Q. We’ve acquired Brendan Steele, captain Phil Mickelson, Andy Ogletree and Cameron Tringale. Welcome to the Hong Kong Golf Membership. Simply a few of your preliminary ideas on Hong Kong and of the membership itself.
BRENDAN STEELE: Yeah, Hong Kong as a metropolis has blown me away. We’ve had a good time, nice meals, nice individuals. Simply actually loved it.
I used to be actually trying ahead to getting right here, and it’s been method higher than I might have even anticipated.
So far as the golf course, actually cool course. Some actually nice holes. Nice technique, actually cool angles, cool greens. Loads of nice stuff. So very spectacular.
PHIL MICKELSON: Yeah, I believe all of us really feel the identical method that steely stated. We’re having fun with our time right here very a lot. It’s an exquisite golf course, however the metropolis is unimaginable, and the meals has been wonderful and the individuals have taken such nice care of us. This has been a really particular and enjoyable week up to now.
ANDY OGLETREE: Yeah, it’s nice for me to be again in Hong Kong. I used to be right here a number of months in the past for the Asian Tour Worldwide Sequence.
I’ve been capable of type of present the fellows a little bit little bit of what I realized from that event, and it’s fairly uncommon that we go someplace that Phil hasn’t performed. This has been a enjoyable week for us, and having fun with town of Hong Kong and all that comes with it, and looking out ahead to an excellent week out right here. I hope the followers come out and I hope there’s enormous crowds.
CAMERON TRINGALE: Identical as everybody else. It’s been per week that we’ve all earmarked on the calendar to be trying ahead to, and it’s surpassed our expectations, and we’re excited to get going tomorrow.
Q. Phil, you’ve beforehand performed in China. How vital is bringing LIV Golf to this a part of the world, and what do you suppose followers from Hong Kong and the larger bay space can count on this week?
PHIL MICKELSON: I believe that has been an space that has had nice development within the recreation of golf and the flexibility to deliver a number of the finest gamers on the planet right here to compete and hopefully encourage loads of younger gamers and for individuals to see one of the best gamers on the planet will hopefully proceed rising and pushing the sport ahead right here within the space as a result of it’s an enormous development alternative for the sport of golf.
Q. Andy, you’ve honed your profession taking part in on the Asian Tour, success within the Worldwide Sequence, and earned your home on LIV Golf by way of the Asian Tour Order of Benefit final 12 months. How does it really feel being again this week in Asia competing in LIV Golf Hong Kong?
ANDY OGLETREE: Yeah, it’s nice. I’m tremendous grateful for the Asian Tour and all that they supplied for me, giving me someplace to play, giving me someplace to indicate the world what I can do, and to be on LIV Golf now’s tremendous rewarding, and I’m so grateful for the fellows hitting subsequent to me to push me on daily basis to maintain getting higher and higher.
I believe we’re simply getting began, and looking out ahead to the remainder of the season and what’s to return.
Q. Phil, clearly you’ve got an excellent observe report on shorter programs. You gained 5 occasions at Pebble. Once you come to a course like this that’s 6,700 yards, what sort of strategic changes are wanted? How do you strategy a course that’s shorter than many of the programs you guys play?
PHIL MICKELSON: I believe what all of us love about this golf course is you discuss strategic and technique and play sure holes, there’s loads of methods to play the holes. I like the par-3s. I believe they’re a number of the finest par-3s we’ve seen, and so they problem you and push you with precision reasonably than distance. You’ve acquired to hit very exact pictures. The greens are small, and so they’re simply very cool, enjoyable challenges.
There are loads of methods to play a few of these holes out right here, and I attempt to have one, two or three choices based mostly on how I really feel or how I’m taking part in or how the spherical goes or how I’m hitting it that individual day. Working example can be the 4th gap. That’s a really fascinating brief par-4 the place you possibly can have a 7-iron and a pitching wedge or you possibly can attempt to hit a 3-wood or driver over the timber and get on the inexperienced, or you possibly can attempt to hit a 3- or 4-iron a little bit additional up there about 60 yards. It’ll type of rely how I’m feeling, how the spherical goes, it’s early within the spherical, how did the primary few holes go, do I have to type of push one thing or not.
I believe that makes for a really fascinating event due to the variety of methods to play so many of those holes. Completely different golf equipment off the tee, completely different pictures into the inexperienced. It’s only a very enjoyable strategic cool golf course to play.
Q. Camo and Steeley, are you able to guys discuss taking part in a course at this size, a number of the stuff you get pleasure from, what you’ve seen up to now in follow?
CAMERON TRINGALE: Up to now, like Phil stated, the course offers you a number of choices, and I believe shorter programs are typically second-shot golf programs.
However like Phil stated, there’s holes the place you may problem a creek or a hazard and take a look at the get the ball up there.
