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Team UK

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

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.

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

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

Categories
LPGA Tour

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

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

FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports

Categories
Ladies Tours

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

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

Categories
Professionals

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

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.

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

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.

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

Categories
Team UK

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

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

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

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Team USA

LPGA Tour: Lexi Thompson Recaps Her Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions Experience

LPGA Tour professional and 11 time winner Lexi Thompson speaks to the media following the conclusion of the Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions and previews next week’s tournament in her hometown of Boca Raton, Florida.

LPGA Tour: Lexi Thompson speaks to the media following Diamond Resorts Tournament of Champions

Q. What was today like for you? You’ve had some awesome playing partners the past couple of days. How do you feel about closing out the way you did?
LEXI THOMPSON: Just this week in general is pretty amazing just to be surrounded by some of the best athletes and actors and just celebrities. It’s a very fun week. At the same time, we want to play well, and we’re grinding.

But I played well, good start to the year. Definitely left a lot out there, but it’s a good start. So I’m going to keep it going.

Q. What is something about this round that you’ll take with you going into Boca, around where you’re from?
LEXI THOMPSON: I think overall just taking from this week that my game’s in the right direction. I worked hard in the off-season in making a few changes. There’s still a lot of work that needs to be done, but it’s a good start. Just going to try to keep it going.

Q. Is it exciting to be starting a new event there in Boca, to be able to play with a hometown advantage for you?
LEXI THOMPSON: Yeah, it is. Being able to stay in my own bed, I’ve never done that and played in a golf tournament. So it will be different. I’ve only played the golf course twice. So I don’t know it great, but I have a few more practice rounds coming up. It’s a great track. So just looking forward to playing.

January 19, 2020

Lake Buena Vista, Florida

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Team USA

PGA Tour: Sam Burns Talks After Making First Start at The American Express

PGA Tour professional Sam Burns speaks to the media following his first career start at The American Express and setting the course record with a final round 63. Burns finished the tournament -19 par and in a tie for sixth place.

PGA Tour: Sam Burns talks first start at The American Express and record setting final round 63

Q. Last time you saw this course was in the opening round. So how did it play today?
SAM BURNS: Yeah, it’s starting to firm up a little bit out there. The golf course is definitely in really good shape and they do an incredible job each and every year to make this place one of the best greens on TOUR.

Q. You and I were talking off camera about some observations you made about Andrew Landry. What did you see?
SAM BURNS: I’ve played behind him and I just said’s really gritty player and he plays tough. He’s not a guy that you want to try to chase down because he’s not going to give you a whole lot of opportunity.

Q. No doubt. Back to you. It’s been a crazy stretch. Come back from injury a few missed cuts, but you also got married last month. Tell us what this ride’s been like?
SAM BURNS: Yeah, it was unfortunate for the injury, but I was able to have some good time at home, focus on some more important things like getting married, so it’s been nice. I’m excited to be playing again. I’m really looking forward to this year. So I’m really excited about the way I played today and can give me some momentum going into next week.

Q. Round of 63. Your low round of the season. It’s going to give you your high finish of the season. Just overall, how pleasing has this week been?
SAM BURNS: It’s been great. I really enjoy coming here every year. It’s hard to beat the weather here and the golf courses are all in really good shape. So, yeah, really good day, just solid all around, was able to roll some putts in there down the stretch.

Q. Give me a sense of how scorable the golf course is out there. This kind of tells its own story, but from your perspective how did it feel out there?
SAM BURNS: Yeah, it is. There’s certain pins you have to be a little bit careful to, but you can be pretty aggressive and I was able to take advantage of that today.

Q. The back nine first. Let’s look into your second nine, the front nine on this closing stretch.
SAM BURNS: Yeah, it was a 4-iron in there, a little cut 4-iron and then the putt. About the first four feet were pretty straight and then it turned a little left at the end. I played it right edge, kind of just got it going down the hill and it went in.

Q. And then, this isn’t a bad way to finish, is it?
SAM BURNS: No, had a great number here, 109 to the hole. I knew I could land it a little bit short of the pin trying to hit a 105-yard shot and it worked out, was able to convert the putt.

Q. Obviously it’s a little short of where the leaders are right now, but what does this do for confidence, belief now moving forward for the rest of the season?
SAM BURNS: Definitely gives me a lot of confidence. I knew this week I had been playing some good golf, just wasn’t able to score. So I knew if I just keep giving myself chances eventually I would be able to get the ball in the hole. So that’s what I was able to do today and hopefully some more of that in the next few weeks.

Q. Spectacular round of golf. Course record 63. Nine birdies, rolling the rock. How much fun was it today?
SAM BURNS: Oh, anytime you have a day like that it’s a blast. I was talking to my caddie this morning, we knew we had been playing good golf all week, just weren’t able to convert and score kind of like we wanted to. And then kind of got off to a good start and then made a good save on 10. Had it just short of the green on 11 and I could have tossed it and got it up-and-down but didn’t get it up-and-down. I think that kind of kick-started my round a little bit. I was able to make some birdies.

Q. Thoughts on your putting because I counted at least three 15-footers, a 17-footer, a 20-footer. Was there something today that just clicked?
SAM BURNS: Yeah, I’ve been consistent the way I’ve been working on my putting and I think — I’ve seen it in practice and it’s starting to show off and now it’s just converting it to the golf course and today the putts were going in.

Q. You started the day 210th in FedExCup points standings, you’re projecting in the 125 area. I know it’s still early in the year but it’s always huge any week you can make a jump like that.
SAM BURNS: Yeah, absolutely. I wasn’t able to play much in the fall and when I did I was still injured and so just kind of it was a weird start to the season. So I was able to go home and get healthy and work on some stuff in my game that I knew I needed to work on and it’s obviously nice to come out here and play like this today.

January 19, 2020

La Quinta, California

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Team UK

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

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.

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

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.

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