[music] thank you welcome to the one Club live here at the 151st open at Royal Liverpool presented by MasterCard I'm your host Rick Shields I'm here with Victor hovland Victor thank you so much for joining us today.
Good to be here with you guys there's a lot of people in the room good to see y'all [Applause] they have all come to see you. And to learn a little bit more about you um how are you finding Royal Liverpool at the moment I know you've had a bit of practice out there at the moment how you finding the golf course yeah. So I just finished playing the front nine um it's very unique I think it's uh. So far it's a gray golf course I really like just traditional Links Golf uh bunkers on both sides it's very strategic you can decide to stay short of some bunkers. Or drive over some bunkers and it's going to be very wind dependent um I I uh yeah I'm kind of in love with this golf course. And for First Sight and um I think Dowling in those win balls those those Stingers uh is going to be very important. So uh should be a fun week did you grow up playing a lot of Links Golf not really. But uh one of the advantages we have grown up in Norway and and uh being sent to represent Norway in these Junior events or amateur events we would play um you know British amateur or um European boys Team Championships and we had that my first International Event as a junior golfer was in Scotland at merker links I remember. And it was super funky golf course I don't know if ever anyone's been there. But um it just super funky and just hitting five irons that are going twice as far as you're used to hitting it is it's uh. So fun and you gotta think about where the ball is bouncing. So I just kind of fall in love with it uh first sight I suppose twice as far as you normally hit it also half as far as you normally hit to into wind um last year you're in the final group playing at Saint Andrews um we would all love you to continue that form get into the final groups heading into this week what did you learn from last week last year's experience being in that final group playing in the 150 open at Saint Andrews yeah that was uh that was a big moment um because when you think about I I cherish the Ryder Cup is probably the the Pinnacle. For me um but when it comes to playing golf as an individual and and playing the Open Championship the 150th anniversary at St Andrews uh I don't think it gets any bigger than that. So to be in their final group with Rory um it was it was uh uh just getting Goosebumps talking about it um obviously it didn't end the way uh that I would have liked. But it was a very valuable experience. And um the the few Majors that I played after that I was in contention. And and I feel like I just learned a lot from that experience instead of you know thinking you have to play perfect golf it's being more strategic missing in the right spots and letting things happen and just trusting your abilities and I I think that was a great learning experience. For me I think in a lot of ways Links Golf you need to be patient you need to because it's not always going to go your way you're going to get bad bounces good bounces how how can you kind of manage that when you when you're trying to push. And you're trying to put the pressure on how can you also be patient at the same time is there is there a skill to that yeah I I think all of us have watched Tiger Woods win all those majors. And he was just a master of on every single par three. And Par Four just hit a middle of the green give himself uh 20 30 footer for birdie two pot occasionally he will make it uh. And then.
On a par five just tear it up do the same thing. And and make easy birdies and and uh you know boring off for patient golf is just good golf. So um but sometimes you're gonna get some bad breaks and instead of trying to make up for that mistake or bad break immediately you take your medicine and then.
