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Q. First begin right here on TOUR in a few weeks since Riviera. Simply total state of your recreation coming into this week.
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it’s been a little bit bit irritating up to now this yr. Really feel like my swing hasn’t been fairly nearly as good because it has been in earlier years, so it’s been, felt like I’ve tried to prioritize simply being dwelling and practising, placing quite a lot of work in. Don’t actually need to battle via one thing whereas taking part in, it’s simply not that enjoyable, and I don’t see the purpose of it. Simply been prioritizing time at dwelling and, yeah, simply taking good care of the basics.
Q. Rising up in Norway, who’re the skilled golfers that you just seemed as much as most while you had been first began taking part in?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: I believe each child my age sort of seemed as much as Tiger, the folks that received concerned with the sport. I simply keep in mind watching all of the YouTube highlights, watching his fist pumps and all that stuff. Actually just a few highlights from this occasion as nicely, simply watching him make putts on 18. He was a giant inspiration, in fact.
Henrik Bjørnstad, the primary male golfer from Norway to play on the PGA TOUR. Suzann Pettersen performed the LPGA for awhile. They sort of confirmed that it was potential to play golf professionally coming from Norway. Simply because now we have unhealthy climate doesn’t imply we are able to’t compete.
Q. To go together with what you stated about being annoyed, is it your precise swing or is it the outcomes that you just’re annoyed with?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Simply the mechanics. It’s simply the mechanics of the swing. Simply haven’t been capable of hit the photographs that I need to. Clearly, you need to have good outcomes, however while you’re seeing a shot and your swing isn’t producing these photographs, it turns into very robust to compete, particularly at this degree. I believe the outcomes are simply, clearly they’re not the perfect, however it’s like they mirror what you’re doing when issues aren’t nice. So it’s, not assured with my recreation, and then you definately’re simply attempting to take advantage of out of it. You’re taking part in defensive golf as a substitute of aggressive or assured. That’s mainly what I simply received to get again to. If I can stand on the vary or on a golf course, see a shot and execute that shot, that offers me confidence. Then, whether or not I completed fifth or tenth or twentieth, no matter it could be, that’s not a very powerful factor, a very powerful factor is that you just see the photographs that you just’re hitting and you’ve got perception that you just’re going to try this repeatedly.
Q. Have you ever gone via one thing like this earlier than? I do know you’re younger, however…
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, no, it’s sort of humorous, I’ve spent quite a lot of hours simply wanting again at my golf swings from 2019 once I first turned professional, and sort of seeing the evolution of my swing. It’s very attention-grabbing. I’ve had quite a lot of a number of totally different patterns, and I’ve been capable of make quite a lot of various things work. I’d say this sample that I’ve received occurring now’s a little bit bit, it’s totally different another way. So, it’s been a little bit bit more difficult.
However I’ll say, credit score to myself, I’m excellent at making issues work. I believe I’m gifted in that method, however it undoubtedly helps when the swing can be in a great spot. So, we received a little bit bit of labor to do, however that’s sort of a problem and it’s enjoyable.
Q. I do know it’s nowhere close to this simple, however do you ever simply say to your self, why don’t I simply do what I used to be doing in August once I was on that nice run? I imply, do you simply attempt to get again to that, and is that simply actually laborious to duplicate?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it’s going to sound a little bit dumb, however I really favor my golf swing higher in 2021, sort of early 2021 I really feel like my ball hanging was the perfect. I believe — now don’t get me mistaken, I undoubtedly swung it nicely final yr, however it wasn’t nearly as good as I’d have needed. I used to be sort of taking part in extra of a draw as a substitute of taking part in the conventional lower shot that I’ve been my entire profession. I used to be sort of preventing that each one all through final yr. I simply informed myself, Okay, I’m simply going to play the draw and simply follow that. That clearly labored nicely.
The chipping change was what actually helped me win these tournaments. As a result of even at Memorial I didn’t actually really feel like my ball hanging was that nice. PGA was actually good, regardless that I struggled a little bit bit off the tee. East Lake, clearly, and BMW, I put all of it collectively. It was a mixture of all the things, it wasn’t simply very good ball hanging, and it was simply, I did all the things fairly nicely.