What I like about this golf course is the inexperienced complexes, the way you’re going to need to be strategic about the place to go away the ball, the place your uphill chips and putts are going to be from. It might be arguably simpler to chip from 20 ft underneath the opening than have a few of these huge curling putts from above the opening.
That’s what I’m going to get pleasure from about this week is basically looking for these spots and be aggressive to these locations on the golf course the place you may then take a run at your birdie probabilities.
BRENDAN STEELE: I believe for me, identical that Phil stated so far as the tee pictures, like having these completely different choices, and relying on the wind or the way you’re feeling about your recreation and what you’re snug with, you need to know when to be aggressive, when to tone it again a little bit bit. But in addition the angles into the greens, you play a gap like No. 1, and if you happen to’re up the left aspect, even within the fairway, you might be blocked out. So that you’ve acquired to concentrate on the place you’re leaving it, the place your angles are into the inexperienced.
Identical with No. 4, like Phil was saying; if the pin is again proper, it’s possible you’ll need to do one thing completely different than if the pin is within the entrance or center of the inexperienced.
The angles I believe are tremendous vital, and that performs in with loads of the wind, as properly, as a result of if the wind is pushing it away from the pin or away from the aspect of the inexperienced that you just need to be on, then you definitely actually have to concentrate on what sort of shot you’re hitting.
Q. Andy, clearly some fascinating developments concerning the Open {qualifications}. Are you able to discuss us by way of that?
ANDY OGLETREE: Yeah, there hasn’t been an official announcement but, so I don’t need to get too far forward of myself, however they’ve introduced that they’re going to award 5 federation rating spots into the Open Championship. That’s nice for me. My understanding is that I’ve sufficient factors to qualify by way of that system.
Till the official announcement is made, I’m not going to speak about it anymore, however I couldn’t be extra excited for that chance.
Q. Yesterday you have been working with Caleb; Jon type of gave us the background on that. Are you able to discuss us by way of how vital it’s to work with younger gamers? You’ve finished that fairly a bit throughout your profession.
PHIL MICKELSON: I’m glad to do it, and Caleb is a really gifted, unimaginable participant. I assumed that — he reached out. He requested for some assist, and I’m glad to do it, glad to assist.
I texted him later, and he stated that issues have been going fairly good and that he began to really feel snug with it. Hopefully it helps.
For anyone at 19 to achieve out I believe reveals loads of maturity. He’s already proven within the first couple of occasions how gifted he’s. He’s simply going to proceed to get higher and higher.
Q. Phil, ought to we be nervous about that heavy taping in your left finger?
PHIL MICKELSON: No, I simply had a little bit reduce that I’m making an attempt to maintain from bleeding immediately within the pro-am. I’ll not have it tomorrow. It’s superb.
Q. Can you’re taking us by way of final week. You actually performed some stable golf final week, and there have been so many Phil Mickelson-like saves that you just made through the event. You should be actually happy together with your type coming into this week.
PHIL MICKELSON: It was a great week for me. It was one of the best end I’ve had out right here. I began to seek out some issues in my recreation that I’m hoping to construct on and proceed stable play going into Hong Kong’s occasion, going into this week. However there’s loads of positives for me to construct on from final week.
Q. Jon was saying yesterday that you’re a individual anyone can strategy and ask for classes, any of the professionals. How vital is that a part of golf now for you?
PHIL MICKELSON: I’m glad to do it. If anyone desires to achieve out, I’m glad to assist.
Lots of people helped and supported me in my profession early on. I used to be a child who seemed as much as Seve Ballesteros and had a possibility to play with him in my first skilled occasion after I was 17 and performed a follow spherical with him and had a outstanding day, after which afterward we each represented Hugo Boss and we’d do some picture shoots, and in between pictures, we’d go have chipping contests.
I might ask him about chipping, and I might ask him about brief recreation and a number of the pictures he would hit. What an unimaginable expertise for me to have the ability to have contests with Seve, have the flexibility to ask him questions and to listen to his ideas, anyone I seemed as much as as a child who I watched win the Masters after I was a child.
If anyone reaches out to me, I need to attempt to be as type as Seve was.
Q. Andy, at this very venue final 12 months was the place the place you obtained your trophy because the No. 1 participant on the Asian Tour. That should actually deliver again some nice reminiscences for you.
ANDY OGLETREE: Yeah, I’ve by no means been extra excited to complete twelfth in a golf event in my whole life. However yeah, we have been popping champagne beside the 18th inexperienced, my caddie Mike and I, and we truly went to Macau for a celebration that night time. Some nice reminiscences round this place, and likewise trying ahead to subsequent week in Macau as properly on the Asian Tour. This can be a particular place for me, and that is the place that formally acquired me on to LIV Golf for this season.
Comfortable to be again, and looking out ahead to the week for certain.
Q. Cameron, you’re extremely popular on this a part of the world. You have got performed so many occasions over right here in Malaysia and different locations and so many individuals simply preserve speaking about you. How does that make you’re feeling once you come to Asia?