Just go back to playing that boring or patient off you've had an incredible career so far with multiple wins around the world what's what's your biggest highlight to date that's a good question um you know I still think the most fun I've had is is playing the Ryder Cup even though the last time we got we got smoked um this year we're going to change that um let's go [Applause] um you know the open last year was was such a cool experience um. But obviously winning tournaments is is what it's about. And uh the win at Memorial winning Jack's event was was pretty special. And to do it in the playoff was was pretty cool had to sit there. And and wait to see what Denny did on the on the 72nd hole. And um yeah I had time to think about it. So you get a little bit more nervous and and uh just being able to handle that moment was uh was very cool there's not many people who can walk off that green. And have a bit of banter with Jack Nicholas what what did you actually say. And how did that come about you must have been pretty confident to do that I don't think it's more about the confidence it's more just I I think he's. So used to being hurt oh Mr Nicholas all the you know I I think it's just a normal guy you know obviously what he's done in golf is in incredible. And some of his records will probably be never be broken um. But I I think he appreciates the the banter with the players just treating him like you know a person. And talking about the golf course and yeah just talking some crap I think that's uh I think most people want to hear that stuff do you ever get to spend a bit of time with some of the Legends in the game. And kind of bend their ear and how would they win around an Open Championship venue if you had any experiences with that yet with with some of the legends of the game not you're not really but I did ask Jack one one question uh out of all the times that he's won because this has been one thing that I've uh tried to learn from a lot the last I would say six months is that my strategy has been a little bit hyperactive I've been trying to go. For too many pins trying to make birdies which is fun. And obviously you want to play aggressively but when the golf courses become very demanding they put the pins on the edges and if you miss just by a little bit you have no chance to make a par whereas if you miss on the right sides you're always going to have an easy up. And down and sometimes you do hit a great shot. And make a birdie or make a long putt so I asked Jack Nicklaus how many times out of I don't know close to 100 times he's probably won um how many times or how many of those wins did you feel like you went out there. And won by yourself by just out birdian people versus how many times did you just play solidly post a score. And let everyone kind of Choke it up at the end and he said yeah he probably won 75 percent of his to storm is doing that which is crazy to think about not really is I suppose it shows the power. And presence of names like Jack and tiger when they're up on the leaderboard people fear and kind of being playing with those Legends you kind of go oh am I supposed to be in this Arena really um out of the open venues you played so far has there been a standout shot that you've hit has there been any shots that you've gone that is literally the best shot I've ever hit. So far so how many opens that you've played is this your this is my third third one. So is there any kind of real standout shots that you go God I don't want that one back again uh put me on the spot um I I think just number 18 at St Andrews is super iconic. And uh I remember playing with Rory in the third round there so the last hole the third round and I hit a nice bullet cut three wood and there's all sorts of Mounds over there and it was a nice shot. And I was like oh this this could be really really good. But it took a hard right kick and almost went OB on the right side but it took the slope and went on the green to maybe 35 feet for an eagle which is great. But it could have very easily you know taken a little harder to kick and win I'll be so I was uh pretty happy to see that one on the green I'm glad that worked out last year I hit one that did go down the road. And it hit the road it hit the road it hit the hotel it hit the shop it bounced back down to about six foot at the PIN I had the worst part in the world and managed to hold it for Eagle so it's pretty much the same thing yeah it's pretty much the same you beat me on the whole I managed to hit three shots I lost the ball. And I made an eagle wow so yeah it's incredible pretty incredible did you win the lottery though that day I did just about. And it bought it was probably. For like a 90 or something not like you're 60 odds and how how good is your open knowledge again probably not very good. But we'll see we're gonna run a little quiz throughout the week and we've got some great people lined up um as guests but the good thing is you're first out the blocks okay okay the challenge is how many open venues past. And present can you name in 60 Seconds in 60 seconds I'm gonna put a stopwatch on yeah okay give us a second. But don't forget you're gonna have the clubhouse lead with this okay all right yeah I'm gonna give you a little bit more prep time you good sure let's let's roll are we good we've got the county ready okay you ready go Saint Andrews rollover pool Royal uh Birkdale uh Royal rhythms. And ants um roll Troon Prestwick Royal Aberdeen no um we're doing. So well any clues Royal Saint George's we've actually played that one yeah I already said Liverpool yeah uh Muirfield obviously yeah Royal Port Rush okay now he's gonna get all of them he's going to get all of them anymore last few 20 seconds this is like it's like ask an audience Turnberry there we go 10 seconds yeah Carnoustie I played there last year yeah he's played it. For three right stop the clock [Music] what's that like 35 or something 35 well well done Victor and Friends it's a team it was a team effort what was the scores eleven which was ones that you missed there Ross any ones that you missed figured there would be more princes that's a yeah princess yeah. And sync port same ports right we're going to open it up to some questions okay I've got some questions. For you but what we're going to do is we also want to find out how you mark your golf ball Okay Okay. So we've got three golf balls in there and a collection of colors as you're kind of marking them yeah okay we're gonna I'm gonna ask you some questions sure that I've received from Instagram. And then.
We're going to open up to the floor. So be thinking of some good questions everybody I might I might disappoint you with the marking because usually my caddy only draws a line on it a black line well you can mark it any way you want okay because it's a Victor hovland marks golf ball that someone's going to get a chance to win okay let me hold them out. For you um I'm gonna ask a few questions to go along um what's the best golf course in Norway uh local links it's uh our only links you've probably been there I've not been there but that way you can play golf. For 24 hours you can I do that uh last last summer we drove me. And a couple buddies drove 22 hours up north and uh teed off at 2 A.M it was raining. And windy um and it was uh just as bright as it is right now it was absolutely amazing yeah I'll have to do that um someone's asked is this your first time playing at Hoy Lake uh yes it is um yeah first nine today.
Was first time I've ever seen it gray Golf Course um last one then.
Um let me see if there's lots. And lots of questions about Norway and the best golf course in Norway um oh okay is there any wild outfits planned. For this week so uh they they set my scripting to my house in Norway because I've been home the last couple of weeks before the Scottish open and I guess we weren't home so it got stuck in the toll and my dad is getting in today.
Uh. And he picked up the clothes from the the tool so uh we'll uh we'll see what they look like but I'm sure it'll be uh spicy out there is there anything you wouldn't wear. Or you just you just go with it I'm easy going I'm I'm out there to play golf. So whatever I look like it doesn't really matter as long as it fits well and I can move it's it's all that matters. So they've the the previous scripting seem to have done done pretty well in in terms of sales so um if they're happy I'm happy sounds good right we're gonna open it up to some questions and Victor has actually signed the golf ball so we're gonna give three of these away uh first question coming in Ross did you have one lined up they put your hand up. And Ross with the mic there is going to come around. And that the question first before asking it just in case [Laughter] Victor uh how do you think you're doing the Masters next.
Year yes yeah because I have some advice okay let's hear it gentlemen on your right gives really good web lessons if there's any problem is that you oh he's really got some great advice oh. But we're all really looking forward to watching you play this week thank you and I think you're going to find Roy Liverpool all the people liverpoolians are great. And all the people here uh well we'll be rooting for you thank you means a lot does she get a golf ball. For that tip yes she gets a golf yeah okay we'll get another question coming in put your hand up Ross is going to come around the mic um uh what's your worst experience on a golf course try to forget those [Laughter] um foreign because uh I just won at Memorial um. Or mirfield Village um and that that Golf Course is. So tough the fairways the Fairway the rough is. So thick and when it gets windy and the fairways get firm it's almost impossible to to hit the fairways you'll land it on the fairways you'll roll in the rough and then.
There's water short of the green you can't really go for the green you got to lay up and it's just it's just nightmare sometimes and I've played the golf course three times and I told my caddy some a couple of times I'm like this this might be the the last year we we come back here um it's just been so hard it's it's uh agonizing and a couple of times you you go to a tournament you prepare Monday Tuesday Wednesday and you play well Thursday Friday Saturday and then.
You get to Sunday and nothing goes your way and it's it's super frustrating um but uh at least we uh we rectified that this year well you went and won it as well so okay last question last question Ross have you got someone there just the guy in front questions Victor you always look like you're enjoying yourself on the course what advice would you give to a young golfer on dealing with pressure yeah I mean I try I try to enjoy myself it's uh sometimes it's very frustrating as we all can uh relate to um. And uh I think um you know it certainly looks like I'm enjoying myself sometimes it doesn't I think I have the um uh uh I think that they have the advantage of uh having some some people have a resting face I guess I have a a resting smiley face. So that that helps me out but um you know if you don't go out there and enjoy what you're doing you probably shouldn't be doing it in the first place um I think it's it's very good to have healthy expectations um of what you're trying to do because if you have super high expectations. And by default it's very hard to achieve those things you're gonna be disappointed in a way and if you're going out there. Or walking around on the golf course disappointed I don't think you're gonna number one you're not going to play your best golf. And number two you're you're not having gonna have a great time so I think just trying to widen out the perspective a little bit um focus on the on the good things. And not so much on the on the bad shots because there's going to be plenty of bad shots excellent I think it's a great advice give him a big clap everybody [Applause]. So Victor I think everybody here at the one Club wish you all the best this week uh thank you. So much for your time uh you you like say you've always got that smile on your face and I think you're very very easy to root. For without a question and uh let's get the job done I think you've got the last chance [Applause] hello Mike thank you guys appreciate it [Applause] [Music].