Q. Additionally, you place your self within the combine a number of instances now within the majors. Does that provide you with any consolation in any respect or is the swing points an even bigger deal in the case of that?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I imply, clearly, the expertise issues. I really feel like subsequent time I’m in that scenario I’m going to be dealing with, I’m going to deal with the scenario higher, simply because I’ve been there, I’ve made some very nice putts in good moments. I believe Ryder Cup was an awesome factor to be part of. Simply being in that setting and to deal with that stress in addition to I did. On the finish of the day, you may solely get up to now with expertise and that stuff, you bought to execute. The golf green’s 25, 30 yards extensive, you bought to have the ability to begin the ball left and lower it, in my case, to hit the golf green persistently. So, in case you can’t do this, then we’ve received some points.
Q. So, again to the hanging half. When you received Memorial largely with chipping and weren’t at your greatest, is there nonetheless, you’re nonetheless glad with profitable?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, in fact. I imply, on the finish of the day, you need to win.
Q. Are you able to settle for that while you’re profitable with out your greatest stuff? Do you continue to really feel simply nearly as good popping out of a event than ending fifth and hitting it nice?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I imply, I suppose that’s sort of the insane a part of my mind is that I simply get pleasure from flushing a golf shot. Clearly, we’re out right here to compete and win tournaments, however I actually simply cherish having the ability to hit the photographs precisely the best way I need to. I believe it’s a greater predictor of the way you’re going to play sooner or later.
Now, I believe I received to do job of telling myself that, Hey, I simply received an enormous event with out feeling excellent about my ball hanging. On the finish of the day, we’re golfers, we’re not ball strikers. So, I believe that’s, I received to pat myself on the again and inform myself, Okay, regardless that my swing doesn’t really feel nice proper now, I can nonetheless compete. That’s crucial to recollect, however on the identical time you need to play nicely each week. The way in which you play nicely each week is with good ball hanging. Typically you make some foolish up-and-downs otherwise you make a few chip photographs or 50 foot putts, one thing like that, these are enormous for momentum to win tournaments, however you’re not going to try this persistently week in, week out. But when your swing and fundamentals are in a great spot, you may really be in these conditions each single week, in case you’re simply hitting the ball on the nostril.
Q. Then one different factor, by the best way, are you continue to dwelling in Stillwater or did you progress lastly?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Nonetheless have my home there, however I’ve been in Palm Seashore the final couple months.
Q. Final yr was a reasonably dynamic event right here. What’s the distinction between this yr and final yr as a signature occasion this yr? Is it simply the dimensions of the sector, is there greater than that, or what?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Proper now it simply feels a little bit bit extra quiet on the occasion. It’s laborious to sort of inform the way it’s going to be within the event. That’s sort of the best way that I collect from no less than from Riviera and this week, it nonetheless seems like the identical event, just some much less guys. So, it feels, I don’t know, perhaps a little bit bit extra chilled earlier than the event begins. You’ll be able to sort of, it’s method simpler to arrange for the occasion. You’ll be able to exit and play holes rather a lot faster. Observe amenities are open. From that standpoint it’s sort of good. It feels good and quiet.
Q. Would you prefer to be in Nick Dunlap’s footwear and be a single to start out a event or would that really feel bizarre to you?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Are you able to repeat that?
Q. Nick Dunlap. Would you prefer to be in his footwear and go off as a single on Thursday morning the primary day of a event?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Is that what he’s doing?
Q. Yeah. I don’t assume that’s his alternative, I don’t know.
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I’ve by no means finished that earlier than. I believe that feels a little bit bit bizarre, however yeah, however on the identical time that’s like going out and practising for your self. I don’t know. Yeah, it could be bizarre.
Q. The made lower right here again in 2019, how a lot did it change sort of your view of your self?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, that was actually cool, as a result of once I performed, I performed Mayakoba as an newbie, I missed the lower there by a shot. Really felt like I performed fairly properly, however didn’t make any putts.
Then I took a break. I went again dwelling to Norway. I got here again out. I didn’t, I barely had per week taking part in on grass earlier than I performed Torrey Pines. That’s a troublesome subject and a troublesome golf course. I missed the lower there by a pair photographs with out actually taking part in all that nice. Then I got here out right here, had my greatest buddy caddieing on the bag, we had a good time, completed fortieth, someplace round there. Once more, I didn’t actually really feel like I performed all that nice. So, that was an enormous sort of turning second that, man, I can compete with these guys out right here, regardless that I’m not all that pleased with my recreation, however I’m nonetheless, I can nonetheless make cuts and be aggressive.
