaus, there’s birdies to be made on both of those. And, yeah, I mean, this is just one day and we’ll take it one day at a time.

La Quinta, California

January 16, 2020

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

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Team USA

PGA Tour: Rickie Fowler Speaks With Media Following Opening Round of The American Express

LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 16: Rickie Fowler plays his shot on the fifth hole during the first round of The American Express tournament at La Quinta Country Club on January 16, 2020 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

PGA Tour professional 5 time winner Rickie Fowler speaks with the media following an opening round of -7 at The American Express. Fowler talks the current state of his game and 2020 goals including winning the elusive first major championship.

PGA Tour: Rickie Fowler speaks on his return to The American Express and first round takeaways

Q. Always going to be a good day when you can put five birdies in a row on the scorecard. 7-under in your opening round at La Quinta. Overall what are your takeaways from today?
RICKIE FOWLER: It’s a good start. Obviously you look at scores it’s usually pretty low the week out here, especially when you look at weather like this and the conditions of the courses. Conditions are perfect here at La Quinta. Greens are about the best that we see all year. So, no, I got in a good spot where — Joe was giving me some good reads out there, so I made some good putts out there on the front nine. Lost a little steam on the back, but 7-under is a good start and so looking forward to kind of piecing the rest together the next couple days and getting into a good position for Sunday.

Q. It’s been a little while since we’ve seen you out here at Palm Springs. What brought you back to this course making sure you had this on your schedule in 2020?
RICKIE FOWLER: I just thought it would be a good kind of work couple weeks. I’ve been out here staying at the Madison Club since last Tuesday, so been able to get a lot of work in. And two events that I played well at, that I struggled as of late at Farmers down at Torrey, so I wanted to make sure that I was ready to go for Torrey. And then, like I said, with having good weather and good conditions out here, I feel like you can get a lot of good work on your game. So that was kind of first priority, but at the same time you don’t want to show up at a tournament and just go and play and see what you have, you want to go and get in contention. So I think we have done a good job so far and I like where the game’s at.

Full Leaderboard The American Express 2020

Fowler talks finally winning a major:

Q. I remember you made some comments in Hawaii at the Sentry Tournament of Champions that one of your goals, of course, like it always has been, is getting a major. Obviously you know what you need to do, play well getting multiple wins, another goal that you have, but when it comes to the short-term stretch, playing three events in a row, do you have any short-term goals?
RICKIE FOWLER: First and foremost getting in contention here. Like I said, I think we’re off to a good start with that, but you need to make a lot of birdies this week. So that would be early. And then for me is to finally play well again at Farmers. I haven’t played the weekend a whole lot in the last five or six years. And then we all know I play well in Phoenix. So I think we’re going to have a good chance of getting a win in my first three full-field events of the year. So, yeah, if we’re able to be there on Sunday with a trophy at the end of these three weeks I would be happen with that.

Q. You got to back up that acting performance for Farmers, speaking of that video that we saw recently, that was funny.
RICKIE FOWLER: It was really hot that day unfortunately, too. I was wearing kind of a fat suit and a beard. It was fun though. I think I’m a better player than caddie though.

Q. How would you assess your game today?
RICKIE FOWLER: I’m happy with it. Really made sure we just kind of settled in and got things going out there. I feel like we did a good job of that and once the golf course really opens up once you get to the back-to-back par-5s on the front I was able to take advantage of those and kind of get the round going from there. The scores are typically pretty low out here when the weather’s this good, the golf courses are in great condition. So, yeah, basically just executed the game plan pretty well. And obviously you can always look at a round of golf and it could be better, but I’m happy with the start today.

Q. You had a pretty good birdie game today and the last time you were here was 2014. What made you want to come back here and play in the American Express this year?
RICKIE FOWLER: For me just looking at — typically it’s really good weather here, the courses are in great shape and I feel like starting last week I was going to be able to spend time — I’ve been over here for over a week I’ve been staying over at Madison Club since last Tuesday — so for me I thought it was a great way to work on the game, get ready for the season, two of my favorite tournaments coming up being Farmers and Scottsdale. Those are two events — I play really well always in Scottsdale, Farmers I’ve had success but not as much as of late, so I thought playing the week before, making sure the game’s in a good spot would help me play better there. So I always like spending more time in southern California when I can, being from here and now I’m not getting as much time here, so it was fun to be able to add this and spend a little time in the desert.

