LIV GOLF INVITATIONAL SERIES: JEDDAH

October 15, 2022

Charl Schwartzel

Royal Greens Golf & Country Club

Press Conference

Q. You came into this week fourth in points. You have a chance to get into that top 3 in the money position, but it may be at the expense of a Stinger teammate. How do you kind of manage that in your mind?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Yeah, look, I've got a chance. I still have to play well tomorrow. I think it needs to be like a third probably on my own.

I feel bad for Branden because he was playing so well last week, he probably would have secured his destiny there for second spot. But still got 18 holes to go. I see Patrick Reed made a few bogeys. I'm sure Branden is watching the leaderboard more than we are.

Q. Kind of going forward, win No. 2, obviously nobody has done that out here. How much is that a motivation, or is it more are you looking at the teammate element? There's a lot of things going on this week.

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Yeah, there's a lot going on. I haven't seen the leaderboard with the teams, but I think the Majesticks are the only ones that could take us out of the fourth position. Honestly, I haven't seen any of it.

So we've got that, but for myself, I feel like I'm playing well. I'm putting nicely, and it's just nice to have another chance at a win tomorrow.

Q. How would you describe the LIV Golf season for you? You've had obviously the highs and maybe a bit of a roller coaster.

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: I've had a mix.

Yeah, obviously best start you could ask for winning, and then sort of went slow on me, but played well in Chicago. You know, it's also new golf courses. A lot of travel, and it's a bit of adjusting.

It's been fantastic. I've loved every moment of it.

Q. What's been the key for the first two rounds out here for you?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Putting. I've putted well. I've made key putts, which has been the problem in the other events. I've felt like for the majority of the seven events I've actually hit the ball pretty good, but the putting has let me down through the middle stage, and this week is much better.

Q. Charl, what were your expectations, not playing-wise but for the whole thing when it first started? Maybe when you signed on or in the weeks leading up to the first event in London. What did you think was going to happen and how has it transpired in that regard and maybe exceeded it?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: To be honest, I don't really know what to expect. I don't think anybody did. I think a lot has been said about the team aspect, and I think that's sort of brought a lot of players closer together where you're very individualized on the other tours, and out here you are playing for a big purse individually, but you've got a little bit of -- you care about your teammates. There's a little bit different.

I feel like everybody I walk past seems to be very happy, see a lot of happy faces, and initially I thought that the first event was -- especially from our side, we had a lot of fun. We're still having fun, but it's gotten a bit more serious. The competitive side of us has come back, and I see everybody grinding on the range just as they would have done anywhere else.

I think in the beginning, we might have the first week or two just had more fun, and now the seriousness has come back.

Q. What about some of the perks? Obviously you guys had it pretty good before certainly, but it's ratcheted up a level out here. I take it you knew that going in, but when there's been reality, what has that been like? Travel, just whatever it might be.

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Yeah, from a traveling aspect, I've enjoyed playing more worldwide. I used to do that for 12 years, the first 12 years of my career. Used to play all over the world. This certainly has brought back that thing, and I've really enjoyed that. I feel that's more me, that I've been more international than just focused on one place.

Q. You talked there about the first 12 years and everything, but just in addition to that, where does this rank, winning in London and possibly doing well in Miami rank with your major win all those years ago?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Well, you can't compare it to a major win. The Masters, winning a green jacket is the biggest achievement that you can do in our game, I believe. Winning a major for that matter.

We're starting off here, we're very fortunate to play for a lot of money, and these events will just get stronger. But for me, London was nice to win.

When it comes to prestige, a won a lot of money; it was fantastic. But I cannot compare to winning a green jacket.

Q. Talk about your results yesterday and today; what was the difference between them dropping one point. Can we see you tomorrow at the top?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: The difference between today and yesterday, yesterday I got off to a good start and made a few single bogeys in the middle. But I managed to bounce back. But today I got off to a really bad start, making double on my second hole. I was on the back foot the whole day.

Shooting 3-under today for me feels as good as a 6-under yesterday.