NELSON SILVERIO: Welcome our 2012 Mayakoba Golf Classic champion, John Huh to the media center. John, congratulations. Your first PGA TOUR win in just your fifth start. How did that feel?
JOHN HUH: I mean I couldn't put it into words. I mean it's amazing, you know. I can't believe it happened right now. It's my rookie year, especially, and playing in my fifth event on the PGA TOUR, and I just couldn't put it in words.
NELSON SILVERIO: Could you take us through that playoff? I know it was a long playoff, eight holes. How were the emotions there going back and forth and making putts and then finally making that putt to win?
JOHN HUH: I mean definitely there's no doubt that I had a nerve. I mean it was nervous, especially when you're playing out there against Robert Allenby, and it's been tough. Playing eighthole playoff is long holes, and I was definitely nervous and trying to calm down myself, but it was hard.
NELSON SILVERIO: Talk about the last playoff hole. You had the chip from the rough there. And how long was the chip? How did you play that? How long was your putt to win.
JOHN HUH: After I saw Robert's shot and kind of knew it went right, but I wasn't sure. So I was looking more left and kind of pushed it and gave myself another 12, 13yard chip shot, and I had a 58 in my hand and tried to bumpandrun it. And I had two feet and a half and made it.
NELSON SILVERIO: What does it mean to you to win your first PGA TOUR event?
JOHN HUH: I mean it's really hard to explain this. It's major. I mean it was my dream, you know, playing this event and playing on the TOUR and finally winning a tournament, it's awesome. I mean there is nothing I can say anything about.
Q. (Inaudible). As a fellow New Yorker, you make me proud.
JOHN HUH: Thank you.
Q. What was interesting is that all three of your (indiscernible). It seems at one point or another on 18 you blocked a shot over to the right, and that's somewhat of a problem. What was it about that 18th hole that kind of swerved to the right and then went to the left and went into the sand trap?
JOHN HUH: Are you talking about the first playoff?
Q. 18 in general. The 18 because of double bogey on the 18th. Chris Stroud was almost catching up, same thing there, double bogey on the 18, same thing. And I noticed when you talk about the other holes, you also pushed over to the right.
JOHN HUH: I think it was the first round, first hole we played, and yeah, it was definitely nerves. I pushed that one and blocked it and it went right. And it was right over the rock, and just couldn't move anything. So I was like give myself a good chance to make a par, and hit it really solid with a 6iron and got on the green and twoputted and went to the next hole.
Q. (Inaudible). (Question in Spanish). What did you think after the last six shots? Because all of us were thinking it was going in.
JOHN HUH: Oh, the par 3? I mean definitely I had nerves over there, and I knew I gotta make the putt to win, but it's nerves. I mean it was tough to take it, but I know if I don't make par and Robert has to make birdie, so I was trying to just make par, possibly I can, and the last one I did it. So I won the tournament.
Q. (Question in Spanish)?
NELSON SILVERIO: Yeah, there's a lot going on with your win today. Are you aware that you are now one of the youngest players to ever win on TOUR? You are also part of one of the longest playoffs in the PGA TOUR and you're also tied or beat the record for most comefrombehind victories. What does that all mean to you?
JOHN HUH: You know, I mean before I teed off, all I think about is making a cut. It's a rookie move. I mean I'm trying to make a cut and playing weekend. I didn't really have high expectations.
It was different today, but this win means a lot. I mean it's my fifth event. I wasn't really looking at playing this well, but fortunately, Robert missed on the last hole, so it went into playoff.
Q. I got the impression that today there was a little less wind than the first three days and it led to a number of pretty good scores. I think 8unders and 7unders and so on. Did you feel different in terms of the wind today compared to the first three days?
JOHN HUH: Yeah. Definitely the wind was different than the past three rounds, so I was trying to take advantage of that. And I think I did really well that. And all the guys did it, but I was on top of it.
Q. Can you comment on all the people who were following you at the last hole? How do you feel that?
JOHN HUH: I mean I was pleased with the crowd and all the sponsors at this event. We had an eight hole playoff and they still stayed there, you know, tried to watch us, tried to
Q. All the people from Mexico are supporting you. Really, some guys don't understand how to pronounce your last name, but all the people who asked to be with you. I think you may not understand that, but all the crowd likes you. Did you feel that?
JOHN HUH: Yeah, I mean I was trying to bring my last name, which is Huh, and all the guys and all the crowd were trying to call that name, and it's fun to hear that, and I'm really looking forward to every event next year, too.
NELSON SILVERIO: All right, John Huh, congratulations on your first PGA TOUR win.
JOHN HUH: Thank you.
EN ESPAÑOL
NELSON SILVERIO: Denle la bienvenida al media center al campeón del Mayakoba Golf Classic 2012, John Huh. John, felicidades Tu primera Victoria del PGA TOUR en tu quinto inicio. ¿Cómo se siente eso?
JOHN HUH: No puedo ponerle palabras. Es maravilloso, sabes. No lo puedo creer. Es mi año de novato, en especial y jugando en solo mi quinto evento en el PGA TOUR, no le puedo poner palabras.
