LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES: BEDMINSTER

July 30, 2022

Dustin Johnson

Carlos Ortiz

Trump Bedminster

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We have Carlos Ortiz and Dustin Johnson.

Q. You guys both played in the Portland event. This isn't your first LIV experience. It's a very fast moving series. From a tournament-to-tournament, day-by-day basis, how have you seen LIV grow so far in its early days?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I think it's been going great. From London even until now, all the events have been kind of similar as far as the way they're run. I think they've done a great job. They really do a good job of taking care of us and the caddies and all of our staff, and I feel like the events have been unbelievable, and I think they're doing a really great job of running them.

CARLOS ORTIZ: Yeah, I didn't play London, but the last two tournaments have been unbelievable. The way we get treated, the way the caddies get treated, they get treated like persons, like normal people. They can eat with us and get in the locker room, where in the other tour they couldn't. I think those things are great, and the staff has been unbelievable. They do anything for you. The setups, people are loving it.

I think it's fantastic what these guys are doing. Me as a player, I'm enjoying it, and I think fans are enjoying it, too.

Q. Any constructive criticism you'd like to see them change going forward?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: No, nothing as of right now. I'm sure eventually I might have some, but right now I'm good.

CARLOS ORTIZ: Maybe they could have more chocolates in the locker room.

Q. DJ and Carlos, can you talk about the team concept, how much you're paying attention to that during the day as the round goes on, and how do you think it'll stick as time goes on?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Me personally, I enjoy it. I look at the leaderboard mostly to see how my team is playing. Obviously I know how I'm doing, but I'm always checking to see how the guys are playing.

I really enjoy it. I think it's -- even going back to college and then team events I've played on being a pro, but it's a lot of fun. There's a lot more camaraderie with the guys. We're all playing at the same time, so we're all warming up together, we're eating together. You just spend a lot more time with the guys, and so I think it's a lot of fun.

I've really enjoyed it, and I'm really looking forward to it. I think the team aspect is a big part of this.

CARLOS ORTIZ: I agree with that, and obviously he likes it. His guys have been playing unbelievable. Talor Gooch, 7-under today, I don't know where he played. He didn't play the same golf course as I did.

But yeah, that team aspect is great. I think it's a game changer, being able to -- you can play shitty the first two days and then the last day you can make the difference for your team to win (inaudible) team aspects in both exactly the same, so it doesn't even hurt.

Q. Carlos, I noticed before your putting you do sort of a faux bowling stroke. What does that do for you or are you trying to be the ambassador for the Thursday night LIV bowling league?

CARLOS ORTIZ: I don't know, I feel, I guess, how hard I want to hit it. I don't know, it's just something that gives me feel. Other than that, I'm not a great bowler --

DUSTIN JOHNSON: A lot of guys do it, actually. You kind of get a -- you do get a better feel for your putt.

Q. DJ, how would this have held up at the PGA Championship? It seems like there's probably some room to back it up and make it even harder. It's not that easy now.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: No, this golf course is not easy at all. Yeah, a lot of tees are up, so if they played it tipped out and obviously they could firm the greens up, too -- if the greens were firm and we played it all the way back, even par would be a really good score, I think.

Yeah, I mean, the golf course is really good, and it's tough.

Q. You guys both go into the mix again tomorrow. How impressed have you been with Henrik this week? And what's it going to take tomorrow? What do you think is the mindset?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Yeah, I mean, trying to catch him. Make some birdies and hopefully he doesn't make that many. That's the game plan.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, I mean, this golf course, it's hard. Game plan doesn't change. Just try to get it in the fairway and then if you can, somehow get an uphill putt. But it seems like I've been putting downhill all week. Even the uphill putts feel like they're downhill. I don't know. The greens are fast. But yeah, just try to -- first and foremost, you've got to get it in the fairway just to be able to control the golf ball coming into these greens.

Yeah, I don't know, I didn't see what he finished at.

Q. He's at 9.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: 9? Obviously he's definitely in reach for sure, especially around this course. Yeah, just go out and keep playing like I'm playing. I'm sure Carlos wants to do the same thing, make a few more putts and we'll see what happens.

Q. Carlos, what would you say to Mexican fans? There's been a lot of skepticism around LIV Golf. What would you tell them about the decision of playing here?

CARLOS ORTIZ: I mean, it's the same. It's golf. We still have to make it, and we are trying to shoot low. Competition is probably better than a normal PGA TOUR event. It doesn't have to change anything. I think if anything they should get more behind it. We have two Mexicans on the same team and two other Latins. I think it's great. I just don't see anything wrong with this tour. If anything it's more entertaining and better for the fans watching. You can watch five shots while you watch one or two shots on the other tour.

I think for a fan, watching it on TV, it's easier. You can see all kinds of players, all kinds of shots. I think it's great for the Mexican fan base. They're going to be able to see more of us.

Q. You gents played together in Portland, and you played again together today. Would you say that you're now best friends?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Close.

CARLOS ORTIZ: Yeah, he's getting there.