LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES: BANGKOK

October 8, 2022

Eugenio Chacarra

Sergio Garcia

Stonehill Golf Club

Press Conference

Q. Eugenio, another very strong round. What is it about this golf course that fits your eye so far? Is there anything that stands out that you really enjoy playing here?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, the conditions are great and the course is unbelievable. I feel like it's a long course that it helps me a little, and then the type of grass and the Bermuda greens, I think they're the best greens I've putted in a long time, so it's kind of like everything around here is great.

But I think the key was I went back to see what I was doing in college because I was working so good and I didn't do as good the first four weeks as a pro, and it was just try to have fun and then play to not make bogeys. Kind of play smart on the course, and that's what I've started doing this week. I feel my game -- I'm actually hitting it pretty good, but I'm playing smart and I'm having fun, so that's the key for these couple rounds.

Q. Sergio, you always seem to enjoy yourself when you come to Thailand. I saw you winning the Thailand golf championship. What is it about Thailand that you really enjoy, and how do you feel about the prospect of your team winning the LIV team competition here in Thailand?

SERGIO GARCIA: Yeah, obviously I always have a great time here in Thailand. Been successful, so it's always fun to come back and see familiar faces. The Thai people are always very, very polite and very supportive.

I wish physically I was a little bit better. Obviously I'm struggling a little bit with my left knee, but I'm giving it everything I have, trying to help my teammates. They're obviously playing amazing, and very, very proud of them.

We need one more good day tomorrow, and it would be nice to get there on that podium.

Q. If there were any doubts about making the decision to turn pro when you did, have you now put those in the past? Is it easy to say it was a good move?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: A hundred percent yes.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about the decision in I'm sure at the time it wasn't easy. You could have gone back to school, the whole PGA TOUR University thing prepared you for this?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, it wasn't easy, but I feel this was the best for me and for my future, and what LIV is doing is something unbelievable. The PGA TOUR University doesn't give you much; it can just give you six events, and then if you don't play good -- one of my best friends Austin Eckroat was playing Monday qualifying all year, and getting the opportunity to play with Sergio, one of my heroes, and then Abraham and Carlos for a couple years here and learning with the best players, and I feel the best players in the world are here. So I think it's a great thing, and I'm proud of my significance.

Q. Sergio, did you help him make that call? Did you give him advice when that decision was coming along?

SERGIO GARCIA: No, that was his decision. Obviously when they told me that the possibility of him joining Fireballs golf course was there, obviously I was super excited because we've known each other since he was probably like 10 years old, and I know the kind of player that he is.

I was super excited about that, but the decision was obviously his. Whenever he asked me for advice, I gave him what I think is best, but then he has to make his own decisions.

Q. If he asked you for advice, what would you advise him to sleep on the lead?

SERGIO GARCIA: Nothing, just keep doing what he's doing. He's doing great. Keep believing in himself, keep being positive like he's been all week. He knows what to do. He's good to go.

Q. Sorry to hear about your knee and sorry to hear about the OWGR situations. Can you tell us your thoughts on the latest?

SERGIO GARCIA: Yeah, I think it's a little bit -- we were excited about it, but I don't think it's over. We're still fighting on it and trying to get what we think we deserve. Hopefully it'll come around soon.

Q. You guys keep continuing to get blocked for World Ranking points. Do you think there's another way to do this, another system, another ranking process?

SERGIO GARCIA: Probably. If that keeps happening, probably. But at the end of the day we're very happy where we are. If they keep blocking us, it's because they see us as a threat. So that's a good thing to have.

But if it keeps happening, I'm sure that there will be a way for everyone to come along, I guess.

Q. You've said several times that Sergio is your hero and now you're standing here as a professional golfer on his team. Did the 10 year old you who met Sergio that first time ever think you would be standing here doing this right now?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: I mean, I'm still dreaming. I feel like it was yesterday when I went to Madrid to watch the Spanish Open and watch him play golf and just seeing him as an idol. He's a Spanish idol since a long time. He's been on tour 21 years, so I'm just trying to learn as much as I can from him, and I think I'm in a good spot, and I love him, and I love all of our team. We're in a good spot.

Q. Sergio, do you have any strategy going in? Are you guys going to do anything as a team tonight to keep the Fireballs on top?

SERGIO GARCIA: No, not really. We'll probably just have dinner together, just enjoy each other and just try to get ready for tomorrow. There's not much that we need to change. Obviously I think everyone is playing well. I'll give my everything tomorrow to put a good round and kind of grind my teeth a little bit through the process of getting through this left knee. But other than that, I think they're all doing amazing, and we just have to keep doing more of that.

Q. (On World Ranking points)

SERGIO GARCIA: I think at the end of the day, golf is golf, and we all play it. I think that some guys on the other side are a little bit more standoffish, but it is what it is. I think as we go along, everything will calm down, and I think at the end of the day, we're all golfers. We're doing what we love to do, and that's the most important thing.

Q. Do you think the format for the events (inaudible)?

EUGENIO CHACARRA: I don't think it's going to affect it at all. It's just golf. We're just trying to play our best. We're playing with the best guys in the world and we're just learning. Like I said, I'm here and I'm learning a lot every single event. The best players in the world are here, so I think that's where every one of the young guys want to be, and I think LIV is doing an amazing job, and hopefully it stays like this for a long time.