Q. Were there certain things you were working on during that week and did you see those pay off today?
RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah, I’m still working on stuff. I’m still working on things out there on the course. Been working a lot on the body and the swing. And I felt pretty good about it today, got a lot of work in, like I said, over the last week leading up to this event. So, yeah, I’m definitely happy with where it’s at. It can still get better but nice to see some putts go in.

Q. Pro-am formats are different though because you’ve got to have some patience in addition to pulling the trigger when it’s your turn. How does this, getting back to this tournament in this format, how do you like it?
RICKIE FOWLER: It’s great. I feel like you get paired with a lot of cool people. There’s a lot of, especially with American Express being the partner now, I feel like there’s a lot of — there’s some heavy hitters out here — but some fun guys to play with. Actually I spent some time with Steve, the CEO, yesterday and played some golf. But, no, I think it’s fun, it’s a very relaxed format and you’re on golf courses that are in perfect shape, great weather, so, no, it’s a good fun week.

Q. As you look at 2020 in its entirety how do you not look too far ahead to take care of goals that are more immediate? How do you sort of look at your year that way?
RICKIE FOWLER: Really focus on the stretches at hand. Right now it would be a three-week stretch with this week and then San Diego and Scottsdale. So adding this to hopefully play better at Farmers. Them being a partner of mine, it’s, it hasn’t been the best thing for me not being there on the weekends a few times in the last few times, so that’s the great thing, just focus on these three weeks, ultimately focus on this one, one at a time and one day, one shot at a time like everyone says, but I think we took care of business today.

La Quinta, California

January 16, 2020

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

Categories
Team USA

PGA Tour: Phil Mickelson Speaks About 2020 Season Debut at The American Express

LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 16: Phil Mickelson plays his shot on the fifth tee during the first round of The American Express tournament at La Quinta Country Club on January 16, 2020 in La Quinta, California. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

PGA Tour professional and two time American Express champion Phil Mickelson previews his 2020 season, turning 50, Champions Tour and new pace of play policies.

PGA Tour: Phil Mickelson speaks with the media prior to making 2020 season debut at The American Express

THE MODERATOR: We would like to welcome the tournament host and the two-time champion of The American Express, Phil Mickelson. Phil, you’ve been a tournament ambassador for quite some time, but now with the expanded role as tournament host and with the Mickelson Foundation being the host organization how does it feel to be back at The American Express?

PHIL MICKELSON: So it’s exciting to start the year, it’s exciting to see some of your faces again, it’s been a few months. But to start here is especially exciting because we have some really cool things going on here. This is, after a few years now of being involved as kind of an ambassador role, to take on the host role and have a partner as such a global icon as American Express helping to get this tournament to elite status again is something I’m very excited to be a part of.

So we have seen this tournament start with the vision of Bob Hope and the way he brought this game to the masses and made this a special unique event. And in all of sports there are only two opportunities for amateurs to play and compete on the actual playing field as the professionals and it’s here and at AT&T up in Monterey in the game of golf. And to be a part of one of those two events is an opportunity I think is pretty exciting.

And then to now have the partner that sees that vision too and get the right people here and make this special I’m excited to be a part of that. Jeff Sanders from Lagardere has done a great job the last few years getting it to this point. We’re now to the point where we’re going to sell out on Friday and Saturday and we have some great value for our fans who come out to watch and we’re going to recommit to make sure all of the charitable dollars stay here in the Coachella Valley.

So there’s a lot of things that I’m excited to be a part of and proud to be a part of.

THE MODERATOR: Your first start of 2020 in the new calendar year. How have your off weeks been and what are you most looking forward to this year?

PHIL MICKELSON: So I did not have a great year. After I won at Pebble last year it was a rough few months. I had a great off season, I’m excited to start the year, I’m curious as probably anybody is to see how well I play. I think I’ve tried to address a lot of weaknesses or areas that needed to improve and my motivation is back — this is the best I’ve felt in years, maybe even decades — and physically there’s nothing holding me back from playing some of my best golf. So if I’m able to have good focus on the course and address some of the issues that have kind of plagued me in the past I think it’s going to be a great year.

