ABU DHABI HSBC GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

January 23, 2022

Rafa Cabrera-Bello

Yas Links

Quick Quotes

Q. Great week here in Yas Links, but ultimately a couple short, how pleased are with you how you started this season?

RAFA CABRERA-BELLO: Well, obviously very happy. I think I'm just going to be one off the playoff. I played good all week. I was up there in contention, I think co-leading with four holes to go and the final stretch was playing pretty tough. Made a couple -- especially one bad swing, and that's it. I mean, I'm just happy that I put myself in that position. I know if I do that often, I'll be lifting more trophies.

Q. A lot of people said they didn't know what to expect coming into a new season, but when you start a season as you have does that give you a boost of confidence as you look forward?

RAFA CABRERA-BELLO: Yeah, of course, it's very nice not to only play about but like to be able to score good and finish the week strong. I put a lot of hard work in the off-season and I am really happy it's paid off.

I'm not happy with my current World Ranking. I think I can play better and obviously I'm working hard to get back into the Top-50 in the world, and this week for sure is going to give me lots confidence towards that goal.

Q. This is one of those courses that requires imagination, and that's been one of the highlights of your week, the sort of shot-shaping, and I understand you have new irons in the bag. Have they helped in what's ultimately been a good week for you?

RAFA CABRERA-BELLO: Yeah, the idea for changing the irons, I haven't been striking them as solid, and these irons are a little more forgiving than the ones I was using.

Certainly that helps because I want to strike it as solid as when I was top 20 in the world but that might take some time. I think the imagination was just there from before how I grew up playing in windy conditions, so I'm comfortable in this wind. That's pretty much it.