COGNIZANT CLASSIC

March 1, 2024

Victor Perez

PGA National Champion Course

Quick Quotes

Q. Solid round, co-leading right now through two days. What's been working well with your game so far?

VICTOR PEREZ: I think I hit my irons really well again today in the wind. It's obviously difficult to try to get the ball close. Like some of the pins are on the side of the wind as well so the ball is always working away. But I was able to hole a few putts, which is needed on a day like this to shoot under par, and hitting my irons really well.

Q. What have you liked about your game thus far this season and what have you wanted to improve?

VICTOR PEREZ: I think the ball-striking has been good. I just haven't been putting well, to be fair. Like the first few events I've lost a fair bit one of the first few days, which you kind of shoot yourself in the foot, and then it just becomes tricky to compete with the leaders. Even to make the cut sometimes you have to play well.

I think at some point when I was 8-under, I think there were 75 players within six shots, which showed the density of the field.

Quite happy with how it went today, and excited for the weekend.

Q. 23 putts; just talk about that, how important it is to make putts in the wind like this.

VICTOR PEREZ: Yeah, I think it's just hard to get two-putt birdies. I hit the ball really close, even on the wedges. You hit a good shot, and it's seven, eight feet, and you still have to hole that putt, which obviously plays a big role into scoring, obviously.

Q. What's it been like for you to see some of the guys from the DP World Tour play so well, Matteo play well, win? Does it give you confidence, motivate you as you try to do the same thing?

VICTOR PEREZ: Yeah, I've been doing my own thing, to be fair. I'm happy because obviously we come through the same group, and it's the first graduating class from the DP World Tour going into the PGA TOUR. That's been great.

I've been kind of focusing on my game, playing well. Just haven't had the result in the first few weeks. Played a bit better last week and then a bit better this week, so I'm hoping that the trend continues in a sense.

Q. How well do you know Pavon?

VICTOR PEREZ: I know him really well. We grew up playing a lot of junior golf together, and we have some pictures of us being quite young. He's been a very good friend, and it's great to see so much success that he's had since the start of the year.

Q. Does it speak to the talent on the DP World Tour that guys come in and it's kind of seamless in how well they're playing?

VICTOR PEREZ: I think it's great. I don't know if the PGA TOUR members particularly like it, giving 10 spots, and then there's been a winner with Matt, and then Sammy finished second last leak, really close, coming down to the last hole with Jake.

I think it's been great, but it shows that the game is becoming more and more global, and there's some great players coming out of Europe.

It's a good group of guys. I think Robert played really well, as well, last week. Hopefully more of that for the 10 of us.

Q. Talk about 17. Just take us through 17.

VICTOR PEREZ: I hit a really good drive and then kind of felt -- it's obviously been quite windy, but for some reason over the shot, I knew it was windy, but it didn't feel as windy as it felt, and I was already playing for 10 yards of wind, which obviously you don't want to go long, which I ended up going in my third. Kind of just came out of it a little bit, and then was unfortunate to hole the second chip for par.