The Frenchman from the PGA Tour is back after almost two months without competition. Pumped up, Sony Open, Kevin Na already in the lead – PGA Tour, Sony Open, Tour 1″>Paul Barjon is between Thursday and Sunday in the Hawaiian Islands before three intense weeks in California. And he intends not to make any figuration there. Interview.
Interview by Lionel VELLA
After a 42nd place in Fortinet Championship (September 19) and a top 40 (39e) to Sanderson Farms (October 3), the New Caledonian living in Fort Worth (Texas) failed to cross the cut at Houston (12 november) ni au RSM Classic (November 19). Aware that the year 2022 will be crucial in order to keep his card, he redoubled his efforts during the truce to correct certain weak points in his game …
What state of mind are you in before setting off on this Sony Open which marks the start of the calendar year on the PGA Tour?
I feel very good. I arrived here (in Honolulu) Sunday evening, from California where I trained on the courses that will host the American Express next week (at La Quinta). We did a little reconnaissance with superb weather in Palm Springs, before finding such ideal weather in Hawaii, with a course in very good condition. The game is good. Anyway, I’m excited to get back into action.
Did you already know this course at Waialae Country Club in Honolulu?
No, I am discovering it for the first time. It’s a good course, quite narrow. There is apparently a little more rough than in previous years. So this remains a good test. Weather conditions, especially wind, are important factors here. No storm is forecast for the moment. We’ll see if the weather keeps its word (laughs).
I refueled in terms of physical condition to be able to go through the weeks.
Paul Barjon
At the sound of your voice, you can feel relaxed and serene …
I’m ready to go, yes. We’ve been waiting for this for almost two months. We are really excited to resume the season. It will be great.
Precisely, since your last tournament played in Seaside (Georgia), what have you done exactly?
The week between Christmas and New Years, I didn’t do much. There was also great weather at home. But otherwise, I had to fill up in terms of physical condition so that I could go through the weeks. And then like I said, I played a lot last week in California, in order to be ready for this recovery.
I don’t really have a performance goal but instead I’m going to keep working hard, and give myself a chance over the weekend to try to plant one.
Paul Barjon
What will be your program after the Sony Open?
So I’m going to play the American Express (January 20-23), Farmers Insurance in San Diego (January 26-29) and Pebble Beach (February 3-6). I will therefore do a little more than at the start of the season (4 tournaments between September 16 and November 19). It’s pretty exciting to try to perform for four straight weeks and get into the rhythm that way.
What goal will you set for yourself during these four weeks?
I don’t really have a performance goal but instead I’m going to keep working hard, and give myself a chance over the weekend to try to plant one. Play smart for four rounds, stick to that and then we’ll see if Sunday afternoon is in the game to do the best we can.
If you had to take stock of your start to the PGA Tour season, you who come from the Korn Ferry Tour, what would it be?
There were still quite a few mistakes, especially in the last two tournaments, with a few double-bogeys that penalized me. Fortunately, there were also quite a few birdies… The driving was also fairly average. This is what I worked on during the break. The objective is to limit as much as possible the breakage on the wrong holes.
Photo : Steve DYKES / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA
