ABU DHABI HSBC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

January 22, 2022

Thomas Pieters

Yas Links

Quick Quotes

Q. Thomas, great round, tied at the top currently, you're looking pretty relaxed.

THOMAS PIETERS: Yeah, it was pretty stress-free. I think I missed one or two greens just like the first day. Putting well. I rolled it well nicely today. Just found a couple long ones at the end. Pretty bummed about the one on 18.

Q. 18 has played tough today. Talk about Shane, we know you get on really well and you look like you're having fun. How enjoyable was that for you to be out there with him?

THOMAS PIETERS: Yeah, Shane's a lovely guy. Ask him about 18; he got the wrong HSBC sign, it was really funny. We had a lot of laughs. It's just nice to play with someone, you feed off each other. He plays well, I play well, and same for Björk as well. He had a good fight back. Had a good day.

Q. And last year you finished with a bang, a win and a Top 15. How important was it for you and your mindset to come into 2022 weaving your way into the narrative?

THOMAS PIETERS: After eight weeks off you don't really know where your game is at but obviously the confidence is still there. I kind of wanted to keep going at the end of last year, but it's nice to just keep it going. Hopefully we have a good day tomorrow.

Q. New venue, great field. What would it mean for you tomorrow to win a Rolex Series Event?

THOMAS PIETERS: I think everybody comes here to win so it would mean the same to me as any other guy. Just got to do one more really good round and we'll see.

It was stress-free golf today, lovely, don't really know where the game is at after eight weeks after but it's been really good this week and I can keep rolling in a few putts, so hopefully have a chance tomorrow.

Q. Does this course suit you?

THOMAS PIETERS: To be honest, I prefer the old one. But does it suit me? I don't know. I've just been hit going golf shots, and you have to play with what you're given. So it's been a good week. It was really tough yesterday but the scores show that you can still go low in the wind here.