International Series Philippines press conference – Dustin Johnson, Patrick Reed, Miguel Tabuena
And of course, Filipino golfer and threetime Asian Tour Champion, Miguel Taba. [Applause] DJ, we’ll start with you first. You’ve seen the course. Maybe not as much as you would have wanted to or you haven’t seen the course at all. So, what are your expectations? I guess you’re going to see it for the first time here in during the pro. Oh, well. Yeah. First time will be this afternoon pro. any apprehensions getting into a tournament in that in that kind of fashion because I know your schedule is packed. [Music] I mean, it’s still a golf course so there you go. Um, no, I mean it’s it’s a golf course. You got to golf. You know, I’ve played enough courses by now. I’ve got a big caddy, so hopefully he’ll go out and scout the course, tell me where to hit it, and then as long as my game’s a good form, I’ll be able to hit it where he tells me to. In terms of growing the GL the game globally, your thoughts on that because I know you want to be able to make sure the game will go gets to just about everybody. Yeah, absolutely. I think um you know, you know, growing the game is very important. Um obviously, Liv has done a great job with that. Um International Series is doing a great job with that. Asian tour, you know, playing all across the world, you know, bringing golf to to parts of the world that, you know, obvious I’ve never been to and, you know, so a lot of these golfers that have never been to. So, um, I think it’s great for the game and, you know, obviously the game of golf is growing a lot and, you know, playing in places like this really helps. Thank you, DJ. We’ll go to you Patrick. In terms of have you had a chance to see the golf course? Yeah, I uh sold the golf course on Monday. I played nine and then nine yesterday. Uh yeah, the golf course is I feel like a shotmaker golf course. You have to work well both ways and you know, as long as you’re driving it relatively low and straight, uh the golf course is accessible and available. But uh if you’re here off with the T- shots, it could be a long week. So, um yeah, I mean the golf course looks good. I heard they had some really bad weather come and a typhoon come in on Sunday. And I feel like the golf course has held up really nicely since. Miguel, obviously this is your home course. Your thoughts on how the course is playing and what kind of form you’re in getting into this week? Yeah, uh this is my home course. It’s where I I grew up playing. Um I’m very familiar with with the people running this um this property and um I’m I’m very proud that Santa is actually hosting this event. you know, um it’s a it’s the biggest event that we’ve had in the Philippines, and I’m I’m very proud to be a member here as well. Um but yeah, we’ve had pretty pretty um bad weather the last few months. Um but I’m I’m great to see what Tim and the maintenance crew have have done the last few days to turn it around. And um I I played nine holes one day. Um and it’s just night and day from when I played a few weeks ago. So um I’m very happy with how the course held up. Miguel, is it a double-edged sword? Because obviously they know this is your home course, but the expectations grow. Uh of course, you know, you you always want to perform well uh in your home country, but it’s it’s still um you have to treat it like any other event. and and these guys on my right are major winners and they’ll adapt to anything, right? So, um I guess course launch isn’t such a big factor this week. Um but you know, I’m going to give it my best shot and um keep that Philippine flag on top of the airport. We’ll now open questions to our media members here. I’m sure they do have a lot of questions for DJ, for Patrick, and for Miguel. Gentlemen, questions. Bob, you want to start us off? Okay, Bob’s good. Anybody else? Rick, that surprised me as well. Normally, they’re all with their hands up. Uh, this question is for Patrick Green. Uh sir, is there anything unique about the course or or the Manila course that you share with international audiences? Oh, um I think the unique thing about this golf course is that you have to hit it both ways. Like you you can’t sit up and just hit the ball or a fade off. You have to work the ball both directions. Um and you have to you have to be smart on a lot of levels. Um, I mean, there’s some holes out there, especially like 16, it’s just hard to get driver far enough left. So, guys will be hitting less than driver on a par five off the tee. And then that second shot into that green becomes a lot more difficult. But then guys that are going to take driver obviously are going to, you know, try to bring in uh, you know, bring in trouble trying to bring in a short iron in. So, there’s a lot of riskreward. So, you have to be really comfortable with your golf game around here. And, I mean, it’ll expose any kind of weakness you have. anything from iron play to T- shots to short game cuz even with how soft the fairways are the greens they just they don’t spin they make ball marks they they they appear that they’re going to be soft it’s just the ball doesn’t grab so