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Q. First begin right here on TOUR in a few weeks since Riviera. Simply total state of your sport coming into this week.
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it’s been slightly bit irritating to this point this yr. Really feel like my swing hasn’t been fairly pretty much as good because it has been in earlier years, so it’s been, felt like I’ve tried to prioritize simply being house and practising, placing a whole lot of work in. Don’t actually wish to battle by means of 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 house and, yeah, simply taking good care of the basics.
Q. Rising up in Norway, who’re the skilled golfers that you just appeared as much as most once you have been first began taking part in?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: I feel each child my age form of appeared as much as Tiger, the people who obtained 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 form of confirmed that it was attainable 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 along with what you stated about being pissed off, is it your precise swing or is it the outcomes that you just’re pissed off 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 wish to. Clearly, you wish to have good outcomes, however once 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 feel the outcomes are simply, clearly they’re not one of the best, but it surely’s like they mirror what you’re doing when issues aren’t nice. So it’s, not assured with my sport, and you then’re simply making an attempt to take advantage of out of it. You’re taking part in defensive golf as an alternative of aggressive or assured. That’s principally what I simply obtained 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 may be, that’s not crucial factor, crucial 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 by means of one thing like this earlier than? I do know you’re younger, however…
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, no, it’s form of humorous, I’ve spent a whole lot of hours simply wanting again at my golf swings from 2019 after I first turned professional, and form of seeing the evolution of my swing. It’s very attention-grabbing. I’ve had a whole lot of a number of totally different patterns, and I’ve been capable of make a whole lot of various things work. I’d say this sample that I’ve obtained occurring now’s slightly bit, it’s totally different differently. So, it’s been slightly bit more difficult.
However I’ll say, credit score to myself, I’m excellent at making issues work. I feel I’m gifted in that method, but it surely undoubtedly helps when the swing can be in a great spot. So, we obtained slightly bit of labor to do, however that’s form 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 after I was on that nice run? I imply, do you simply attempt to get again to that, and is that simply actually onerous to duplicate?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it’s going to sound slightly dumb, however I really want my golf swing higher in 2021, form of early 2021 I really feel like my ball placing was one of the best. I feel — now don’t get me fallacious, I undoubtedly swung it nicely final yr, but it surely wasn’t pretty much as good as I’d have wished. I used to be form of taking part in extra of a draw as an alternative of taking part in the traditional minimize shot that I’ve been my entire profession. I used to be form of combating that every one all through final yr. I simply advised myself, Okay, I’m simply going to play the draw and simply persist with 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 placing was that nice. PGA was actually good, regardless that I struggled slightly bit off the tee. East Lake, clearly, and BMW, I put all of it collectively. It was a mixture of every part, it wasn’t simply excellent ball placing, and it was simply, I did every part fairly nicely.
Q. Additionally, you place your self within the combine a number of occasions now within the majors. Does that provide you with any consolation in any respect or is the swing points a much bigger deal with regards to that?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I imply, clearly, the expertise issues. I really feel like subsequent time I’m in that state of affairs I’m going to be dealing with, I’m going to deal with the state of affairs higher, simply because I’ve been there, I’ve made some very nice putts in good moments. I feel Ryder Cup was an important 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 possibly can solely get to this point 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 minimize it, in my case, to hit the golf green persistently. So, in the event you can’t do this, then we’ve obtained some points.
Q. So, again to the placing half. In case you gained Memorial largely with chipping and weren’t at your finest, is there nonetheless, you’re nonetheless glad with profitable?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, in fact. I imply, on the finish of the day, you wish to win.
Q. Are you able to settle for that once you’re profitable with out your finest stuff? Do you continue to really feel simply pretty much as good popping out of a event than ending fifth and hitting it nice?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I imply, I suppose that’s form 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 wish to. I feel it’s a greater predictor of the way you’re going to play sooner or later.