THE MODERATOR: Great. We’ll open it up for questions.

Q. Kind of along those lines it’s kind of a milestone year turning 50. First off, do you feel 49 and if not, which I assume, why?
PHIL MICKELSON: So when I look back on some of the highlights of tournaments that I’ve won or played well in 15 years ago in my mid 30s, I mean, it’s embarrassing the way I looked and the way I didn’t, I wasn’t really accountable for my health. And so now that I’ve taken a much greater level of accountability and I feel a lot better than I did 15 years ago. So there’s no reason that would hold me back from being able to play and practice as hard as I can to play well out here. So now it’s on me. Can I get the best out of me again. I believe I can, I’m excited for the challenge and so the greater the challenge, the greater my interest level. And I respect and understand how talented and great players these young guys are, but I also enjoy the challenge of beating them and being I think I’m ready to do that.

Full Leaderboard The American Express 2020

Q. With the birthday coming up, we’re all very curious about what your schedule’s going to look like. You’re usually pretty meticulous about thinking about that, so what are we looking at for the front of the year and then the back of the year?
PHIL MICKELSON: So there’s a lot of things that are up in the air for me that are going to be played by ear this year, because we have the Olympics as well, and so a lot of tournaments that I have played in the past I may play, I may not play, I don’t have a set schedule like I’ve had in the past, because I don’t like playing too many new courses because I don’t know the courses that well and it takes a little bit extra energy to learn the course and feel like I’m prepared. But conversely I feel like there’s some good courses and tournaments that I have not played in the past that I would like to play. So I really, other than the West Coast — and even that has some question marks — like I know I’ll play the next four weeks starting here I’ll end up playing here and San Diego next, I’m going to skip Phoenix, obviously, to go to Saudi Arabia, come back and defend at Pebble. But I am not in some of the World Golf Championships right now, which a new thing for me, so depending on how I play will affect my schedule whether or not I play the Match Play or Mexico or weeks before or after that. So there’s a lot of things that are up in the air, but I’m anticipating playing 22 weeks again.

Phil Mickelson talks Champions Tour:

Q. And what about any Champions Tour events after 50 and what — as this birthday has approached, how have you thought about being on that TOUR and how much you would like to play on it?
PHIL MICKELSON: So I haven’t thought too much about it and I won’t until I see how the first six months of this year go, because I’ve had this, I’ve had kind of a lot of great things happen that lead me to be encouraged about the year and I’m curious to see how the first six months go. It’s nice to have the option to move over to another TOUR, but it’s also nice to have the challenge of competing out here. And I don’t often voice too many goals, but one of them is to make the Ryder Cup, it should be a pretty obvious goal so I need to play enough tournaments out here and play well to be able to achieve that particular goal.

Q. Do you see a point where you would play a lot of tournaments on the Champions Tour? I mean, I talked to Davis yesterday, Davis is 55, he’s still playing most of his tournaments out here on the PGA TOUR. Can you foresee a time when you’re playing 10, 12, 15 tournaments on the Champions Tour?
PHIL MICKELSON: When I stop hitting bombs I’ll play the Champions Tour, but I’m hitting some crazy bombs right now. No, I still have speed, I still, there’s no reason I couldn’t play out here. I hit the ball every bit as far. Usually as guys get in their 40s they regress, I had a five, six mile an hour club head speed increase last year. A little bit of commitment in the gym, a little bit of work ethic and all of a sudden there’s no reason that physically I can’t do today what I did 15, 20 years ago, in fact I’m doing more.

So the realization about what the game of golf means to me and how competitive I am and how much I thrive on that challenge has hit me and it’s led to a greater work ethic, a greater commitment to physical health and well being and a greater quality of life. But I also enjoy this challenge. So I’m curious to see how the first six months go. And then I’ll start to weigh some decisions. But there’s a chance that if I do what I expect then I may end up competing for years out here. And there’s a chance that maybe I am misguided in my thinking and that I should move over. But a lot will be decided or seen in the first six months, because I feel like I’m ready to play.

