After 2017 – his first season on the European Tour – where he offered himself a solid 13th here in Dubai and 2020, 54th having benefited as 1st reserve from the package of Romain Langasque, positive for Covid, Matthieu Pavon sets off this Thursday for its 3rd final.
A desired outcome that finally came true despite a complicated start to the year. “I had the Covid in January, recalls the Bordelais. This prevented me from taking the start in Abu Dhabi and then in Dubai at the Desert Classic.
Two Rolex Series. When you only have two or even three left with the final on the program afterwards, it hurts a bit. I was also a dad in 2022. In short, there have been a lot of changes in my life. I am therefore even happier to be part of the final this week…”.
Expected at 9:55 a.m. local (6:55 a.m. in France), the Frenchman admits to feeling comfortable on the Earth Course of the Jumeirah Golf Estates. A par 72 of 7,017 meters that he knows well. And for good reason. “I often train here in January when I do my preparation courses,” he confirms.
It’s a familiar journey. The interview is a little different, especially in its preparation compared to what we can meet in January. He is quite demanding on iron shots. The greens are going to be very grainy, with long putting opportunities that will be difficult to manage.
It’s a course that may seem a bit open, a bit simple, but there are a lot of little things that you have to manage when you get closer to the hole” The goal is to win the tournament. I play golf well, I progress in all areas of my game.
No matter the field of players, no matter how difficult the course, I always play tournaments with the idea of winning it.
37th in the ranking with only 67 points behind the 30th qualifying place for The Open 2023 at Royal Liverpool (occupied for the moment by Antoine Rozner), Matthieu Pavon has not set this goal as his primary objective.
Matthieu Pavon, statements
“Of course I would like to be there but to say that it is the objective of the week, the answer is no. This week, the goal is to win the tournament. I play golf well, I progress in all areas of my game.
No matter the field of players, no matter how difficult the course, I always play tournaments with the idea of winning it. Win titles? I don’t have any yet. I have a chance to win one this week. So that’s what I’m going to try to do”
These 10 spots for the PGA Tour, the top 30 for the British, these are only consequences of the good work done upstream. I don’t fixate on it, even if it was a childhood dream to go and play in the United States.
And when we talk to him about the 2023 season – which starts next week in South Africa but also in … Australia – and these 10 places for the PGA Tour at the end of the year, again, he wants to remain cautious.
“Unconsciously, it’s in my head,” he concludes. Afterwards, I try with my team to set myself objectives of means, above all. What to do, what to put in place to move forward. These things, these 10 spots for the PGA Tour, the top 30 for the British, these are only consequences of the good work done upstream.
I don’t fixate on it, even if it was a childhood dream to go and play in the United States. I am very happy that we are now this gateway, but to announce that my objective in 2023 is to make top 10, no! My objective, as I said, is first to win a tournament on the European Tour. And if I win one, I think I wouldn’t be far from those goals”
