Q. Everybody wants to start the new year with a bang. You did but it was your foot in the way. How is the injury going? How are you feeling now?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it's a lot better. Last couple days were a little bit rough actually. I thought it was going to hold up a little bit better but it started swelling up. Went into the physios and got it taped up properly. So that certainly helped.
Q. I heard there's a special pair of shoes that didn't make the trip?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, so in Hawai'i, I had half a size bigger shoe on the right foot and that helped. But they didn't make the trip this week. So they are a little bit tight in the foot but it's okay.
Q. 2023 was an incredible year. Obviously big wins in it and you're the FedExCup Champion. A little quieter fair to say last year and you've had time off. You're a cerebral player. What are the takeaways from last year that you think might give you a big season this time?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: To be honest with you, I'd like to be a little bit more hopeful but it's been very challenging, even with the off-season that I had. I was hoping to make a little bit more progress, feel a little bit better about my game. But it's been challenging, which, you know, I'm sure you know a lot about. It's a hard game.
I do feel like I'm headed in the right direction. It's just taking a little bit longer than I would have liked. But what's cool is -- and I try to tell myself that even last year, I made it to THE TOUR Championship. I almost won a major. Almost won a Playoff event with a swing that I hate to look at on camera and it just doesn't feel good when I'm swinging.
So there's a lot of good golf in there, but I have to at least give myself a chance to hit some good shots.
Q. When you look at that swing, is there an outcome of where you want it to be or is that forever an ongoing pursuit?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I'm certified nuts. So there's going to be some tinkering going on. But that's this game.
But I at least have a way better understanding and appreciation for what I used to do, even though there are certain aspects before that I necessarily love about my swing. Like it looked quirky or looked goofy and I now at least have a better understanding biomechanically of why those golf swings worked and why I'm struggling now.
So I just know a lot better. So now when I can see it on camera, track my numbers, whatever you want to measure, I know what's good and what's not good, and I'll kind of stay within the boundaries, if that makes sense.
Q. You've picked the brains of a few coaches. Fair to say you have one alongside you in TJ. We know you like to take responsibility for your golf swing. What's his role in your team?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: I have a lot of ideas, and I like to ask a lot of questions. I do have a lot of knowledge now that I can kind of help myself in certain situations, and ultimately, I would want to have complete own us of my own golf swing. The thing is that it is nice to have another coach that knows it as well and can kind of bounce ideas back to me as well so that I don't -- you know, someone needs to check me along the way here so I don't just go, okay, two plus two equals four and then you're so far down the road. You need to be deliberate in that process.
TJ does a good job with that.
Q. Looking for feel-good vibes, and you should have them here, you won in 2022 in your last visit to the hero Dubai Desert Classic. How much are you looking forward to this week?
VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I love this place. Even in 2019 when I played my first time, absolutely loved it. It's iconic. The tournament has been around for a long time. There's some history here. Great winners, and super honored to be a part of the history. Good to be back. It's three years. It goes by so quick. So yeah, super pumped.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports