LIV GOLF HONG KONG

March 8, 2025

Peter Uihlein

Hong Kong Golf Club

RangeGoats GC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome Peter Uihlein from RangeGoats GC. You are currently tied for first. You fired off a 64 today, a 65 yesterday. Tell us a little bit about your round.

PETER UIHLEIN: Today was entertaining. Made a lot of bogeys, made a lot of birdies, which was nice, and then made a nice eagle and felt like when I got it in play in the fairway or even had a shot to the green, I was able to execute and make a birdie, which was nice. Even when I was kind of out of position, I felt like I gave myself a good chance to at least make par.

Yeah, it was an entertaining day. It was a bit of a roller coaster, but it was a lot of fun.

Q. How do you feel about this golf course? Does it suit your game?

PETER UIHLEIN: I love it. I've played the Hong Kong Open a bunch. I always try to come back out here. I played it back on the European Tour back in the day and played it a few times since I've come over to LIV. But I love this course. It's one of my favorites.

I think I've had maybe one top 10. I haven't always played well around here, but I really like it. Yeah, it's one of those events when you see it on the schedule, I plot it in and I keep coming back and I really enjoy it.

Q. Kicking off tomorrow, you're going to be staring down your first LIV Golf victory. How much would that mean to you, and are you a little nervous?

PETER UIHLEIN: Yeah, I've had four runner-ups, so getting that first win would be awesome. I think that's kind of the goal at the start of every year is to get a win. To get a team win would be nice, as well, but an individual win would be fantastic.

Yeah, should be fun tomorrow. I really enjoy playing with Paul and Sergio, as well. Should be a really fun day. Those guys are obviously world-class players, been great golfers for a long, long time. So it should be really fun.

Q. Paul was saying that the rest of the field was lucky you made some bogeys today, otherwise you'd be ahead by five shots. Is it frustrating, or do you feel like, hey, I made some mistakes and I'm still at the top of the leaderboard?

PETER UIHLEIN: No, I kind of just view it as entertainment. Obviously I don't like making bogeys, but it's, I guess, the adversity that kind of comes with it. I enjoy that. I enjoy the moment. I enjoy, all right, I made a bogey, let's bounce back, get it back on the next hole. Obviously I don't love doing it all the time, but ideally I don't have to go through it tomorrow, but you never know.

But yeah, I have a good time, and I just kind of play my game plan and just kind of play my game, and sometimes it's a little bit more steady than it is today. But yeah, the days like today, to shoot a 6-under par kind of making a bunch of bogeys was sweet.

Q. How well has the putter been treating you the last four or five months? Obviously you've been in really good form.

PETER UIHLEIN: Yeah, it didn't listen the first two events of the year, but for the most part in a whole, it's been great. I think I switched to that putter kind of right before I joined, kind of -- yeah, I literally think my last event was in Dallas on the PGA Tour, and I switched back to it. I used it for a little bit and then I switched back to it, and then I've been basically -- I've used it every LIV event. I used a different putter actually funny enough here at the Hong Kong Open. First round I think I shot 4-under and then I putted great and then won the next week.

Yeah, the putter I'm very comfortable with, and you kind of know the little nuances on it, which is nice. Every time I'm home, I actually use different putters every time. I never use my putter at home. I kind of just always feel like I just give it a rest and let it rest up and get ready for the tournament.

But yeah, it's been great.

Q. They were talking about the first round in Hong Kong where you switched. Why did you make at that switch? Bored?

PETER UIHLEIN: I don't know. I think it's one of those things you're never going to know unless you try. I used it at home and putted great with it, so I was like, I'll try it, and it was a bad idea. But live and learn.

Q. I think you only had four pars on the round, but every time you had a bogey, you bounced straight back. You seemed to be having a great time out there with Paul, as you said, and it was a good vibe, a lot of smiles. Is that really important, the psychology of the round, being able to switch off, forget what's happened, smile, and go for the next? How does that work during a four-hour round of golf, that kind of psychology?

PETER UIHLEIN: That's a good question. I'd like to say it's experience. I kind of feel like I do it a lot. I kind of make bogeys and then I make a bunch of birdies. It's just one of those things I've kind of accepted that's kind of how my game is. When I get it in play off the tee or hit a fairway or whatever, I feel like I'm a good wedge player and a good putter and I feel like I can make a bunch of birdies.

I guess it's just kind of understanding that things aren't going to be perfect all the time, and the best you can do is kind of go through your process and your game plan and just try and execute.

Yeah, it's definitely something that's taking a while to kind of adjust to or get used to, but like I said, I love it. I love playing. I have a great time, and when it's under the gun and when you're in contention, it's just a lot of fun.

Q. You seem to be very calm headed. I don't think I'll ever see you throw a club or having a tantrum out there. Is that key to it, as well?

PETER UIHLEIN: Yeah, you could say that for sure. I think at the end of the day, we're in the entertainment business, so I'm always out there kind of trying to entertain and be professional and be respectful and just do the best I can. I try and do those things to the best of my ability. Obviously sometimes it gets tough, and I do get frustrated, but at the end of the day, I feel like as long as I just kind of get back to my process and don't let it affect the next shot, then I'll be okay.

Q. Tomorrow you'll be out with Paul again and Sergio, all at 11-under par. Is it going to be like a little match between the three of you or do you go out and do your own thing?

PETER UIHLEIN: You just kind of go out and do your own thing. Depends on the weather, obviously. If it's kind of calm like it is today, guys can shoot low scores. We saw it in November when P-Reed shot 11-under. There's a chance that someone could do something like that.

Yeah, tomorrow should be fun. Like I said, those are two great players. Been good for a long, long time. Looking forward to it.