“With Matthieu, we didn’t see each other too much this week because he arrived on Sunday evening from the Amex (The American Express, contested at La Quinta in California where he ranked 39th), while I I was already there. The tournament started on Wednesday, but as it rained on Monday we couldn’t do anything. He didn’t do a recce on the South Course (where the tournament was played), he just walked because on Tuesday he trained on the North while I was on the South. We were supposed to play a game of recce together but in the end, even if it seems a little strange, we hardly saw each other all week because he was playing a little in front of me…
His performance is the result of a rise in power for a while now. After the French Open (failed cut at the end of last September) he still had some big performances. The victory in Spain really launched him and unlocked a lot of things, the confidence in his game, everything he works on with his staff, in his swing with Jamie (Gough his coach) or on putting with Jon ( Karlsen, his specific putting coach). We can say that the job has been done. At the final (of the DP World Tour in Dubai), he had one last shot to shoot and he hit it on target by finishing with four birdies on Sunday to get his card right on target.
Since then, he has been in this dynamic which makes us play relaxed. He didn’t cut back too much this winter, because he went to Reunion (to compete in the French Doubles Championship) then to Mauritius where he is a golf ambassador. So he was able to continue this dynamic, and he started the season really well, at Sony (7th) and even last week he played well even if he would obviously have liked to do better (39th).
This week, he put himself in position on a super difficult course. He showed a lot of courage at the end of the game by making complicated putts on a return where a lot of people were saying that with his big fade (spin from left to right) he wouldn’t hold up under pressure. He proved them wrong. He was able to finish the job by taking his courage in both hands at the 18th, from the rough, and putting the ball 2 m from the flag to close the door and not even go to the play-off…
So it’s a great victory for him, super important, it opens doors for him for the Majors this year. I’m happy for him because we are very close since we both work with the same physical trainer (Ben Shear) and the same physiotherapist (Jérémy Da Silva). And for all French golf it is also a big step. It allows everyone to see that it’s possible to get on the PGA Tour, win and do it in a short amount of time. Bravo to him, we spoke on the phone before he had a good evening I imagine. It’s deserved, he worked really well. »
2024-01-28 08:39:58
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