NELSON SILVERIO: ¿Podrías llevarnos por el desempate? Sé que fue un desempate largo, ocho hoyos. ¿Como estaban tus emociones de un lado al otro y finalmente haciendo el putt para ganar?
JOHN HUH: Definitivamente, no hay duda que tenía nervios. Digo, estaba nervioso, especialmente cuando estás jugando con Robert Allenby y ha sido difícil. Jugar un desempate de ocho hoyos son hoyos largos y estaba nervioso y trataba de calmarme pero fue difícil.
NELSON SILVERIO: Háblanos del último hoyo de desempate. Tenías un chip desde el rough. ¿Qué tan largo fue ese chip? ¿Cómo lo jugaste? ¿Qué tan largo fue tu putt para ganar?
JOHN HUH: Después de ver el tiro de Robert y ver que se fue hacia la derecha, pero no estaba seguro. Así que mire más bien hacia la izquierda y la empujé y me di otro chip de 12, 13-yardas y tenía un 58 en la mano y quise pegarle para que corriera. Tenía dos pies y lo hice.
NELSON SILVERIO: ¿Qué significa para ti ganar tu primer evento en el PGA TOUR?
JOHN HUH: Digo es difícil explicar esto. Es importante. Digo es mi sueño, sabes jugar este evento y jugar el PGA TOUR y finalmente ganar un torneo es increíble. Digo, no hay mucho que pueda decir acerca de ello.
P. Como neoyorquino me siento orgulloso.
JOHN HUH: ¡Gracias!
P. Lo que fue interesante de los tres (indiscernible) Parece que en algún momento bloqueaste una pelota hacia la derecha y eso causó un problema. ¿Que tenía el hoy 18 que se iba a la derecha y luego a la izquierda y entrara a la trampa de arena?
JOHN HUH: ¿Te refieres al primer desempate?
P. El 18 en general. El 18 por el doble bogey en el 18. Chris Stroud casi los alcanzaba, lo mismo sucedió doble bogey en el 18, lo mismo Y me di cuenta que en los otros hoyos te ibas a la derecha.
JOHN HUH: Creo que fue la primera ronda y si, fueron nervios. La empujé y la bloquee y se fue a la derecha. Y estaba sobre una piedra y no podía mover nada. Entonces pensé en darme una oportunidad para hacer par y le pegué solido con un fierro 6 y llegué al green e hice dos putts y continué al siguiente hoyo.
P. (Inaudible). (Pregunta en español). What did you think after the last six shots? Because all of us were thinking it was going in.
JOHN HUH: Oh, en el par 3. Definitivamente estaba de nervios. Sabía que tenía que hacer el putt para ganar. Pero son los nervios. Digo, fue difícil aceptarlo pero sé que si no hago par y Robert tenía que hacer birdie así que solo quería hacer par, posiblemente podía y lo hice en la última. Así que gané el torneo.
P. (Pregunta en español)
NELSON SILVERIO: Sucede mucho con la Victoria de hoy. ¿Estás consciente de que eres uno de los más jóvenes en ganar en la historia del TOUR? También eres parte de uno de los desempates más largos en el PGA TOUR y también empataste o superaste el record de déficit recuperados hacia una Victoria. ¿Qué significa todo eso para ti?
JOHN HUH: Sabes, antes de salir hoy, todo en lo que pienso es pasar el corte. Es un pensamiento de novato. Digo, quiero pasar el corte y jugar el fin de semana. No tenía altas expectativas.
Hoy fue diferente pero esta Victoria significa mucho. Es mi quinto evento. No pensaba jugar tan bien pero afortunadamente Robert falló en el último hoyo y se fue al desempate.
P. Me dio la impresión de que hubo menos viento hoy que durante los primeros tres días y eso nos llevo a un número de Buenos puntajes. Creo que 8 bajo y 7 bajo y así. ¿Te sentías diferente en cuanto al viento comprador a los primeros tres días?
JOHN HUH: Sí, definitivamente. El viento estaba diferente a las pasadas tres rondas así que quise tomar ventaja de eso. Y creo que me fue bien con eso. Y los demás jugadores lo hicieron pero yo los superé.
P. ¿Podrías comentar acerca de toda la gente que te estaban siguiendo en el último hoyo? ¿Cómo te hizo sentir eso?
JOHN HUH: me sentí complacido con los espectadores y todos los patrocinadores en este evento. Tuvimos un desempate de ocho hoyos y se quedaron ahí, queriendo vernos--
P. Todos en México te están apoyando. De verdad, algunos no saben cómo pronunciar tu apellido pero todos querían estar ahí contigo. Creo que no entiendes eso pero todos te quieren. ¿Sentías eso?
JOHN HUH: Sí, querían decir mi apellido que es Huh y todos los fans querían y espero con anticipación el evento del año que viene también.
NELSON SILVERIO: Muy bien, John Huh felicidades por tu primer Victoria en el PGA TOUR.
JOHN HUH: ¡Gracias!
