HOUSTON PREVIEW: PINEHURST-BOUND PUIG READY TO TURN IT ON FOR FIREBALLS
HUMBLE, Texas – It’s remarkable the determination with which David Puig, the youngest member of Fireballs GC, has been chasing his dreams.
He has tried his best to rise up the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) through his limited opportunities via the Asian Tour, and that resulted in him getting a spot at the PGA Championship (he was 104th in the world then).
He has traveled thousands of miles – like when he made that trip in February to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and won the IRS Prima Malaysian Open, which earned him a spot at next month’s 152nd Open Championship at Royal Troon.
And the resolve with which he won the Medalist honor at the Final Qualifying of the US Open at Lake Merced last week, where just four spots were on offer for a field of 84. Puig shot two bogey-free rounds of 68 and 64, and made a birdie on the last to edge ahead by one shot.
Now, the Pinehurst-bound 22-year-old Spaniard is intent on bringing that mindset to LIV Golf, where he feels he hasn’t lived up to his own expectations.
Puig, currently 43rd in the Individual Standings, is acutely aware that he needs to move into the top-24 in the next six tournaments to make sure his future in LIV Golf is not dependent on others.
Puig and his teammate Eugenio Chacarra Lopez have both qualified for next week’s third major championship of the year, and he is eager to support the brilliant play this season by senior members, Captain Sergio Garcia and Mexican star Abraham Ancer, winner of LIV Golf Hong Kong.
“I know it was only a qualifier that I won last week, but it was a big confidence boost, for sure,” said Puig ahead of LIV Golf Houston at Golf Club of Houston.
“Any win is a good win, but I played really well and got the reward of playing in the US Open. I am very excited and happy about that, and a good result this week would be the perfect way to go to Pinehurst. It proved to me once again that I am capable of winning.”
However, Puig made it clear that the US Open is not the only thing on his mind.
“Of course, I want to play well here in Houston this week. A big week will help build on my confidence for the US Open, but I really want to help the team and myself as much as I can. I did not start the season very well here on LIV, so I’m excited to be playing some good golf.
“The plan is to have a good finish here and try to jump as many spots on the standings as I can. I did not have any downtime or vacation after Singapore. Played the PGA Championship and then the US Open qualifier, so it has been a lot of golf and practice for me. Hopefully, it will show.
“I’m very excited for this second half of the season. I’m pumped. I have grinded hard and, at the end of the day, that is the only thing that matters to me. I have tried to do everything that I can to be prepared for this. Now, it’s all about going out and executing.
“I want to try to play as well as I can, and hopefully, that leads to a tournament win on LIV, something that I want desperately. And that is only going to help the Fireballs.”
Puig did not get a full look at the golf course, but liked what he saw in the nine holes he got to play.
“It’s a challenging course with a lot of water. I played nine and what I learned so far is to try to put the ball in the fairway and hit as many greens as I can. The greens are not as big as they look. So, if you can hit greens in regulation, you’re going to be putting for birdies most of the time,” he added.
Fireballs are currently 8th in the Team Standings with 41.83 points, despite Ancer placed 6th in Individual Standings and Garcia 10th with his two playoff losses.