LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES: BOSTON

September 4, 2022

Talor Gooch

Dustin Johnson

Pat Perez

Patrick Reed

The International

Press Conference

Q. Where does this tournament victory rank for you?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: It's a great victory. Obviously we've got a great field, a lot of great players. Yeah, it's up there for sure.

The fans were unbelievable out there today, and then obviously to get the team victory, too, is just a big bonus, just because at one point I think we were on 12 tee, I was playing with Talor and there was a leaderboard. I think we were four back standing on 12 tee. We had, whatever, seven holes to play.

But all the guys, I know they're all watching leaderboards, so we all rallied really hard to get another win, and I think that says a lot about the team.

We closed out really well at Bedminster, too, and we all four got to play well if we want to win, especially on Sunday when you're counting three scores. So it was good, and obviously for myself, I wanted to finally get my first victory out here, especially I feel like I've had a really good chance to win every single week, just haven't played as well on Sunday as I'd like to. But played really nicely today, and finally got the first W.

Q. Were the competitive juices flowing as much as they ever have?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Absolutely, if not more, especially with that check that you get. You can feel it. Your butthole puckers up a little bit coming down the last few holes for sure.

Q. Can you just talk us through the eagle putt?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, I mean, I felt like we had a really good read on it. I might have hit it a little harder than I wanted to, but as soon as I hit it, I'm like, whoa, and then it was on a good line, and I'm like, hit the hole, hit the hole, hit the hole, and it went in somehow. I think the hole is indented for sure.

Yeah, I mean, I felt like it definitely owed me one, especially in regulation I felt like I hit a really good tee shot, took a bad bounce, just rolled in the rough. I was playing smart just laying it up short left there and caught a massive jumper and went up into the trees and made a really good 5 to get into the playoff. Obviously hit a really nice drive and a nice second in there to give myself a chance and made the putt. It wasn't exactly how I wanted it to go in, but it went in.

Q. Patrick, can you talk about the first two times you guys won it was pretty substantial margins; this was obviously a much closer win. How much were the juices going there in terms of it being so competitive?

PATRICK REED: Well, the juices were definitely flowing. I think I had five or six left, and they came up to me and said, hey, one, you're counting, and we're down two, so try to do something.

I was able to rally off back-to-back birdies on 4 and 5, and then to go ahead and hit it to three or four feet on 8 to make eagle on the second to last hole is always something that just kind of gets you going. I think that's what's so impressive about our team is it seems like every week, we seem to close. It's not just how we start. We get out of the gates fast.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: We got off to rough starts the last couple.

PATRICK REED: But on Sunday it seems like as it gets close or even if it's the wrong direction on us, we seem to close it off and get going towards the end. It just shows kind of how important it is for us to go out and play well.

Q. Dustin, from the time you left the TOUR to now, I'm sure it's been quite the journey for you personally. Given everything that you've gone through for the last few months, what does this win mean for you?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: It means a lot. Obviously with the caliber of players that are playing, especially now on LIV, we've got great fields every week. We're going to continue to have great fields. It's probably going to even get better starting next year. But even right now our fields are unbelievable.

For me, it's something new. It's something exciting. I'm really enjoying being out here, and we're playing at great venues and they do a wonderful job putting on the tournaments.

I think you talk to any of the fans, the players, whoever, staff, they do a great job taking care of everyone and making it a great experience for everyone.

I'm just really happy to be a part of it.

Q. Talor Gooch, you may not have won this week, but you made a ton of money. Do you feel great going home knowing you're still the richest man in Oklahoma?

TALOR GOOCH: So I'm not going home, so I'm going over to England --

Q. Do you feel good knowing you're the richest man in England?

TALOR GOOCH: I don't think I'm the richest man in England, but I joked with them -- I think Pat said that he's made more in these four events -- double in these four events than --

PAT PEREZ: Three for me. I've doubled my earnings on the TOUR in 25 events compared to these three, but when you got those three horses, it's a lot easier.

TALOR GOOCH: Needless to say, I think when DJ came up to me in England for the first one at Centurion and said, hey, let's not lose to these South Africans anymore; let's go and get some trophies, I was like, I'm in. Let's do it.

Q. What are you going to buy in England with that money?

TALOR GOOCH: Maybe some tea, maybe some biscuits, a lot of biscuits.

Q. You're talking about scones?

TALOR GOOCH: Scones that have like the gold around it, you know.

Q. Golden scones?

TALOR GOOCH: Yeah, exactly. They don't have those in Oklahoma.

Q. What did you think about competing in the Boston area, the course itself, the fans, and would you welcome a return in future seasons to the Boston area?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, I mean, the fans -- Boston is a huge sports town, and the fans were great. I mean, you can see especially at the trophy ceremony, unbelievable. All day today, huge crowds, a lot of energy.

Yeah, great golf course. It was in fantastic shape, and obviously it showed. Look at the leaderboard; look at the guys who were at the top.

Yeah, it was a great week, great venue, and like I said, the fans were unbelievable.

Q. Patrick, this question is for you. Electric finish with an eagle there, brought your team to victory. Have you ever thought of changing your name from Captain America to Captain Cashing Checks?

PATRICK REED: No, I like Captain America. We're going to stick with that one. But I'll still cash checks. Let's go.

Q. Dustin, back in August of 2020 you won the Northern Trust down at TPC Boston. Are you having good success in Massachusetts? Billy Andrade called that course a bomber's course. Would you call International a bomber's course?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Neither one of them I think are bomber's courses. They're both golf courses where if you drive it straight, you get a lot of opportunities, and that's what I did this week. I really drove it well.

I don't think I ever really hit any tee balls in trouble. I felt like I really drove it well, and that's the key around here. There's trouble -- it's fairly wide, but if you miss it in the trees, it's not fun. I did a good job of hitting a lot of fairways.

Q. On 18, did you know how you stood there when you were over by the tree? Did you know you had to get a 5 to make a playoff?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I figured 5 was going to get me in a playoff. Obviously standing on the tee I know if I make 4, I'm probably going to win. Hit a great drive I thought right down the right center of the fairway, got a bad hop, went in the rough. Felt like I was playing it smart, just trying to hit it up there short left in that fairway where I had a really good chance to get up-and-down, and just caught a massive jumper and went to a spot where I definitely was not trying to --

Q. How long was that putt? Did you measure that out on 18?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: To win? I have no idea.

PAT PEREZ: 33½ feet.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: There you go. It went in.

Q. Pat Perez, can you call this a dynasty now?

PAT PEREZ: They are. I'm just holding on by a thread.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: You've got to have the Fluffer.

PAT PEREZ: I'm lucky to have a beer. Fluff.

Q. There's a lot of talk on social media about how people are saying these are more of like exhibition matches. What would you say to the people out there that think this isn't a real tour?

PAT PEREZ: Exhibition match don't pay $4.75 million.