Q. Swing-wise, are you working with anybody proper now, are you interviewing guys or simply doing it your self?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: What did you say?
Q. Swing coach-wise, are you working with anybody, are you interviewing guys wanting round or doing it your self?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: I’ve been working with Grant Waite now for a pair months. So, we’re placing in some good work.
Q. Why have you ever jumped round to so many various coaches in the previous couple of years in your swing?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I’m very curious man. I prefer to ask questions. Typically while you ask a query and also you get some solutions, that leads you down a distinct path and opens up some new questions and also you pursue a distinct path. I simply need to sort of see the place it goes. I at all times like to enhance and broaden my data, and it simply occurred to guide me all the way down to Grant Waite.
Q. Is there something particular that drew you to him?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Clearly his data may be very spectacular, he is aware of what he’s speaking about. On the identical time, he’s had taking part in experiences himself. He’s received on the PGA TOUR. He, yeah, one factor is sort of understanding the 3D knowledge and no matter, what the info says, however then additionally equating that to feels, and we are able to sort of discuss on that degree as nicely. I discover that very useful. So, yeah, a mixture of each worlds.
Q. Why did you resolve to go away Stillwater and transfer to Florida?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: The climate is a giant one. It’s simply, it’s laborious to beat it for golf, particularly this time of yr. This has sort of been a tough winter in Stillwater. Simply not nice for practising. Regardless that I like Oklahoma. Summertime it’s nice, and I actually miss the folks there. I do discover it simpler, if I need to return dwelling to Norway, it’s a direct flight from Miami. I can have household and buddies come down and hang around. It’s a little bit bit tougher for them to return to Stillwater, and, yeah, there’s not a lot to do there both, so no less than in Florida there’s a little bit bit extra we are able to do.
Q. Curious, after the 2021 Ryder Cup you misplaced a few teammates to LIV, after which after an awesome Ryder Cup in Rome, Jon left and Tyrrell left. Simply questioning how a lot you be in contact with them, do you miss ’em out right here, or had been you simply, at event time, do you simply do your individual factor and it wasn’t as a lot dialog and mingling and so forth?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I imply, I’ve received my very own staff and, clearly, once I’m out right here I’m working fairly laborious. So I’m sort of, I wouldn’t say I’m like tremendous social out right here, I sort of present up and do my factor. However I actually miss quite a lot of these guys that we had some nice reminiscences from Whistling Straits and in Rome, so actually miss these guys, however want them the perfect and hopefully I’ll get to see them quickly.
Q. The massive query clearly the final day or so was the World Rating query and LIV not going after that accreditation any extra. Simply marvel the place you landed on, does it actually matter at this level with the OWGR, how essential it’s, how essential it’s to you, even when these guys should not included?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I imply, rankings are rankings, they’re not goal fact. They’re, you realize, created to attempt to rank folks the perfect they will. Clearly, now when you’ve an enormous chunk of actually, actually good gamers that aren’t getting any rating factors, it undoubtedly devalues that rating. So, on the finish of the day, I don’t present up out right here to attempt to enhance my World Rating, I present up as a result of I need to win this event and that’s it.
Q. Again to your swing points. Is it airplane, is it, you realize, going this fashion, that method?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: I don’t need to get too into it, however I’m similar to — mainly, I’m simply pressuring the bottom a little bit bit otherwise and, yeah, simply doing a pair issues totally different off the ball that’s inflicting a series response. So, it’s only a matter of attempting to get the swing began the fitting method, and I ought to be capable to discover my groove from there.
Q. Additionally, there have been quite a lot of Norwegians who went to the Olympics, however winter Olympics principally. It appears to be like like you’ve probability of representing Norway within the Olympics. What sort of pleasure would that create for you and your loved ones?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I received to play in Japan just a few years again, and that was an awesome expertise, regardless that COVID sort of put a tamper on the occasion with no followers on the market and felt like a bizarre event. What was actually cool was staying within the Olympic Village, seeing all the opposite athletes, interacting with Group Norway and sort of simply, regardless that we didn’t get to exit and root for ’em in competitions, we’d take note of see who received a medal and all that stuff. So, actually simply felt such as you had been part of a staff, you’re representing your nation. Clearly, Norway has a really proud Olympic tradition and historical past. I grew up watching the cross nation skiers and biathletes and ski jumpers win medals, so it’s cool to sort of be an Olympic athlete and characterize my nation and be a component which have historical past.
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