ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL

March 5, 2022

Viktor Hovland

Bay Hill Club and Lodge

Quick Quotes

Q. Viktor, tell me about the hole-out shot and what that meant to your round.

VIKTOR HOVLAND: That was awesome. Obviously, not the greatest start to the day. Even the pars that I made on the next few holes was really scrappy. Hit some really bad shots.

Then obviously walking up to the greenside bunker on that hole was hard on the downslope and no green to work it. So I kind of thought I was in no man's land, just try to chunk it out there and give myself a putt at it. Came out really soft and landed in the first cut and just died and went in.

That was really nice for at least the next few holes, and I was really in a good rhythm until some bad shots on the back nine.

Q. How do you feel like you handled the conditions this year versus last year?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I'd say I did a better job. It was easier because I was pretty decent off the tee today, so at least I had a bunch of iron shots from the fairway. It's still just really hard, especially when I just didn't have my game today. I hit a lot of really bad iron shots today.

But at least I managed to kind of stay in it. I missed on the right sides, and the bad shots only cost a bogey and not double or worse to really take me out of the tournament. That's kind of the only positive for today.

Q. Because of how difficult this golf course is playing, it feels different from maybe the Hero last year, some of your other victories. But is there anything you can pull from those victories to maybe use tomorrow?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I think it's kind of just the experience, having been in contention and pulling off some great shots under pressure. I think that's about it. That golf course, although it was windy, which it was today, you can't really attack at all. Maybe certain holes with a couple pin locations you can be a bit more aggressive, but it's a completely different way of golf.

Yeah, but at least I've got some experience in some shots under pressure.

Q. Do you enjoy a week like this where something in single digits probably will win?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: To be honest, not really. I think now it's maybe on the border where everything kind of becomes a scrambling competition. As I've said before, that's not really the strength of my game.

But what I think is cool at least is I'm able to be in contention in a tournament under these conditions that don't really play into my hands. I feel like I have to really be patient and miss on the right sides. Yeah, just get the ball in the hole. You can have 2 1/2-footers, 3-footers on these greens, and they're no gimme, so it's just constant pressure.

I think that's a good lesson for me because when it's easy, you don't think about the worst case outcomes. You just look at the hole and try to putt it in or hit a good shot. But when you see so much trouble, a lot of bad thoughts start creeping into your head. So it's a different -- you know, you kind of have to tame your thoughts a little bit.