ABU DHABI HSBC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

January 21, 2022

Viktor Hovland

Yas Links

Quick Quotes

Q. Ten shots different, still think that probably tells the story. How satisfied with a couple over today?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: It was a tough day today. Obviously would have liked to have made a couple more putts today and I think I could have shot under par today but it was a really difficult when it blowing as much as it is.

Q. What's the hardest thing out there?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I think with a lot of the pins when, for example, they put it back of the green, you have a lot of room short, for example, and obviously you want to try to get it close and give yourself a birdie look but there's so many nuances. Like you're in the rough but it might jump and I'm not sure how much it's going to jump. You're all playing defensive on every single shot. So it's just, yeah, a really grinding day.

Q. Guys coming in here referencing how important attitude is, you have a great one. How does that always come naturally to you to be in this head-set or do you have to work harder in these conditions?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I guess you guys must show me only when I'm smiling because I have my moments where I get pretty upset. Especially today, I think I missed two or three putts inside five feet today, and I mean, that's going to happen out there when it's blowing like it is and the ball is oscillating and it's kind of borderline a little bit. But you just kind of have to deal with it and put your ball in good spots and stay patient.

Q. How have you gone about making improvements in your game?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: It's not a linear process. You kind of take one step forward and then one step back and then maybe two steps forward and one step back, and I feel like I've done that a little bit now the last few months.

But I'm starting to get more confidence, if I can do it in the practise area and next step is doing it in tournaments, and sometimes the flop shot might be the play but in other tournaments, I've just kind of put the ball back in the stance and try to bump it instead. But it's a matter of committing to the shot.

Pretty frustrating golf and I'm pretty tired.

Q. Which parts of your game does it demand the most from?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: The thing is, obviously good ball-striking is going to separate but when it gets this windy and this hard, no matter how good you strike it, you're going to miss a lot of greens and shots are going to end up 40, 50 feet and you're going to have to have good speed control on the greens and you're going to have to have some good up-and-downs. I felt like I did a decent job of that. I had two 3-putts and I missed a couple short putts. I feel like that's where I left the shots.

Q. Mentally, as well, it's demanding, isn't it? I guess patience is the key word?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: It's pretty cliché but it rings true. You might be able to pick up a birdie here, and there but on a day like today, it's limited how many chances you're going to get and it's all about kind of being risk averse and missing on the right side and picking your spots and just telling yourself that, okay, it's okay to be 50 feet away on this hole. You just kind of have to manage that as the day goes on.

Q. How satisfying is it to have come through the opening two days, particularly a day such as this, and given yourself a platform to have a real go at it at the weekend?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I'm in a good spot but there's still plenty of guys throughout and a lot of Brits and Scottish men that play in this weather all the time. So there's definitely a round under par that can be shot today so you never know. But I'm liking my position right now and we'll see what happens.