Blue Monster and Augusta National Take Center Stage at Trump National Doral
MIAMI – Wednesday at LIV Golf Miami establishes a competitive calm before Friday’s impending 12:15 pm shotgun storm. No spectators are allowed on the grounds, and the thirteen teams of four and the two wildcards have the Blue Monster to themselves. These 54 players work on the putting and chipping greens, use the driving range, and play a leisurely practice round. A small cadre of media try to keep busy.
The calm, however, was once blatantly disrupted by the Secret Service who took about 20 minutes to practice landings and takeoffs near the ninth green with two United States of America helicopters in preparation for President Trump’s arrival at his Doral this weekend. All golf activity was suspended at this time to watch the action.
LIV PR did take pity on the media and arranged a photo opportunity with the 12 LIV players who will venture to Augusta, Georgia next week for the Masters. Seven are previous winners: Sergio Garcia, Dustin Johnson, Phil Mickelson, Jon Rahm, Patrick Reed, Charl Schwartzel and Bubba Watson. The other five are Green Jacket wannabes: major winners Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koepka, and Cameron Smith and special invitees Joaquin Niemann and Tyrrell Hatton.
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Expectations and enthusiasm ran rampant among this coterie, and these players are hopeful that many in the LIV contingent will make the cut and then contend for the championship come Sunday. Each one realizes that a strong LIV showing will add more credibility and standing in their world golf order.
Six of these players joined moderator Jane MacNeille, Senior Vice President of Team and Player Communications, for a spirited press conference in the Media Center to discuss LIV Golf Miami, the quest at Augusta, and the novel concept of the LIV team format. The participants were Bryson DeChambeau, Sergio Garcia, Brooks Koepka, Phil Mickelson, Joaquin Niemann, and Jon Rahm.
The Challenge of the Blue Monster
MODERATOR: Before we get started on the Masters, we are back at the famed Blue Monster. Of course, it demands everything from you, physical, mental, and most of all, patience. What is the key to managing risk-reward at this course?
JON RAHM: Well, as I am known for being extremely patient out there [laughter broke out], I would say, overall, it’s definitely a golf course that suits a ball striker. Last year was my first ever competition here, and I enjoyed it. If you can move it off the tee, you can make your way around the course very, very easily, but it’s also dependent on the wind direction and wind intensity.
You definitely need to pick your spots here. You need to have all aspects of your game in really good condition to have a chance to win. Definitely a challenge and a golf course that I enjoy.
SERGIO GARCIA: Yeah, I think it’s just a solid golf course, like Jon said. Obviously, I was fortunate enough to play well last year but lost in a playoff. It’s the kind of golf course that, if you drive the ball well, you can be fairly aggressive to some of these pin positions. If you struggle a little bit off the tee and find the rough, it becomes tricky because you don’t have as much control out of the Bermuda.
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PHIL MICKELSON: What I really enjoy about playing Doral, it reminds me a little bit about St Andrews, and the reason I say St Andrews is because when you play St Andrews for the first time with a certain wind, there are bunkers that are not in play, and you’re like, why is that bunker there, and then the wind totally changes, and now it’s the exact opposite. Now the bunkers that weren’t in play are in play and the ones that you were worried about, they’re not in play at all.
I feel like Doral, the wind changes so much that there’s times when water and bunkers are in play with one wind and totally out of play with another, and it plays so differently with each given wind that it’s a whole different golf course every time you play it.
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: The Blue Monster, you’ve just got to have pretty much every part of your game working well. It’s not only just driving; you’ve got to hit irons, too, to play it well. It can get windy out here. There’s water all around the greens, especially on the par-3s, so you’ve got to be a good ball striker. It’s a good test going into the Masters.
BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, your ball striking, like Bryson said, it’s just got to be on point. You’ve got to hit fairways. It’s important out here because if you’re in the rough, you can’t control your golf ball. Also, you’ve got to hit it long, hit a lot of fairways, and then you’ve got a lot of mid, long irons into the greens. Yeah, it’s a tough golf course, especially if the wind blows.
MODERATOR: Joaquín, when you step on to that 18th tee box and looking at the water and looking at that hole —
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Aim right.
MODERATOR: How does it make you feel knowing you’ve got to perform on that hole to close out your round?
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, I feel like it’s going to be playing into the wind so it’s going to be a massive carry going toward the water. Maybe Bryson can get it over. Yeah, it’s a tough hole. You’ve got to hit the fairway, and you’ve still got to hit a 200-yard second shot into the green. You can’t fake it around this course, and I think it’s going to be a good test for us.
The Challenge of the Masters
MODERATOR: Phil, I’m going to start with you. Next week at Augusta, what would another green jacket mean to you at this stage in your career?
PHIL MICKELSON: Yeah, it’s hard to look that far ahead, but it’s fun heading into the tournament, which is a week that we all cherish the most. It’s the start of the major championship series. History is made there every year.
To be a part of the past history and to get to partake in everything that transpires that week and the way Augusta National treats the past champions, which is better than any tournament in the world, it’s just a special feeling to be a part of that. It’s almost a religious experience every time you set foot on Augusta National.
MODERATOR: Sergio, you will be competing in your 100th major next week. I know that’s a lot to take in, but if you can just reflect on that for a moment and what that means.
SERGIO GARCIA: Yeah, not as many as Phil, but getting up there.
