LIV GOLF ADELAIDE

February 14, 2025

Sam Horsfield

The Grange

Majesticks GC

Press Conference

Q. Let's welcome our clubhouse leader from Majesticks GC, Sam Horsfield. You are currently the solo leader sitting at 6-under. Tell us about your day.

SAM HORSFIELD: Yeah, it was nice. It was really gusty out there I would say. There was quite a lot of wind switches in directions. A lot in and out quartering. You've got to be able to hit certain shots and hold it up into the wind, otherwise it would get going quick.

Then obviously the greens are probably running 12, 13 on the stimpmeter, so with the wind, you've got to factor in the wind and grain and everything. Yeah, it was nice to play well, and looking forward to the weekend.

Q. Other guys were saying that the course is really showing its teeth today. You look at the leaderboard and you've got Joaco, you've got Dustin, you've got Bryson, you've got Brooks. Obviously the cream is rising to the top. You are up there on top of it all. Is there extra pressure? Is there extra nerves knowing that you're heading into tomorrow leading this incredible field?

SAM HORSFIELD: No, I don't think so. Obviously this is my -- I've played on LIV for a while now, so I've gotten to know a lot of the guys and feel comfortable around them.

In terms of my game, I feel like I am playing really, really good. Played solid last week. It's just nice to see that momentum from last week carry over and be able to put a low one out there today and try to do more of the same this weekend.

Q. You've had two great weeks of golf in a row. What did you do in the off-season, and what's going on with your game right now that's allowing you to play so incredibly?

SAM HORSFIELD: Yeah, I think I was able to practice on the range a lot more. Where I play at home in Orlando is called Isleworth, and they did a massive redo on the golf course, so it's been closed for seven months. Instead of going out and just messing around playing money games with the guys, I would actually be productive with my time and work on certain areas that I felt statistically from last year weren't where they needed to be.

Yeah, it's been really nice, and made a few minor swing changes from then to last year, and the game is feeling really good. Swing feels very compact and in a great place.

Yeah, should lead to a good weekend.

Q. You suffered some injuries prior. Is everything fully healed? Do you feel strong and completely intact at this point?

SAM HORSFIELD: Yeah, obviously I played Saudi International at the end of last year so had two and a half months off or so before we started last week. My trainer, the guy I work with, Steve McGregor, we put in a ton of work on certain areas of my body just to make sure -- sort of injury prevention areas, and I had a little bit of a foot issue going on last year, so worked a lot on ankle mobility. I know it doesn't sound the most exciting, but just sort of making sure that I'm healthy for this year and able to play all 14 events and give myself the best chance I can.

Q. I cannot bring you to the LIV Golf Adelaide media center without asking you about the fans and the Watering Hole. Tell us about your experience with our favorite fans in the world in Australia.

SAM HORSFIELD: Yeah, they're amazing. One thing about the Aussie fans is they really understand the game of golf. When you hit a shot from, say, the rough to 15, 20 feet, it's a great shot, and they appreciate the great shot. They have a great understanding of the game of golf, whereas some other fans might see you hit a wedge to 20 feet and boo you and give you a hard time.

Yeah, they're amazing. It's a once-a-year event. You've got to embrace it. You've got to have fun with it and get behind the crowd or let them get behind you and try to put on a show for them.

Q. Your quick take on today's Watering Hole experience?

SAM HORSFIELD: They are crazy. It was our second-to-last hole, so they were nice and lubed up by then, and they were -- I unfortunately missed the green, so I got a pretty hard time. But was able to get it up-and-down. Yeah, they're amazing. They keep yelling "Horsey" at me, which is really cool.

It's such a unique event. I think all of us players enjoy coming here and have a great time, and I think it's one of if not the best event on our schedule.

Q. The last time somebody made an ace at the Watering Hole, I think you were on crutches and you hobbled out for the celebration. I was curious if you heard the noise today.

SAM HORSFIELD: Yes, I did. We started on 14, so we were on 15. I said immediately, oh, someone has made it already. It was so loud from 500 yards or so away, completely almost on the other side of the golf course.

Yeah, you could tell. It's a different roar. I think it's Westy said, that wasn't for someone tapping in for a birdie. Yeah, you definitely knew. I didn't know until a few minutes ago who it was. But obviously P-Reed knocking it in is really, really cool, and unfortunately and fortunately I got to witness the first one. Yeah, I can't wait to watch it back on TV. I'm sure it was a great shot he hit.

Q. You came close last year, obviously. You were in contention in Nashville. How big of an accomplishment would it be to win out here against these kind of fields?

SAM HORSFIELD: Yeah, it would be definitely the best of my pro career. These fields are very, very strong, and the thing of it is everyone plays aggressively, so you're always going to have guys that go out there and shoot low. You've got Rahm and Brooks and DJ and Bryson, everyone. They can go out there and shoot 8-, 9-under on any given day on any given golf course.

Yeah, it would be a great accomplishment. It's a challenge I'm really looking forward to this week, and I'm going to obviously keep my head down and just focus on what I can control, and hopefully come Sunday, we'll be lifting a trophy.

Q. Just curious after you were injured last year, especially playing today, how big do you think this event could get, considering this is just year three of this event?

SAM HORSFIELD: Yeah, I think it can get massive. Like I was just speaking about, the Aussie fans are amazing. They have such a great understanding of the game of golf. There was people from Sydney, Perth, everywhere, which is a three-and-a-half-, four-hour flight away.

Just getting -- they see what's going on, Fisher, Dom Dolla, all these people, it's going to attract people to come, and it's great for us players. We want the fans here. We want the camaraderie with the fans. We want to have that engagement with them.

I hope we can get past maybe 100,000 this weekend. I don't know what the next couple days are expecting, but that would be amazing.

It's such a great golf course for it. It's very tight, and if you go out there, the ropes are a pace off the fairway. You just feel like they're on top of you and you're on top of them, which is so unique and so cool.

Like I said, it's probably our -- well, definitely my favorite event of the year that I play. I can't speak for other guys, but that's sort of the gist and the feeling I get from others.