THE G4D OPEN

May 15, 2025

Thomas Colombel

Mixed Zone

Q. How did you play today? Just tell me a little bit about your round.

THOMAS COLOMBEL: I thought today was a roller coaster kind of day. Started really stressful on the first tee with the trophy and the camera and people around. Then I bogeyed the first two and came out strong. I came back strong and made some not so bad shots but the confidence dropped a bit and finished strongly with three pars in a row. I'm really pleased. I'm pretty sure I'm not far away from where I want to be but not as close. We're trying to start to find the feeling to play good golf for 18 holes.

Q. This is your second time here at the G4D Open, last year you said one of the days you found it quite stressful to start. Does this link into your condition, and were you surprised or disappointed it happened this time or do you expect that?

THOMAS COLOMBEL: I've expected it. I've been prepared for that. The thing is, this year, I've came with the caddie last year. I was alone. This is the first thing.

Second, strangely, I was playing worse than I did last year but I was more confident and I've worked out all winter and all the start of the season. So I'm playing a lot, lot better. My average game is miles away better than last year. But I don't know why I'm not feeling just on point. So I mean, my average game is here, so that's why I'm not shooting high scores or anything. I'm in the tournament, like mentally, I'm in it. So that's also why I'm still in it because I'm allowed myself to hit the shot and stay in the tournament.

Yeah, I feel worse than last year on the course but better, let's say, overall in my game. So that's why my score is better.

Q. And do you find that whilst you have the odd sort of difficulty with the stress levels or the psychological side, is it because you feel you're playing more better golf than last year and you're, therefore, more confident?

THOMAS COLOMBEL: Yeah, there is a bit of that. I think the truth is that I'm getting used to it. I got more experience. So you're going around, not drastically different than I was last year. But I know what's coming. I know what to expect and I know that there is expectation, people around. I'm playing better. I'm a better golfer. You've got a lot of people coming around, hey, I've got my money on you. Even if it's a joke it's going into your head and you have to learn how to manage it. I feel like I'm a better person, let's say, because I'm more in earth with me and I'm more prepared. It's getting better and better each day.

But on the course today when you saw the cameras, it's pinchy, and you've got people around, cameras, all of this. Yeah, to, like, be absolutely focused on your shot is really hard, especially for five hours and on a tough course like this with wind, tight fairways, firm greens.

Yeah, you've got long days ahead every time you're coming here.

Q. And is there a sense of expectation, as well, because you've done well in previous tournaments in the last year and a half, two years? Is there a sense of expectation from people back in France and from yourself, family and friends?

THOMAS COLOMBEL: Of course. Yeah, of course. I want to lift the trophy. I think this is the expectation from everyone around me. I'm training for that but the road is long, and yeah, sometimes just frustrating. Today was frustrating on the course. Just slip out or sometimes you don't have any luck when you hit -- I mean, especially a bad shot but an okay shot, and it's finished, like, worse. But it is what it is. It's golf. You can't control it. I'm not really clear with myself on that. I'm not fully, like, make sure on that.

But I'm on the road to it, and I feel like more days like this are like helping me to go to this point. So, yeah, I'm happy.

Q. And so you answered this question already so do you feel on a good day, if you keep playing well, can you lift the trophy?

THOMAS COLOMBEL: Yeah, sure.

Q. And how will you lift the trophy from here then? How will that happen?

THOMAS COLOMBEL: Just keep doing what I'm doing. Keep positive and really trying to find, well, I'm doing great.

The thing is, sometimes on the course, I don't know how to explain, if I hit a good shot or bad shot. So that's why sometimes it's a bit pinky when I start to hit just like okay shot or I'm not feeling just on point.

At the moment, I can't really hit the shot to make four, like, or pars, like easy. When I hit a good shot I'm making lots of birdies and everything going well.

The difficult part for me right now is just to have like three shots with all my clubs. Let's say, okay, this one, I don't know why but the three-quarter shot, feeling like this, the weight in front or anything. I know this is a safe shot and I can play it even if I'm a bit stressed or I'm in not a good position or I'm feeling a bit less good on the course. Sometime at the moment, this part of a game is a bit shaky. On a tough course like this, it's really, really hard. On the putt for birdie, I'm not dropping. I play like a bit over board but as I say before, I'm mentally in and I'm doing everything to play well.

So this is why I allow myself to play, like, okay scores. But when I will find this, it will be nice because on the good side, I will be like playing under par, and let's say on the poor side, I will be play around par. So the course will be under par and at the moment, it's like under par, over par, and which way will be the most on the course, and so this is what's going on.