ABU DHABI HSBC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

January 20, 2022

Victor Perez

Yas Links

Quick Quotes

Q. 6-under par today, 7-under after seven holes, how do you evaluate your performance?

VICTOR PEREZ: Yeah, obviously very happy, after a long layoff, the last night you obviously practised but nothing replaces competition, so obviously a little nerve-wracking to start. As good of a start as anybody could have expected, really flying, holed out a shot, so obviously a bit of fortune.

But playing really nicely and then you're obviously in a situation that is a bit odd. And I think every golfer knows when you're really low through eight or nine holes, it's a weird balance because it's hard to keep going in a sense because I think you get a little bit outside your comfort zone.

I just tried to make good swings. And the back nine obviously plays harder with the wind picking up a little bit, obviously nothing compared to what it's been and what it probably will be the rest of the week, but I am still very pleased.

Q. What did you take from all of the experiences last year that's going to make you a better player going into 2022?

VICTOR PEREZ: I think there's just a lot more going on, and it's about trying to compartmentalise as best as possible and keep the game where it is and focus on what's important. I think it's very easy to get distracted, as a rookie-ish in my first time to The Ryder Cup and for the majors and big events, you might get a little carried away. I think it was accepting that thought and try to be like, oh, I feel fine rather than lowering a little bit expectations because I played really well end of 2019, start of 2020 and you almost make your new norm playing really well and it's difficult, because you want to believe that anything is possible, as it is, but maybe at the same time cut yourself a little bit of a break sometimes.