The PGA TOUR is spending another week in paradise, making the short hop from Kapalua Resort to Honolulu for the Sony Open in Hawaii.
Last year at this event, Titleist golf ball loyalist Fabian Gomez (Pro V1x) fired a sizzling 8-under-par 62 in the final round to get into a playoff and secure the eventual and dramatic win with a birdie on the second extra hole. On Tuesday, the Argentinian sat down with Team Titleist to reflect on his 2016 performance and share his keys to playing well on the 7,044-yard, par-70 track at Waialae Country Club.
"You know, the memory that I have, I knew that I had to play well during the last round, because I had a difference between me and the leader. I have a great memory about the seven birdies in a row (Nos. 6-12) that I made, and obviously the last putt that I made on 18 to make the playoff."
Gomez said that making that number of birdies in a row, he started to feel confident with all parts of his game.
"Every hole is like a mental game," said Gomez about being in the 'zone.' "It's like you forget about everybody and you play only your game, you focus on your game. I've been in that situation before, but seven birdies in a row for the last round to win a tournament, is something that you are probably going to remember for the rest of your life."
Perhaps in part because of this recent success in the clutch, Gomez said that he doesn't feel any pressure to defend his title this week.
"It really doesn't matter being the defending champion, and it's no reason to have any extra pressure because Justin (Thomas) is playing or Jordan (Spieth) is playing. I've been in that situation many weeks. Normally to have that kind of player with you, gives you extra concentration. It's nice for me if I have the chance to be at the top of the leaderboard with that kind of player fighting for the title."
Gomez made his first start of 2017 last week at the SBS Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, and is looking forward to the shorter and tighter layout found this week at Waialae Country Club.
"You have to hit the ball straight here," said Gomez about Waialae. "And you have to putt well. Last week was the first tournament of the year and I played well. I hit my irons well but I didn't make the number of putts that you need to make in that tournament. But in a way, I think that this week, with this kind of wind, I feel more confident because they are faster than the greens we played in Kapalua."
One player who echoed Gomez's thoughts on the importance of accuracy here at Waialae was Titleist brand ambassador Zac Blair (Pro V1), who also stopped by to say hello after the holiday break. Blair missed joining Gomez in the playoff at last year's Sony Open by a single shot. His solo 3rd place showing was his best finish of the season.
"The two years I’ve played this course, it’s been extremely firm, firmer than other courses we play on the mainland," Blair told us. "The ball goes a long away off the tee, especially if you keep it in the fairway. And it’s all Bermuda grass here, so you've really got to keep it in the short grass."
Like most competitors, Blair and Gomez each set goals at the beginning of each season and they shared some of them with Team Titleist.
"Just to keep improving and get a little bit better at each aspect of my game," said Blair. "But a big one is making it to the TOUR Championship. That locks up a few majors the next year and gets you into a couple WGC events, so that’s always one I’ve has at the top of my list."
Advancing to the season-ending TOUR Championship was also on Gomez's list.
"My main goal is to win events," Gomez said, "to play a second Masters in a row, and finish in the top 30 on the FedExCup. I was close last year and I want to make it to the TOUR Championship. Obviously to play The Presidents Cup would also be an honor."
Good luck this week and throughout 2017 to Fabian, Zac and all of Team Titleist!
BY THE NUMBERS: 2017 SONY OPEN IN HAWAII
This week at the Sony Open in Hawaii, Titleist is the top golf ball choice with 95 players in the field trusting a Pro V1 or Pro V1x golf ball for their success.
Titleist was also the top choice in the hybrid (24 ) and irons (37 ) categories. Vokey Design Wedges topped the approach, sand and lob wedge (167 ) category and Scotty Cameron putters were the top choice in putters (56 ).
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