SLYNC.IO DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC

January 30, 2022

Viktor Hovland

Emirates Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Going out there today at 6-under par, did you believe you were still very much in this?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: At the start I thought, okay, we can keep pushing and maybe have a chance at it. But after not making birdie on 10, and making a bogey on -- the three-putt on 15, I thought I was pretty much out of it. Just try to finish strong and get a good finish. But obviously holed a bomb on 16 and hit a great dive on 17 and made that putt as well, so it was a really special finish.

17, I don't even know how far that it was playing, but I knew that it was playing downwind and that I had to give it all that I had. I hit a little high toe on the face which was pretty nice and just launched a little higher, knuckled a little bit, I don't know where it pitched but probably just short of the green and released to 30 feet.

Q. When it went in, did you know at that time it was going to be pivotal?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I knew that was going to tie the lead but I knew they still had 13 and some easier holes to make birdie on, so I knew I probably had to birdie the last as well to get them thinking a little bit.

Q. Do you feel like 12 might be enough to have further golf perhaps?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: It's tricky. Obviously many holes you can easily make a birdie but at the same time there's some drama, there's some water, but I mean, Rory is a pretty good player, so I'm thinking he's going to close this one off. If not, I'll be ready to play in a playoff. But looks like he's got this one.