Now, I feel I obtained to do job of telling myself that, Hey, I simply gained an enormous event with out feeling excellent about my ball placing. On the finish of the day, we’re golfers, we’re not ball strikers. So, I feel that’s, I obtained 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 essential to recollect, however on the similar time you wish to play nicely each week. The way in which you play nicely each week is with good ball placing. Generally you make some foolish up-and-downs otherwise you make a few chip photographs or 50 foot putts, one thing like that, these are large 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 possibly can really be in these conditions each single week, in the event 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 slightly bit extra quiet on the occasion. It’s onerous to form of inform the way it’s going to be within the event. That’s form of the best way that I collect from at the very least from Riviera and this week, it nonetheless looks like the identical event, only a few much less guys. So, it feels, I don’t know, possibly slightly bit extra chilled earlier than the event begins. You’ll be able to form of, it’s method simpler to arrange for the occasion. You’ll be able to exit and play holes so much faster. Apply services are open. From that standpoint it’s form of good. It feels good and quiet.
Q. Would you wish 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 wish 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 accomplished that earlier than. I feel that feels slightly bit bizarre, however yeah, however on the similar time that’s like going out and practising for your self. I don’t know. Yeah, it might be bizarre.
Q. The made minimize right here again in 2019, how a lot did it change form of your view of your self?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, that was actually cool, as a result of after I performed, I performed Mayakoba as an newbie, I missed the minimize 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 house 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 minimize there by a pair photographs with out actually taking part in all that nice. Then I got here out right here, had my finest 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 form of turning second that, man, I can compete with these guys out right here, regardless that I’m not all that proud of my sport, 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 alternative coaches in the previous couple of years in your swing?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I’m very curious man. I wish to ask questions. Generally once you ask a query and also you get some solutions, that leads you down a unique path and opens up some new questions and also you pursue a unique path. I simply wish to form of see the place it goes. I all the time like to enhance and increase my information, and it simply occurred to steer me all the way down to Grant Waite.
Q. Is there something particular that drew you to him?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Clearly his information could be very spectacular, he is aware of what he’s speaking about. On the similar time, he’s had taking part in experiences himself. He’s gained on the PGA TOUR. He, yeah, one factor is form of realizing the 3D knowledge and no matter, what the information says, however then additionally equating that to feels, and we are able to form of discuss on that degree as nicely. I discover that very useful. So, yeah, a mixture of each worlds.
Q. Why did you determine to go away Stillwater and transfer to Florida?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: The climate is a giant one. It’s simply, it’s onerous to beat it for golf, particularly this time of yr. This has form of been a tough winter in Stillwater. Simply not nice for practising. Although I really like Oklahoma. Summertime it’s nice, and I definitely miss the individuals there. I do discover it simpler, if I wish to return house to Norway, it’s a direct flight from Miami. I can have household and buddies come down and hang around. It’s slightly bit more durable for them to return to Stillwater, and, yeah, there’s not a lot to do there both, so at the very least in Florida there’s slightly 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 important Ryder Cup in Rome, Jon left and Tyrrell left. Simply questioning how a lot you keep up a correspondence with them, do you miss ’em out right here, or have 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 obtained my very own group and, clearly, after I’m out right here I’m working fairly onerous. So I’m form of, I wouldn’t say I’m like tremendous social out right here, I form of present up and do my factor. However I definitely miss a whole lot of these guys that we had some nice recollections from Whistling Straits and in Rome, so definitely miss these guys, however want them one of the best and hopefully I’ll get to see them quickly.
Q. The large query clearly the final day or so was the World Rating query and LIV not going after that accreditation any extra. Simply surprise the place you landed on, does it actually matter at this level with the OWGR, how vital it’s, how vital it’s to you, even when these guys will not be included?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I imply, rankings are rankings, they’re not goal fact. They’re, you understand, created to attempt to rank individuals one of the best they will. Clearly, now when you have got 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 wish to win this event and that’s it.
Q. Again to your swing points. Is it aircraft, is it, you understand, going this fashion, that method?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: I don’t wish to get too into it, however I’m identical to — principally, I’m simply pressuring the bottom slightly bit in another way 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 making an attempt to get the swing began the proper method, and I ought to be capable to discover my groove from there.
Q. Additionally, there have been a whole lot of Norwegians who went to the Olympics, however winter Olympics largely. It appears to be like like you have got likelihood of representing Norway within the Olympics. What sort of pleasure would that create for you and your loved ones?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I obtained to play in Japan just a few years again, and that was an important expertise, regardless that COVID form 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 Staff Norway and form of simply, regardless that we didn’t get to exit and root for ’em in competitions, we’d take note of see who gained a medal and all that stuff. So, actually simply felt such as you have been part of a group, 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 form of be an Olympic athlete and symbolize my nation and be a component which have historical past.
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