LIV GOLF CHICAGO

September 23, 2023

Dustin Johnson

Abraham Ancer

Rich Harvest Farms

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: We are joined by Dustin Johnson, the captain of 4 Aces GC, and Abraham Ancer from Fireballs GC. You guys are both currently in third place at 8-under. You both shot 5-under today. Tell us a little bit about your rounds.

ABRAHAM ANCER: I hit the ball really, really nice, both off the tee and from the fairway. Stayed patient. I missed a lot of putts that I felt like I could have made or should have made, and definitely the round could have gone the other way losing my patience, but stayed in it, made one putt I think on the 11th hole of the round, somewhere along those lines, and then from then I putted really, really well and made every single putt coming in.

So that was really nice to stay in it and not lose my patience. I feel like I've lost it a little bit in the past tournaments.

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, kind of the same today as yesterday. I hit it really well, hit a lot of fairways, hit a lot of really good shots, gave myself a bunch of looks. Finally made -- not much, but I made a couple putts, and then one double bogey, but I hit a really good shot I thought, just went just over, but other than that, it was a really nice day.

THE MODERATOR: Being five shots off the lead, Seb obviously on a hot streak, do you think you have a chance to catch him tomorrow?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: I mean, anything is possible. This golf course, you can shoot 8-under or you can shoot even and really not play much different.

Yeah, it's doable. Obviously we need some help from Sebastian, but just go out and shoot as low as we can and see what happens at the end.

Q. Abe, the Fireballs are currently in the lead. Is that in the back of your mind at all tomorrow going into the round or are you focused on getting it back for you?

ABRAHAM ANCER: Well, it is a bummer that we can't really catch anybody in front of us. We definitely want to stay or achieve that fifth spot because I know it's going to be important in Miami, so we definitely want to be hoisting the trophy at the end of the week and secure that fifth spot.

And individually just try to finish as high as possible, as well. It's going to be tough to get Sebastian. He's playing some really solid golf. But like Dustin said, we just need to get out there and shoot a really low one and see where we stack up.

Q. We had really great crowds out there today. How was the party hole for you today?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, obviously the weather was a bit nicer today so a lot more people came out, so yeah, the crowds were great, the fans were really good. I felt we had a lot of support out there. It was a lot of fun.

ABRAHAM ANCER: It was really cool. I wish I had the 17th a little bit later. It was my second hole of the day --

DUSTIN JOHNSON: It was my first.

ABRAHAM ANCER: The people were still having a great time and they were super loud but I know --

Q. They weren't as well lubricated?

ABRAHAM ANCER: Exactly. They needed a little bit more tequila by the end of the round.

Q. DJ, I noticed you changed your walk-out song. You now have Metallica --

DUSTIN JOHNSON: No, that was not me. I didn't pick that song. That was Collin. I changed it back today.

Q. What was your walk-out song today?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: It was "Country Boy."

Q. DJ, given all the lip-outs you had today, would it be fair to say that your score wasn't really reflective of how well you played?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, I would say that for the last two days, but that's golf. Hit a lot of good putts. If they're lipping out, I'm hitting good putts, that's fine. At least they've got a chance to go in or at least I'm watching them the whole time. The worst is when as soon as you hit it you're walking after it. I hit a lot of nice putts. Hopefully more of the same tomorrow and instead of lipping out they'll lip in.

Q. I heard you say on the broadcast that the tee shot at 15 you were happy with --

DUSTIN JOHNSON: Yeah, I hit it right where I wanted to. Just tried to chip a 7-iron. I didn't think I could get an 8 all the way back there, and chipped a 7-iron that flew over the green and went in the high rough. If it stays in the regular rough it's a pretty easy up-and-down, but it was in that -- I don't even know what kind of grass that is, but it's not fun to be in, that's for sure.

Q. Abe, can you take us through your season? Obviously you started on a high note with a win, dipped down a little bit, then finished third in Bedminster. Do you feel like you're back to the form that you've showed earlier the year?

ABRAHAM ANCER: Yeah, it definitely feels a lot better. This season has definitely not been what I wanted results-wise. Started with a win; it wasn't a LIV event, it was an International Series event, but yeah, maybe I put expectations too high. I felt like it was going to be guns blazing here coming into the LIV season and didn't really go my way. I try not to put that much expectations, just go out there and play, but the results weren't coming.

I feel like this season is the one that I've worked the hardest my whole career, but that's kind of how it goes. You're not going to have every single season be amazing where you're going to get better. I feel like it's been really good the last few years, so it sucks to have a down season, but I'm looking forward to finishing on a really good note with nice finishes in these last three events and taking that to next year.

Q. You had a five-week break. Rest versus rust, how do you feel you've come out and overcome that if you had to?

DUSTIN JOHNSON: For me, hitting it better than I thought I would probably this week, to be honest. I rested a lot the last five weeks. I'm getting old, though; I've got to do that.

ABRAHAM ANCER: For me it felt pretty good. Game feels in a good spot. I had four weeks off. I went to play the International Series event in Newcastle. Had a good week there and then it was nice to have a little break. I felt like the summer was pretty heavy.

Yeah, just stayed on top of it physically and practiced the last two weeks of that break really hard, and the game felt ready.