“How did this third round go?
It’s not such a bad day. I put a ball in the water at 11, I made another 3 putt at 7 and I didn’t score on the par 5. So +2 with all that, knowing that in addition I made a point at 16 (bogey ) and I missed a putt on 18, it could have been a day under par. I played pretty well, drove pretty well. Afterwards, the greens are firmer, much faster, and therefore necessarily more difficult to manage.
Had the wind died down compared to the day before?
Yes, but there were still some. For example, at 4 with a 3 iron shot, yesterday we arrived at the green today we only arrived at the entrance. The greens are getting firmer and firmer so it becomes very difficult to get the flags. Besides, I was quite surprised where my ball stopped at 17 (birdie) because it’s really a flag where there is no place in front.
What did you think of your playing partner Ludvig Aberg?
He’s a very, very good player. He doesn’t need to prove much anymore, he’s done it enough this last year. I think he’s only going to improve.
I hear the support of many French people (…), it’s cool to feel that they are so behind me. »
What is the objective for the last round?
I would just like to finish this tournament under par. It would be a bit emblematic for a first Masters to finish in the red, to conclude a very good week after two very difficult first days with the wind. We will see the strategy tomorrow (Sunday), I do not know the flags or the distances that I will have on the shots. It will be managed with my younger brother. Who says less wind, says firmer and faster greens after receptive greens the first two days, so it will still be a great challenge.
Isn’t the hardest part of this tournament the ability to adapt required by the incessant changes in conditions from one day to the next?
Yes, it is especially so since I find that the putting greens do not correspond at all to what we find on the course, where it is really firmer and faster. We quickly get trapped. I haven’t watched on TV, but just from my round, we can see that there is a lack of precision on the speed of putts which rarely happens, whether on the PGA Tour or the European Tour. These gaps where we stay more than 6 feet (1.80m) short don’t happen often.
How important is it to have your family near you on the course?
I don’t talk with them but I hear them at times, it helps me know where my ball is on the green when I hit an iron shot. Then there is really this distinct barrier of the ropes. I’m in my game so I’m trying to stay really focused on what I have to do and not let myself stray too much to find out where my family is. I hear the support from many French people, it’s hard for me to be demonstrative and to really share that with people but it’s cool to feel that they are so behind me. »
2024-04-13 23:48:29
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