Q. We’re a local health and wellness publication and you are looking great.
PHIL MICKELSON: Thank you.

Q. Do you attribute your current condition to any specific nutritional plan, because the plant-based movement is a big thing, I wondered if you are eating your vegetables.
PHIL MICKELSON: So that’s an interesting thing because there’s something that resonated with me and that was that everything I put into my body is either helping to fight disease or it’s causing disease. And that saying has me look at everything I eat as to is this helping me or hurting me. And for the most part, I’m not a hundred percent, but most of the things that I put in are helping me.

Q. I’m sure you’ve got very different images of the 72nd hole here last year than Adam Long does, but what are the lingering images you’ve got from that finish last year?
PHIL MICKELSON: So the image for me was the 9th hole where I drove in the water and then missed a 5-, 6-footer for par, because that — I’ve actually looked back at that hole as being a point where I’ve had to make some changes and so forth and that I’ve used to address in the off-season. So, for instance, I’ve worked hard this off season to address the weakness of — I have to have the ability to hit bombs, we talked about it, you got to hit it long out here. But you also have to have that shot that gets in play. So I worked hard with Callaway to get a driver that, so I don’t need two different drivers, but one that hits it high and far, but also I can hit it low and in play. And so I’ve been working on like a little pinched cut driver that takes the right side out of play. And it goes back to that instance on No. 9 where I thought I hit a good drive and it bounced in the water.

So I’ve used that particular moment, not so much the last hole — I don’t feel like that’s where I lost it I lost it more in the middle of the round.

Q. Also, just a follow-up, on players like Adam Long, guys who have been on the TOUR and played under the radar for several years, do you have any advice for players like that who have been under the radar and suddenly they have won and advice for them on how to deal with the increased demands on their time that they haven’t experienced when they have been able to sort of play with some anonymity?
PHIL MICKELSON: I don’t have great advice, I have a lot of respect for them as players because you have to have a lot of belief and confidence in your abilities without having much success to back that up and you just believe and believe and believe. And now he’s turned into one of the top players in the world and he’s won and he continues to play at a high level. I think I have a lot of respect for that. You kind of figure the rest out on your own.

Q. Talking about the Champions Tour again, I know you’re curious for the first six months how you’ll do out here, is there any curiosity of the Champions Tour and, hey, what could I do there or will I go to an event just to see what it’s like or is that if you’re playing well here you’re just going to, that can wait.
PHIL MICKELSON: So you never say never, I have a lot, I actually really enjoy the Champions Tour because those are the guys that I grew up playing with, they were the guys I grew up idolizing as a kid, then having a chance to play with and compete and developing relationships, playing a lot of my first team events with. And so I really like those people, I like the guys on the Champions Tour, I like hanging with them, talking with them and being around them. And so never say never. But I’m sure that it’s — I will play Champion events, I’m not going to not ever play Champions Tour events, I just don’t know how committed to that TOUR I’ll be at any particular point and a lot of it will depend on how competitive I’m able to be out here. And this is where my first enjoyment is, but I also like to win and I like to be in contention and I like to play golf at a high level and I’ve played golf at a high level for spurts, but I haven’t played consistently at that level that I have throughout my career and that’s what I need to get back is the week-in and week-out level of high golf.

Q. And I know you touched on this before, but how discouraged were you last year, I mean how bad were you in your own head or was it just I can think through this?
PHIL MICKELSON: I don’t know how to answer that, I just had kind of a rough eight, nine months and rather than dwell on it I’ve kind of put that in the past. And we had a, on a we had this really cool thing where Amy had the famous artist Peter Tunney, who did Wynwood Walls and so forth, created this, he had done this painting called Mojo Rising and he did this special thing for Amy for the holidays where he had a limited edition reprint of that for 20, of 20 prints. And we have given it out to a lot of our friends and family. And we just feel like our mojo’s rising, we’re going to have a great year and we have got a lot of great things happening.

Q. Curious, your reaction to the new slow play policy.
PHIL MICKELSON: So I’m not really familiar with the details of it, I haven’t read it, I think that the fact that it’s not group based and it’s more individual based is a good thing, but I haven’t looked over the details of it. I do like that because it seems to be more of an individual problem than a group problem. And yet we have to look at — I’ve been out here for 25 plus years and every, this has been a topic for when I first came out. You can’t inundate a golf course with 150 players and expect guys to play quick. On the weekend I can see it being a case, we should play three hours 40 minutes and so forth. But I just don’t worry about it when we have this many players on the golf course, it’s just hard to play fast.