Media Contacts
The Mayakoba Golf Classic at Riviera Maya-Cancún is dedicated to assisting the media in covering this historic event. For more information on press releases, press conferences or attending the event, please contact the Mayakoba Golf Classic's media directors:
Lee Patterson
Media Director
Greg Norman Production Company
(704) 553-4790
ABOUT THE OHL CLASSIC AT MAYAKOBA
The OHL Classic at Mayakoba made golf history when it became the first PGA TOUR event to ever be contested outside of the United States and Canada in February 2007. Today, the OHL Classic at Mayakoba remains “Mexico’s Only PGA TOUR Event” as it prepares to enter a new era with a new fall date in the expanded FedEx Cup schedule. The event is regarded as one of the finest on the PGA TOUR by players, their families, sponsors and the TOUR itself. With a purse of $6 million USD, the OHL Classic at Mayakoba boasts the largest amount of prize money of any golf tournament in Latin America. To be held annually in November, the tournament features 132 professional golfers participating in four rounds of stroke play competition at the Greg Norman-designed El Camaleón Golf Club at Mayakoba in the Riviera Maya-Cancún regions of Mexico. Rookie John Huh claimed the title in 2012, winning $666,000 USD. Other past champions include: Fred Funk (2007), Brian Gay (2008), Mark Wilson (2009), Cameron Beckman (2010) and Johnson Wagner (2011).
ABOUT MAYAKOBA
Located in the Riviera Maya just 15 minutes from Playa del Carmen, Mayakoba is an eco-friendly resort development on the shores of the Caribbean in Mexico. Surrounded by natural beauty in its lagoons, pools and sugar sand beaches, Mayakoba is home to three luxury hotels - Fairmont Mayakoba, Rosewood Mayakoba and Banyan Tree Mayakoba. The resort also offers a spectacular 18-hole golf course designed by renowned architect and PGA legend Greg Norman. The signature course is home to the OHL Classic at Mayakoba - the only PGA TOUR event in Mexico. Six miles of freshwater lagoons that lead to a white sand beach with turquoise waters on the Caribbean Sea connect all of the hotels. Guests are transported in boats via canals made exclusively for the resort, which have led to Mayakoba being called "the Venice of the Yucatan." Mayakoba is an eco-conscious development and has implemented significant practices to encourage sustainability. For more information, please visit www.mayakoba.com.
ABOUT OHL
Based in Madrid, OHL has over 26,000 employees and in 2011 revenue reached the figure of $4.9 billion Euros. At the same time, OHL is strongly committed to environmental responsibility and in 2003 produced its first Sustainable Development Report. As Juan-Miguel Villar Mir, the chairman of the board of directors and the author of the report, noted, mindful attention to the long-term health of the environment creates a "virtuous circle" that benefits the company, its clients and the globe. OHL's ecological diligence has served it well in México, where strong government regulations are enforced to protect the environment. A presence in México since 1980, OHL employs over 3,200 people there and has built highways, bridges, hotels and hospitals. The tourism complex at Mayakoba, which will eventually include two golf courses and five luxury hotels, is OHL's most ambitious hospitality project to date.
ABOUT EL CAMALEÓN GOLF CLUB
El Camaleón Golf Club at the Mayakoba resort is yet another of Greg Norman’s masterworks. The 7,039-yard layout is unique—not just to Mexico but to the entire world of golf. The course bends through three distinct landscapes—mangrove jungles, limestone canals and stunning, oceanfront stretches of sand. El Camaleón incorporates a cenote, a massive underground cavern, into the heart of the opening fairway. The handsome, Mayan influenced clubhouse rises above the 18th green and features stunning views over the course. The adjoining practice facility and driving range are of international caliber. With Mayakoba’s unique system of waterways, golfers will be able to step out of their rooms and into a boat, which will ferry them directly to the first tee.
ABOUT GOLF PARa TODOS
Golf PARa Todos aims to create a fun-filled, diverse and educational program that teaches about the game of golf and its ideals. The program encourages active participation in the game as a participant and as a fan, and facilitates the integration of golf into the lives of all those within the community. Golf PARa Todos is a community program presented and created by the OHL Classic at Mayakoba. In January 2011, the event earned a place in the Guinness World Records by hosting the world’s largest ever golf lesson. The lesson featured 1,073 participants. The inaugural installment of Golf PARa Todos was held in October 2007 and, on average, 600 people attend each session. Golf PARa Todos is open to people of all ages, backgrounds and levels of golf skill or knowledge. For more information, visit www.GolfParaTodos.org.
Check out all the action at Mexico's Only PGA TOUR Event.
Jose Lota, aka Don Pepe Lota, is the official mascot of the Mayakoba Golf Classic. Born in the cenote in the middle of the fairway of El Camaleón Golf Club’s first hole, Don Pepe Lota can always be found at Mayakoba Golf Classic events and activities playing and entertaining children of all ages!
Mayakoba Golf Classic, Golf PARa Todos, Grupo OHL, Greg Norman Production Company, Great White Shark Enterprises, PGA TOUR, Inc., their shareholders, representatives, partners, operators and/or subsidiaries or related companies (Organizers) will utilize your personal data collected herein for informational purposes and database compilation. For more information about the handling of your data and the rights which you may exercise, you can access our complete privacy notice by visiting http://www.mayakobagolfclassic.com/privacypolicy.