we have to have really good course management leave the ball in the right spots and uh I feel like it’s unique especially when it’s soft like this cuz then you just think we can offer darts and it’s just doesn’t seem like he’s doing that uh these past few days. Thank you. And this is for Miguel. Uh can you share ways that Filipino golf has uh evolved in the recent years and where do you see it heading? Yeah, so we have a strong local tour as well. Um I rarely get to play. They probably play one event a year, but um we have a lot of up and cominging um professional golfers that deserve to be um on on on bigger tours and in the world stage. So um very proud of that, happy with that. Um I’m going to do what I can uh with the platform I’m I’m given to to sort of promote the game and and make it more accessible um for for everyone here. And for Mr. Dastine, how does the support and enthusas from Filipino fans compare to other global venues you’ve experienced? You want me to repeat the question? Uh, how does the support and enthusiasm from Filipino fans compare to other global venues you’ve experienced? Well, this is my first time here, but so far everyone’s been fantastic and, you know, really nice and supportive and taken a lot of pictures and, you know, everyone seems to be great. Um, I just got in yesterday, so um, unfortunately I haven’t experienced too much other than, you know, last night the dinner that was really nice. Um, but everybody seems to be excited about the tournament and, you know, hopefully a lot of people come out and watch tomorrow. Thank you. Anybody else friends of the media? There we go. Bob. Yeah, this is a question for Miguel and Patrick. This is Bob Guerrero from Acquire Involved. Uh you mentioned 16 as being an interesting hole. What are the other make or break holes here, challenging holes that you feel are stand out where the the tournament can turn? Well, I mean, I feel like every hole it can turn. Um, but really as soon these par fives, you have to kind of attack the par fives. If you hit a quality T- shot off of them, it it’s not a guarantee after that point. You look at 10, there’s there’s trouble up near the green going for that green in two. The other um par five obviously 16. I mean, you hit just a hair left and you can bring that hazard up in play, but then you miss that green to the right. It’s I mean, it’s wet and nasty over there trying to get that up and down running away. So, it’s uh to me it feels like the parfs are really taking care of those on uh you know, being smart on them, but also getting try to get as many birdies out there and and obviously the par threes on the front are beasts compared to the back. But, um yeah, I mean, for me, I feel like the big thing is driving it straight and being smart fives. [Music] All right. uh Daniel X-ray opinions agency and for Patrick cuz you’re you know you’re you’re well traveled to these parts of the world you know you’re very regular here in Asia defending your entire next week in Hong Kong I mean I remember you BMW masters in Shanghai I mean it’s probably 15 years ago on the what was it the European tour so is it still nice that you could find new places to come in Asia like this week after playing here so much during your career it is it’s awesome to find new venues and new places, especially over here in this part of the world, cuz uh it just shows that the game’s evolving, game’s growing. Um that’s always been a goal of mine and a dream of mine is to be a worldwide player, try to, you know, grow my golf game, but also the game globally, and to see new venues and new places coming and playing that weren’t here 5, 7, 10 years ago is huge. I mean, it’s obviously golf is going in the right direction. And uh so yes, so I’m excited to be here at a new venue in the Philippines for our first time and we look forward to this week and you know hopefully next year and years to come that there’s new places and more places that we’re growing the game and kind of expanding to. Do you think this this week you you guys have not got a responsibility but your part of being able to put Philippines golf on the map as it were? Because when people think of golf in Asia they think of Thailand or Korea or Japan, China even. Um but you know this week focus can be on the Philippines and you Angela as well. Do do you feel like finally you you’re getting a place on the global dolphin there? Yeah for sure. Um that’s what’s great about the international series you know we get um fields. Um we we get world class fields. We get major winners and and that’s that’s the only way to grow the game you know. um not only for for golf fans but um sports fans in general, you know, they they they recognize um successful players like Patrick and and DJ and and to be able to compete uh with them um is is also a learning curve for me, you know. Um of course you want to to play the best and win, but you you also want to learn from from this side as well. Miguel. Yeah. Miguel uh regardless 18 players in the field um expectation is high for the Filipino fans sports in particular. Uh do you think this is added pressure on your campaign play against