LIV GOLF HOUSTON

June 9, 2024

Carlos Ortiz

Golf Club of Houston

Torque GC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome Carlos Ortiz, our individual LIV Golf Houston 2024 champion from Torque GC! Carlos, I've seen you up here every single day since we got here, and I said to you at the beginning of the week that this was going to be your week since you've already won in Houston. How does it feel.

CARLOS ORTIZ: Good. I didn't want to jinx it so I didn't say anything the first few times. But I love playing here. Obviously Texas treats me well. It's my adopted home state. I'm just happy to get it done again in Houston.

Q. You had your wife and two of your four babies out here watching you. Does that make it that much more special that they got to watch you?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Yeah, I had all four. The two little ones left this morning. But it's truly special to share this with them, and obviously for them to watch me do it, it's special for me. I don't know if they'll remember or they care, but it was really special for me that they were able to be there on 18.

Q. You shot 15-under as the total score. It was kind of moving around all day long. There were times you had a larger lead and times where people were catching you. Were you leaderboard watching today?

CARLOS ORTIZ: I mean, I was aware. I think it was in between me and Meronk pretty much. David, too, but Meronk probably on the back nine. Honestly, it was just a matter of playing solid coming down the stretch. I think there was a switch there on 15 that I made birdie, he made bogey, and I just knew that I had to par in pretty much, and it was mine. That's what I was trying to do.

Obviously 18 I made bogey, but it worked.

Q. You told me earlier in the week that all you needed to do was get the ball in the hole. Was that really what you were out there doing today, just focusing shot by shot?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Honestly, yes. I was just trying to make the best of each shot and stay patient, and how we said yesterday, I think 15 was a good number. Meronk reminded me we had a good guess. I don't know, I'm really happy the way I played this week. I feel like I played solid. I did everything well, and when those things happen, normally good things happen.

Q. This is your first time winning as part of the team. You had everyone there on the 18th green waiting for you, dousing you with champagne. Does it make the win a little sweeter having that support?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Of course. Sharing it with those guys, they're probably my best friends, it's really special. I loved being there for Joaquín the two times he won. They were there for me in Oman. It was just awesome sharing it with them.

Q. You talked about the 15th hole. That was really the pivotal hole. Two-shot swing. Did you sense that when Adrian got in trouble there that that might be the decisive hole?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Honestly, no. It could go anyway. 16, 17 and 18 are good holes. I was just trying to make the least strokes possible in the next three holes.

Obviously he didn't hit actually a really bad drive, it was just overcooking. I took advantage of that, and that helped.

Q. Is there something in the water in Texas? You came to college here, obviously. How much experience did you have before you got to college here with the state of Texas?

CARLOS ORTIZ: I mean, Texas is a great state. I've loved it. I came to college, and I've stayed here. Obviously I like it, or I wouldn't be here. It's been 15 years.

I tried Florida and it was a no for us, so we're back in Texas and we're loving it.

Q. Did you sense this was coming? Obviously you've had some good results on the International Series. You haven't had as much here. Did you sense that you came in this week with some form?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Yeah, I've been playing really good. I feel like I've played good enough this year. I just haven't put three rounds together.

Australia, like two tournaments ago, it really hurt. I felt like I had it together. Something happened on the back nine and I couldn't put it together, but I learned a lot from that, and I just know when I'm doing the things the right way that this was going to happen. It was a matter of time.

Q. It's been about two years now since you've joined LIV. I think it was Portland, if I recall. Did you ever sense that you wanted to press to get that win? Two years later, was there some pressing going on this year at all?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Honestly, I've learned with time that if you press you don't get anything. You just have to let it happen. I think I did that this week pretty well, just let it happen.

Q. I think you only missed one green. Was that really the key today do you think?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Yeah, I mean, you don't need me to really answer the question. Basically when you hit a lot of greens, it's much easier. That's one of the big goals we had this year is just try to put it on the green. Obviously 18 I hit a huge flier, but it worked out. The balls don't really float, so left of the green was water, and I couldn't go there.

Q. Obviously you went through the qualifier in Dallas a couple weeks ago, didn't make it. What do you think about if you had made it with your form going into the U.S. Open? Would you have liked your chances there?

CARLOS ORTIZ: Yes, I've been playing great. It's a shame I doubled the last hole to miss the qualifier. It hurt a lot.

But I think with time, we're going to get back into the majors because I know that I'm one of the best players in the world right now, and I deserve to be there. But the way things are happening right now, it's kind of hard. I'll do my best to get into the British Open, and I also have the summer Olympics, too, other than the LIV tournaments coming up.

I'm looking forward to the rest of the season.

Q. Talk about winning in Houston; you won the Houston Open four years ago, now to win this tournament here in Houston, what is special about this city and playing well in this city, to win two major tournaments in your career?

CARLOS ORTIZ: I don't know, I guess it's Texas. I don't know what to say. I don't really like the heat, but -- I don't know, I guess Texas likes me, and I like Texas back.

Q. As you were saying, when you were struggling, how hard is it to keep concentrating, especially with the trouble on the 18th? Did you feel like you had it won even though you had the issue on the 18th hole?

CARLOS ORTIZ: No. Adrian had a good chance to make that putt. I just knew if I made par, I had it. I had a putt to win no matter what, and it's obviously nicer when you have a two-putt from that length with that cushion.

He played unbelievable, and he put pressure all the way to the end, and it was a good battle.

Q. Obviously you were talking about not making it to the U.S. Open, but you still have some big events coming up. Talk about representing Mexico in the summer Olympics. Talk about how you feel like this win could carry you to those big events to try to qualify for the British Open, as well?

CARLOS ORTIZ: It's just not only this week. I feel like I've been playing pretty decent. How I said I haven't been able to put three rounds together, but I mean, I think my form has been good for a while now, and I just have to keep getting it in the hole in the least strokes possible.