I think that to me, it just shows, the same with Phil, it just shows the quality and the consistency that we’ve had throughout our careers. Not a lot of people have been able to get over the 100-major mark, so it’s obviously an honor and something that I’m super proud of. I’m just looking forward to going there. Really enjoy the week no matter what happens game-wise. Obviously I’m going to give it everything I have.
MODERATOR: Jon, do you feel like you have momentum heading into the first major of the season?
JON RAHM: I’m feeling good, yeah. I’ve been able to have a lot of good finishes, but I would say it hasn’t been what I would consider playing my best. I think I’ve scored really, really well but with some level of discomfort in some parts of my game that I kind of need to get over to accomplish bigger things, especially talking about major championships.
I think I’m very close to that if not over that. I think especially the last few weeks, I’ve been playing really good golf, feeling really comfortable. Obviously, Augusta is a whole different level and so is the Blue Monster, but that’s why I like this week. It’s such a good prep for a major coming up. I’m looking forward to this week to hopefully see some of those improvements and come into next week with a clear mind of what to do.
MODERATOR: Joaquin, Bryson, Brooks, you are all three chasing your very first green jacket. You guys are all in excellent form. Does that type of momentum give you confidence heading into next week to try to win your first green jacket?
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, obviously I’ve been playing great to start the year. I haven’t been in the position that these guys have been of already winning majors. It’s something that I’m obviously looking forward to and dream of. Yeah, my game is feeling great. I know if I can keep my head in the right spot, I can have a good week. It’s more a matter of doing the preparation that I feel like everybody has done, so it’s just a matter of go there, play golf, and see what happens.
MODERATOR: Bryson, Brooks, you both have had near wins at Augusta. What lessons did you take from those close calls that you can carry into next week?
BROOKS KOEPKA: There’s a lot to learn. Every time you go play Augusta, I feel like your knowledge gets a little bit better about the place. I have learned a lot. I’ve got a good idea how to play that place. I’ve finished second twice, in 2019 and then two years ago.
I feel like I’ve got a good understanding of the golf course, how to play it for certain pins, different wind directions, things like that. You’ve just got to go out and execute, point blank. You’ve got to play well, first off, and then give yourself a chance with nine holes to go.
MODERATOR: Bryson, what did you learn last year, when you had the lead after 36 holes, that you can take into this year?
BRYSON DeCHAMBEAU: Yeah, I think it’s a big patience game out there. The wind is going to swirl. You’re going to be thrown some weird obstacles and some interesting putts. It’s really about playing a strategic game out there and getting yourself into position to make birdies and getting yourself a chance to win come that last nine holes of the tournament.
To be honest, last year I was just having fun. I was so grateful to be there and competing and being at the top of that leaderboard. Was I feeling pressure? Yeah. Was I doing it for all of LIV? Sure, you can say that. For me, I’m just out there trying to win a golf tournament, and if that does great for LIV, then that’s awesome. But for me, you’re still just out there trying to win a golf tournament. [DeChambeau then held the 54-hole lead in the U.S. Open in June at Pinehurst CC and won the championship.]
MODERATOR: Phil, the majors, do they take on even more importance now that you only get really the four times a year to play against the guys you used to play against and be on that stage? Does it take on more importance now that you’ve come to LIV?
PHIL MICKELSON: It would be easy to say that it does, but in actuality majors have always had that importance heading in because those are what define a career, and those events have always had that extra incentive or elevation or status, and so it would certainly be easy to say that, but in actuality when I was playing the PGA Tour it still had that extra meaning.
SERGIO GARCIA: No, like Phil said, I don’t think that’s the main thing that makes the majors that much more important. I think for me, and I said it last year, now being at LIV and obviously loving it here, but because of the World Rankings, it becomes a little bit tougher for me to be able to play all four. I’ve come to realize that every time I’m in one of those majors that I have to not only give everything that I have, which I always do, but I also make sure that I enjoy it as much as possible because you never know when it’s going to be your last one.
JON RAHM: I agree with what they both said. It’s hard to make any of the majors matter even more. It’s the pinnacle of our sport, and like Phil said, they define a career. It’s hard to make it more than that.
The Challenge of the LIV Golf Team Concept
MODERATOR: Have you noticed a difference in energy or experience, not only for the fans but for you as golfers at a LIV event compared to a traditional tournament?
SERGIO GARCIA: Well, there’s obviously — in our LIV events, we have amazing competition. I think the team aspect of it makes it extra special, and like you said, going out there and playing not only for yourself but for your teammates and getting a win together and everything like that, it’s something that is very unique and very special. It obviously brings a different energy not only to the tournament but to the players themselves.
We love that part of it, and we’re always thrilled about it every single week.
JON RAHM: I think what makes it also so special is you’re not only playing for yourself. It’s also a team you play for. Individually, even though you may be out of contention, you’re never out as a team, especially this year now that all four scores count every day.
It’s an added extra that makes the competition so special.
PHIL MICKELSON: I think that when you’re on the PGA Tour, you’re in it for yourself, and golf has always been an individual sport. As LIV progresses and brings a team dynamic to an individual player standpoint, it brings in the support system that makes it a lot more fun when you play well.
Sergio wins individually and as a team, but even if his team didn’t win, you’ve got three guys that are pulling for him, supporting him and celebrating his success. Then to be able to share that on the team aspect, there’s an element of kind of camaraderie that I haven’t experienced on the PGA Tour where it was so individualistic. That brings a different energy that’s fun to be a part of.
