ITALIAN OPEN

September 15, 2022

Gavin Green

Marco Simone Golf & Country Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Starting the week off here at the topic, how do you reflect on your opening round?

GAVIN GREEN: I'm very pleased to be up there. Obviously happy how I played today. Today didn't start easy. I would say that a bit of a weird opening with the rain and the wind, completely switched from the practise rounds, so we had to adapt and we made really good decisions on the front nine that put us in a good position to actually get a few looks coming in.

Q. The topsy-turvy front nine, was that a case of getting the sense of conditions for the practise rounds?

GAVIN GREEN: Yeah, for sure. When you are in the beginning of the week and you see the forecast, it's hard to believe because it's been very sunny and very hot at the end.

So yeah, we couldn't believe it was going to rain but it came out, so unexpected, but you have to go with it.

Q. Obviously this course is going to be quite famous in 12 months' time. What do you make of the layout here at Marco Simone?

GAVIN GREEN: Even last year, I loved it already. You know, I always thought that it suits me. I feel comfortable around here. It's pretty cool to imagine how cool it's going to be in a year's time, every time we come back, we see some changes on the course. So it's getting better.

Q. Decent start, finishing nicely at 4-under, sum up your day?

GAVIN GREEN: It was hard out there. That rough is brutal. I did actually hit it very well the first few holes and I was just grinding for pars, trying to give myself looks but the wind was up and the rain was coming, so it was hard. It was not easy.

But stayed in it and grinded my way through it really. All of a sudden one went in, two went in and I was off and running. We just kind of really stayed really patient. There were a few software bogeys out there but can't be perfect. It's golf.

Q. What are the key challenges on a day like this?

GAVIN GREEN: Keep the ball in play in the fairway is huge. Because the holes are not short, even in the wind, a few holes we played in the wind, it's the first time I've ever hit driver, 5-wood into a par 4. It's never happened. It was a bit funny. My caddie was laughing. It was tough out there. You kind of have to plot your way around, and the thing you is can't hit 3-wood or 5-wood, you've still got to hit driver. You've got to drive it well. I drove it half-decent today. Overall a solid day.

Q. Looks like you're finding form, and you went back home to Malaysia last week. How is the baddy feeling? You must be quite tired.

GAVIN GREEN: I would say it took a bit of a hit first Monday and Tuesday, then I had a proper sleep, and I'm actually fine. I'm actually all good. I needed some spice in my food. I needed some humidity. I needed just to be at home with my dogs. Just needed a break away.

Q. This is bit more of a personal question, but did your parents know, well, had they heard of Gavin Green before naming your brother gaffe in?

GAVIN GREEN: I don't think so. I don't think so. But it's actually a combination of mine and my brother's because my brother is g-a-l-v-e-n, and mine is g-a-v-i-n, so it's like a proper combination of both of ours.

No, I mean, I was kind of wishing it was but it's not.