By finishing 12th in Abu Dhabi then 18th in Dubai, the Azurean entered his 2022 season ideally, gaining confidence before the two tournaments organized over the next fortnight in Ras al Khaimah (United Arab Emirates). Quick interview.
Interview by Lionel VELLA
How would you assess these two excellent results in the Rolex Series?
It was indeed two very good weeks. My golf has been very good in the four rounds in Abu Dhabi and the last two in Dubai. With lots of opportunities, a really solid game. Overall, I’m very happy with my game but also with my mental approach. I did not feel that I was in danger in each of my rounds played. So that definitely gives me confidence for the rest of the season.
Before the start of this season, and in view of the difficult exercise in 2021, were you apprehensive about these two very important and richly endowed meetings?
The end of last season still got me back into it (Editor’s note, last four cuts made with an 11th place at the Andalucia Masters before finishing 110th in the Race). I had chained the solid results. Certainly, no big “blowouts”, but solid results every week. Abu Dhabi allows you to see where you are with your game. And it’s true that starting like that is great. It gives you air and allows you to put yourself in it. Afterwards, my desires are higher than to make top 20 in these tournaments. I really hope to continue this dynamic on smaller tournaments and stand out on that.
I reconnected with very good driving and very good putting. These were my strong points in 2019 and it’s really nice to find them again!
Romain Langasque
What difference could you make between your performance in Abu Dhabi and that in Dubai?
In Abu Dhabi, I played really well from start to finish. In Dubai, I didn’t play as well in the first two rounds when, paradoxically, that’s where I scored best (Editor’s note, 70 on Thursday then Friday against 72 on Saturday and 71 on Sunday). I was a bit struggling even if it was better during the weekend. I think the Abu Dhabi course suited me a bit better, in the sense that the grass was a bit different. And it’s the one I prefer. But hey, overall, I’m very happy with the end result.
What do you still need to work on to raise your level of play a little more?
It will now be played out on small details, such as being able to chip-putt on the 17th and 18th to birdie-birdie and finish the tournament well; to be able to be more offensive on greens attacks. In any case, I returned to very good driving and very good putting. These were my strong points in 2019 and it’s really nice to find them again!
Will these two solid results change the schedule you set for yourself when you arrived in the Emirates?
No, not really because it’s a bit of a blur for all of us. We don’t really know what will happen in the next few weeks… I’m going to play there (Ras al Khaimah), I hope to play Kenya (3-6 mars) and the two tournaments in South Africa (from March 10 to 20). Next ? It’s a bit like nothingness. We don’t know too much about the tournaments in Asia (Editor’s note, three events in Japan, China and one last to be confirmed, scheduled from April 14 to May 1).
Photo : ROSS KINNAIRD / Getty Images via AFP)
