ABU DHABI HSBC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

January 23, 2022

Thomas Pieters

Yas Links

Quick Quotes

Q. Abu Dhabi HSBC Champion. Tell us your initial reaction?

THOMAS PIETERS: I'm happy I can finally get Adam a golf bib. We've been talking about this for years. It's fantastic. I was well in control of my ball all day and putting maybe wasn't there but early on I felt really confident.

Q. The leaderboard was changing all day long. On 15 you were standing tied for the lead and 16 you had the solo lead by one top but it's no closing stretch here AT Yas Links. Describe your emotions coming in there.

THOMAS PIETERS: Well, I kind of took them out, I was going to go for it, the scoreboard on 17 was broken, so I didn't really know. But Adam told me I was two ahead so I decided to lay up.

Q. Seems like you've turned a corner starting with your win last year in Portugal and followed by a strong finish in Dubai you've secured your sixth title on the DP World Tour. In your opinion, what has been the difference?

THOMAS PIETERS: My putter for sure. I worked with the guys from Titleist. They just kind of analysed that my putting was not so good. Been working hard with my coach and wasn't getting the results. They gave me this putter I've been using now everything and has been flowing and I've been making a lot of putts.

Q. Mentally, we know you can get hot under the collar but today you looked absolutely in control. What do you have to say about that?

THOMAS PIETERS: When you're in control of your ball flight and the golf ball, it's fun. You know, you can be creative and that's how I felt out there today.

Q. This makes you the first-ever Belgian winner of a Rolex Series Event, another big week ahead, back-to-back Rolex Series in Dubai. What does a statement of this magnitude mean to you at this time?

THOMAS PIETERS: I just hope all the juniors back home are watching this. I used to watch as a kid and think it's impossible for me but then when Nico came on the scene and started winning, it's stuff like that that inspires kids, and hopefully I can do that back home.

I feel like I've turned the corner and playing really good golf. Like I said on 18 green, I'm really in control of my ball flight and it's nice to feel like that and making putts as well. My putting has improved massively and I felt like that's the thing that really kept me going on the weekend.

Q. And it was that level of control that's been so crucial all week long, especially today with those pin positions?

THOMAS PIETERS: Yeah, the pin positions were tricky, questionable at best. You needed to hit, just pick your spot on the green and hit that and two-putt. I wasn't really expecting anybody to go crazy low just because of the pins so that kind of played in my hand. I could just par on my way in. Obviously had my chances and 16 I really fancied that. Over the moon.

Q. Huge prize, this Rolex Series, what does it mean to you, especially backing up the win in Portugal so quickly.

THOMAS PIETERS: Give my caddie a bib, that's pretty cool. Winning a Rolex Series, it's as good as it gets in Europe I guess. Hopefully this lists me, I'm not sure where, but I want to play all of the big tournaments and hopefully this gets me close.

Q. It takes you into 30 in the World Ranking which opens up the entire season for you, and we just made the point on the radio, this is good news for European golf because we have known about your talent for so long and now you've got the stage once again.

THOMAS PIETERS: Yeah, I kind of disappeared for a couple years I guess. Happy to be back.

Q. That means an awful lot, doesn't it, and it tells you so much.

THOMAS PIETERS: Yeah, I stuck to my coach, I stuck to everybody.

Q. How important is it to you to have that opportunity now to play in all the biggest events?

THOMAS PIETERS: Honestly, it's everything. As a golfer, Top-50 is your strive point, and when I jumped out maybe three years ago, I took it badly but happy to be back again.