the best in the world? Yeah, I would be lying to say it’s it’s not added pressure, but it is. Um but uh like I said, you have to treat it like any other other event and and not not let the pressure um break you. Of course, there’s pressure. You can’t you can’t really avoid it. You have to face it head on and um and just let it happen. You know, I’ve I’ve prepared well. I’ve I’ve done what I can to prepare for this week. Uh this is my sixth week in a row. So, um the the body’s a bit um tired, but you know, we’re we’re here and and you you always can’t be 100%. You know, you have to adjust to to whatever the environment is and I should be ready before tomorrow. Thanks, Miguel. Anybody else? Go ahead, please. I said the morning uh to Patrick and DJ. Um the other Filipino golfers earlier, one of them mentioned that this is kind of like their major. So just talk about uh the impact that uh you guys uh will be giving to Filipino this weekend. [Music] Um yeah, I mean I think it’s great obviously, you know, the for me it’s the first time playing Philippines. Obviously this this week it’s that’s do they have this tournament every year or first time first time the tournament of being here. Okay. Sorry I didn’t know that. But um uh the field is really good. Obviously I think it’s a strong field. There’s a lot of great players in the field. You know a lot of major winners, a lot of quality golf players. So um for the first time being in the Philippines I think you know they’ve done a great job with you know bringing in a lot of world class players and you know hopefully that you know it’s uh just something that you know there’s more to come and you know it hopefully all the fans that that come out you know really enjoy it and yeah we can do it again next year. Yeah. I mean, I would echo they say everything DJ says and I think that’s the biggest thing is seeing how great of an event and how much top players and really world class players have come to this event. It shows that they’ve uh you know that they really are doing the right thing to grow the game over here on international series and you know bringing all these world class players to a place like Philippines and hopefully with the buzz around this event it just helps golf in the Philippines grow faster and quicker cuz I mean that’s the biggest thing is trying to grow the game. The easiest way is to bring in the best players in the world to come out and showcase golf and not just show uh show what we can do but also show the fun side of golf. And I think that’s going to be, you know, showcase this week. And, uh, you know, I feel like that’s huge to be able to game, especially the younger generations. Last question. How do you find the weather so far in the Philippines? Like, I feel like I’m back home in Houston. It’s hot and humid. So, um, yeah. No, I mean, it’s hot, humid, so hydration and recovery is going to be key this week. Uh, and you know, really, yeah, it’s just kind of, you know, another thing to kind of deal with. Um, besides just jet lag and travel, it’s also uh, you know, the humidity and the heat. Any more questions from our friends in the media? Go ahead, sir. I Patrick, you just said, you know, we want to show the fun signing off this week. The Brian brothers are here obviously and, uh, they told me yesterday in the press that one of them beat you at the finish ahead of you in the BMW uh, this year in Germany. They they were they were saying they want to take a few of your big guys down and finish ahead of you. What do you think of that? And what do you think about having those guys here and bringing that kind of fun element to the uh to the tournament? Well, it’s always uh good to have guys like that that can bring the fun and show a different side of golf. That’s that’s great. I mean, I grew up playing off those two and amateur and junior golf. So, they’re both really good players and Yeah. So, but uh yeah, Germany that was a fluke, right? And he knows that. So, uh, yeah. So, we’ll just leave it at that. But, uh, it’s good to have that kind of personality out here. I mean, you know, cuz it shows a different side of golf and then the things they do off the golf course, um, with their content and everything just show a complete different side of the game that I feel like has been not really shown forever. So, uh, you know, it’s good to have these guys around. You think that’s a good thing that they they’re kind of bringing new ideas in a different way through different media? Oh, for sure. Um, especially I mean growing up and knowing those guys. I mean, they can play, right? So, they’re not taking the good thing is with them being in the field, it’s not like they’re taking away a spot from guys that can’t, you know, can’t go out and compete and play golf. I mean, they both know how to play really well. And, uh, yeah, I mean, if they’re if they’re on, they’re going to have a opportunity to take some down, but uh, yeah, I’m not going to let that happen this time. Okay, thank you very much. On that note, we’re going to end the press conference, gentlemen. Thank you very much. We’ll see over D number one as we invite them in our members.
