ITALIAN OPEN

September 14, 2022

Viktor Hovland

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Press Conference

Q. Just couldn't get it going in that final round, was it a little disappointing?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, would have liked to finish off that last round a little better. I hit my driver very poorly but that's how it goes. Feeling pretty good for this week.

Q. Brand new event for yourself on the schedule. One of the oldest running National Opens as well. How excited are you to tee it up this week?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Very excited. Obviously this is going to be The Ryder Cup course for next year and it's nice to check it out. Never been in Rome before, so it's cool to travel and see new places.

Q. How important to get this on your schedule ahead of what's going to be a big year next year?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it's going to be busy from here on until The Ryder Cup and I think obviously coming over to play Wentworth, I thought it just made a lot of sense to come here and play and get some experience for next year.

But obviously it's a great event. I'd like to play well here.

Q. What makes this course so special? A lot of people have been saying it's going to be a fantastic match-play course. Do you agree with that?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I think so. There are some good par 5s where you can go to the green to make some birdies and eagles but at the same time there could be some drama. Right here we have 16, drivable hole and yeah, if you hit your driver really well, you can set yourself up in spots to be aggressive to the green. It could be a fun one next year.

Q. You practised yesterday with the captain and vice captain. What were they showing you the way around?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: It was pretty relaxed but at the same time I think both Edoardo and Luke were scouting out some of the course, maybe make some of the holes a little narrower or add a bunker here and there. Just discussing a little bit what I would think on a couple holes. Yeah, we are also trying to prepare for this week.

Q. Being here in this environment with obviously the captain, vice captain, leading European players, how eager does that make you in trying to make that team?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, obviously want to play well every single week but at the same time when everybody is here, and I'm going to be playing with Edoardo this week, and certainly would like to play well and kind of show off what I'm capable of and prove that I should be on the team next year. Excited.

Q. As we come towards this business end of the DP World Tour season, you're pretty well placed in the rankings. Is that in your mind now towards the end of the season? Is that a new goal?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, for sure. Obviously had a good start to the year and set myself up for a spot to have a chance to win The Race to Dubai, and certainly we'll plan on teeing it up in the final in Dubai. So hopefully I can have a good week this week and just inch a little bit closer to Rory.