THE PLAYERS CHAMPIONSHIP

March 13, 2022

Erik Van Rooyen

TPC Sawgrass

Quick Quotes

Q. Talk us through the third shot out there on your last hole.

ERIK VAN ROOYEN: 62 to the pin, tried to land it about two past it. Probably playing about 70 in my mind with the breeze, and hit it perfect.

Q. How fortunate do you feel to be on this side of the draw?

ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Very much so. Yesterday we played one hole, was off at 6:05, I think, and I was here early at 10:00 in the morning doing a bit of putting and seeing the guys battle it out. You feel for them because it could have just as easily been me on that side. I think if you look at the leaderboard, most of the guys up there will be on my draw.

Q. Knowing the kind of summer you had last year, getting to the TOUR Championship, being in all the majors, having everything locked up, does that give you a sense of freedom playing the TOUR this year?

ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Absolutely. I think the feeling was vastly different a year ago, all new golf courses, trying to find my feet out here, and not playing well compared to everything at my feet this year.

I feel like I'm playing really well this year. I had two good finishes in the Middle East on the European Tour. I haven't quite scored well enough out here yet, but I'm finding my way.

Q. DP World Tour now.

ERIK VAN ROOYEN: DP World Tour, absolutely.

Q. What's the most common chirp the fans give you for the mustache?

ERIK VAN ROOYEN: Honestly, it's the same thing over and over. "Love the mustache." "Love the mustache, man". Yeah, it's good fun. Honestly, I didn't really plan on it, but it's sticking here a bit longer than I thought it would.

Q. Looks like it's getting a little bit of curl. Is the idea to go full handlebar?

ERIK VAN ROOYEN: I try, but it kind of has a mind of its own. So it kind of goes -- especially with the windy conditions here, it just goes all over the place. So I don't have the control over it.

Q. How different was it to come back out this morning in the chilly conditions?

ERIK VAN ROOYEN: It was really cold. On the 12th hole, I took my jacket off and I was shivering, but I just couldn't hit with the jacket on. I was on the brink of clattering my teeth. It was chilly, but you get over it, and you've got some hand warmers in the pockets and away you go.

I think playing in Minnesota probably set me up for this (laughing).

Q. I was going to say, do you remember playing any tournaments in Minnesota that were that cold?

ERIK VAN ROOYEN: This is like a fall day up there, so I'm used to this. I remember playing Illinois's tournament one year, and it started sleeting like on a 36-hole day. So, yeah, you kind of think about those days, and this doesn't seem too bad.