CAMERON TRINGALE: Properly, it’s very flattering, for one. I’m perplexed as to why there’s such recognition right here.
I’ve at all times loved my journeys right here. I discover the tradition and the individuals simply very pleasant, so I attempt to replicate that after I’m right here and say good day. I don’t suppose it’s rather more than that. I’ve performed properly a number of occasions, however yeah, simply making an attempt to deliver some smiles to individuals right here once we’re taking part in.
Q. Clearly many of the story yesterday was across the factors. I requested Jon Rahm yesterday morning whether or not he thought it was perhaps time for the gamers to pressure the difficulty, not simply on LIV however on the PGA as a result of clearly Xander and Patrick and Will and Matt had some issues to say. Out of your viewpoint, do you suppose the gamers might pressure the difficulty, and do you suppose truly the time might be gone to take action?
PHIL MICKELSON: So during the last perhaps 12 months or so, I’ve type of expressed my ideas — not ideas, but additionally shared what precisely is going on on a number of the internal workings of that state of affairs. I don’t actually have extra so as to add. I’ve been fairly clear on what’s occurring and my ideas through Twitter, which is far simpler to get these ideas out. I don’t actually have any extra so as to add.
However it’s all beginning to play out identical to we thought it will.
Q. Andy, once we had a chat in November once you have been right here, you stated that selecting a staff was like selecting the place to go to varsity. How glad are you together with your school for the time being?
ANDY OGLETREE: It’s been nice. I’m pledging fraternities proper now. I’m simply kidding.
No, it’s been superior. These guys have helped me a lot, selecting their brains on all several types of pictures, completely different components of the sport, and everybody has completely different strengths. Making an attempt to study a little bit bit from everybody and piece it collectively myself.
I’ve been engaged on my recreation a little bit bit and haven’t seen the outcomes but up to now this season, however I actually suppose I’m near taking part in some nice golf, and I believe the entire staff is beginning to play some actually good golf.
Phil is basically, actually taking part in good, and Camo and Steele are doing what they do and being nice stable gamers, and I believe the HyFlyers are actually near performing some nice issues.
Q. Your position looks like greater than a captain in LIV Golf. What do you concentrate on your position in LIV Golf?
PHIL MICKELSON: Properly, it’s good of you to say that. I’m proud to be part of LIV Golf, and all of the gamers on LIV are proud to be out right here and having fun with it.
I believe for me at this explicit second, for me to finest assist LIV Golf succeed and achieve success, one of the best ways I can do that’s to play properly. I’m actually making an attempt to get my recreation sharp. I had loads of progress final week. I actually need to come on this recreation and play properly as a result of I really feel like if I play properly, I can assist push and promote LIV Golf in the very best method.
Q. What a part of LIV Golf ought to enhance out of your viewpoint?
PHIL MICKELSON: I don’t know particularly what we might actually do to enhance. We’re a startup. There’s loads of issues we will modify to make it higher, and we proceed to take action weekly and make refined adjustments.
However our product is extraordinarily robust. We’ve so lots of the finest gamers on the planet and the flexibility to maneuver one of the best gamers world wide to showcase golf on the highest stage into components of the world which have by no means been uncovered to it has actually helped pushing the sport.
I’m very proud in regards to the partnership of what LIV is doing. I most likely shouldn’t say about — I don’t know if it’s public information, so I’ll maintain again, however on bringing the sport of golf to 875,000 individuals in components of the world that wouldn’t be uncovered to it. I’m very proud to be part of that, as properly.
Q. Amongst the numerous issues that LIV Golf has actually finished properly is the pro-am format. The amateurs are so glad to play with two professionals. The professionals are glad to only play 9 holes. Are you able to discuss that a part of it and the way fascinating has that been?
PHIL MICKELSON: So I believe it’s a really huge factor, an vital a part of the general expertise, which means the interplay on pro-am day between the gamers and the amateurs is vital as a result of lots of these gamers are individuals which can be making choices to help the sport of golf, to sponsor the sport of golf, to help different execs or simply deliver notoriety to the sport.
We depend on having one of the best gamers play in these pro-ams to make it one of the best expertise, and I believe that week in and week out, to have it’s 9 holes, it helps the professionals be prepared for the event and never make them over-tired and over worn out the day earlier than the occasion, and as an newbie, you’re experiencing two execs and have a two-pro expertise and get to know two guys intimately in a method that you just wouldn’t in any other case have the ability to.
It’s a constructive for either side. When that was mentioned with LIV, it made sense, and we did it.
Conversely, I attempted for 10 years to make that occur on the Tour, after which we acquired two occasions to do it after which we acquired 4 occasions to do it, and it took 15 years to get one thing like that finished. I believe that reveals how fluid LIV Golf is and the flexibility to do no matter we will to make it a greater expertise and make choices shortly and transfer swiftly to enhance.