Q. Is it encouraging to you though that this is finally being addressed after as long as you’ve been on TOUR?
PHIL MICKELSON: I guess, I don’t really think much of it. I mean, again, it’s been in my ear for 25 years so I just kind of tune it out. But I’m glad that some things are being done. It’s not an area that really affects me too much so I haven’t really looked into it very hard.

Q. Golf fans enjoy connecting with you through social media, whether it’s Instagram or Twitter, instruction —
PHIL MICKELSON: Thank you.

Q. — exercise or stories and so forth. I’m just curious to see if you can just tell us how much you enjoy that and also what goes behind the scenes of how many people gets involved as far as like creating a post and what do we expect for 2020 from a social media point of view.
PHIL MICKELSON: So it’s just me right now that just kind of stuff that comes to me and I enjoy kind of connecting with people in a way that I didn’t know was possible. And there’s been, from that some things have stemmed, for instance, people have asked for — like I wear kind of a logo of me winning in 2004 and little things like that have stood out. It’s not like I sell that, but because people have asked I’m starting to wear like a new hat this week, which you never see me with different colors, but now here I am wearing gray and some different colors. Melin hats is a brand out of Irvine that I really like their products and I’m wearing their hats now. And they have been working on my logo as a way to get things like that out for people that have asked on social media. I never would have known that or thought people were interested in that. So I’m trying to slowly adopt to what is being asked through that. And I wouldn’t have that connectivity or connection with the fans had it not been for social media. So I never understood the power of it, and how it could positively affect things.

And so that was one of the areas — and some of the things that I say, like slogans, that have come across whether it’s “calves” or “hit bombs” or “attack pins” or stuff or things, I’ve said that for years, but social media has brought it together with the fans and created this emotional connection with us. And I just, I had no idea really how powerful a tool it was. So I want to thank the Melin hat guys for helping me connect with the fans too, you know, it’s — anyway, thank you.

Q. You probably don’t need motivation, but how much if at all was last year, was watching last year’s Presidents Cup after two and a half decade of being part of it?
PHIL MICKELSON: It was so fun to see them play well on that final day and win. I mean I just — I thought — it was really a fun event to watch. I think those are fun events to watch. I can see why the fans really enjoy the Ryder Cup, Presidents Cup, you have that match play element, you have the emotional, you have the emotional element, the national pride, all of those things go into it and it was so cool to see the guys play so well.

Q. Being that you’re the tournament host this year, how does that mentally impact your game if at all?
PHIL MICKELSON: So I have to make sure that I’m ready when I get here, that I’m not going to find my game here because there’s some other responsibilities, I want to make sure it’s the first class experience for everybody here, that the CEO’s that we have brought in, that the people we have brought in have this great experience. So I’m spending a little bit more time making sure that the week goes well for everybody. So I had to spend the last seven, ten days working with Andrew Getz and working with Dave Pelz getting my game sharp so that I’m ready when I get here. I think I am, but you don’t know until you tee it up, you really don’t know.

Q. Steve Stricker is the field this week. What is your practice in terms of communicating that Ryder Cup goal to the current captain and does it differ this year given where you’re at in the standings?
PHIL MICKELSON: Well, he knows how bad I want to be on the team, but I don’t want to be a pick, I’ve got to earn it. I’m at the point where I’ve got to earn my spot, there’s eight spots out there and if I play well I’ll make it. If I play to the level that I believe I’m capable of I’ll make the team. But if not, you’ve got to give those spots to some younger guys that haven’t had the chance to play and compete the way I have. So I have six, eight months to get it done and I’ve got plenty of time, every bit of fair opportunity to go out and prove myself and play some great golf. So there’s not much he’s going to be able to do as a captain because I need to get my, earn my way on the team.

THE MODERATOR: All right, thank you for your time and keep hitting those bombs.

PHIL MICKELSON: Always. Always. Thank you.

La Quinta, California

January 15, 2020

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports