THE MODERATOR: Okay, welcome back to the PIF Saudi International. Great to have you back. Just get your thoughts on being back here and defending your title.
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, very happy to be here. I like Saudi. Have good memories for last year and the last few years as well playing out here.
It's been nice to see more and more support every time from younger players. Yeah, I'm excited to be here and play some good golf and see some other fun parts, like the concert and the car show and all that.
Q. How is your game right now? How are you playing?
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: It's been good. I obviously haven't played much. Played at Wentworth after the season and played Spanish Open. Wasn't the best result. I feel like the game is in a good spot. I feel like I'm working towards the right direction.
I did few changes on my team which I'm pretty happy about it. So I got really big expectation of myself. So, yeah, it's nice to have a good team that I can be surrounded with. I got I think the best support system that I could have and I got the best of the best on every aspect so I'm pretty happy where I am.
Q. With LIV golf, did expect to have such a great season?
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, of course. Obviously I like to go out and play with the less expectations the better. I feel like all I have to do is prepare myself the best I can during very good preparation weeks so I can get to the tournament and just play golf.
Everything else I feel like it's going to take by itself.
Yeah, my expectations during practice are big. I practice to win. Yeah, that's one of the reasons that I'm here.
Q. What's been the key for you this year for your success with the victories? What's been behind that?
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: I think it's the consistency of good quality work with my team. I feel like I said before I'm really happy to have the people that I have on my bag. You know, I know that they work hard and try to make me a better person, better player.
And having that consistency in my head that I can always get better, I feel like that creates consistency every day. I feel like you can see that as a reflection on the golf course, in the results.
Q. How would you compare your game this year, this time with last year when you won here? Same place or perhaps a bit further...
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, I feel like it always changes. I feel like going back to last year obviously I was playing great. You know, just different. I felt like I'm working towards a different goal right now and different golf and practicing. You know, so, yeah, I'm here to test myself and try to execute those shots as best as possible I can.
Sometimes they go where you want them to go and sometimes it doesn't. I hopefully get to see them where I want to.
Q. Thoughts on the course this week? Playing the same as last year or any variations?
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, I think first, I obviously want to congratulate what Golf Saudi has made on the improvements on this golf course. The conditions are unbelievable. Probably was a lot of work from them to get where it is right now. They're really enjoyable to play on. The greens are so good right now. They're running, starting where you want, so I feel like it might be easier to make putts this year hopefully.
Yeah, I think it's going to be playing similar to last year. Maybe the rough is a little bit longer so might be a little bit more tricky if you miss it.
Q. Just wanted ask you your thoughts on the two places being available(indiscernible) to join this season...
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Sorry, what was the start?
Q. I just wanted to ask you your thoughts on the two places being available on the international...
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Okay, okay. Yep.
Q. The two places available on the international series and the additional two coming from LIV golf promotions, injection of talent for next year.
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, 100%. I do think that the Asian Tour has really powerful countries. It's the market that LIV is also feel like is targeting all around the world.
And, yeah, there is a lot of good talent, a lot of the young players and I feel like it's a great pathway for them to play for something bigger, to be on a league like LIV golf.
So, yeah, I feel like it's going to bring a little more talent from all over the country, all over the world. I do feel like the prize is so good that it's going to encourage all those young players to play on Asian Tour and try to make it into LIV golf.
Q. One more question. I know you played India at the start of the season.
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah.
Q. Wondering what you think about these destinations as a global golfer?
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, for us, obviously we got the calendar on LIV golf that's pretty demanding once it starts. Obviously got quite a bit off, but once it starts it's pretty demanding.
For us on our team, it's always nice to get a week before the season. It's been nice to go this year we went to India which it was an amazing venue. Great golf course. Good hospitality.
We went to Oman two years before, two years in a row I think. Was a beautiful golf course. I mean, hospitality was amazing, nice people.
So for us to start the season playing competitive golf is a great opportunity for us.
And also, these tournaments at the end of the year which are really strong fields, we like to be here and compete to see where the game is at at the end of the year.
Q. (Regarding initiatives/concerts.)
JOAQUIN NIEMANN: Yeah, I like it how, you know, in Saudi they're trying to -- golf is a pretty new sport for them here and in a way they're trying to introduce the game in the better way possible or more people they can reach the better.
So I feel like bringing in all the fan, you know, outside golf being like festival, car shows, I feel like it's going to bring a similar crowd that golf needs.
I feel like they're really going to enjoy to see us play golf here in a beautiful place. You know, it's like working on a park in Disneyland. It's beautiful place to come and see golf, come with the family. Weather has been nice.
Yeah, I'll be waiting for those fans to come out and go hear some music and definitely go see the cars.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports