After third place and the dramatic close of the tournament, Eduardo Miquel speaks with El Deportivo about the emotions in Oklahoma and what leaves the Pirque native one hole away from winning a major.
Eduardo Miquel is calm with his manager’s performance in the PGA Championship. He takes third place as a source of pride, and the dramatic 18th hole result as something that can happen in the golf world. Look beyond the corner. Mito Pereira may have lost a major the hard way, but he could have won a lot too.
Coming from the United States, and as he prepares for his student’s participation in the Charles Schwab Challenge, Joaquín Niemann’s coach is also returning with El Deportivo to the weekend that paralyzed Chilean golf.
How are the spirits in the team?
Well, the truth is that we are very happy. We achieved the main objective, which was to be among the top 50 in the world, and that motivated us a lot. Obviously there is a bitter taste at the end of being so close, but these are things that happen in golf and Mito did very well, just a bad swing on the 18th. similar situation and be able to define it better.
Do you think this opportunity will happen again?
Let’s hope so. I am convinced that he has the game to fight at the top and be among the best in the world. I hope he still fights for a major.
How are you helping Mito turn the page right now?
The whole team helps him, not just me. Mito, Eugenio Lizama (his psychologist) and I are still in contact. Also his physical trainer and his wife, we always support him, support him. I think it’s been a super positive week for everyone.
The biggest lesson the tournament leaves behind?
Knowing that the game must, like Joaco, be able to fight against the best in the world. They’re both really, really talented, and he realizes he has the ability to be there.
Is it very difficult to manage the passage of days when you see your name on it during all the rounds?
It’s difficult. There’s the pressure, seeing you up there with the best in the world trying to catch up with you. So I think he did very well, it was just a bad swing on the last hole, but overall Mito handled it very well.
What was the first thing you talked to Mito about after finishing the round on Sunday?
He said “fuck the bad swing I made on the last hole”. I was a bit frustrated with the outcome of flag 18, but Mito has a strong attitude and personality. He stops quickly and tries to see the positive side of things. The truth is that I saw him calm.
Do you think the most important hole of the last day was 17? When that putt doesn’t go in, do the feelings change?
It was important, but it was more important on the 18th, where he made a bad swing off the tee and it cost him dearly.
And how to explain the bad start of the 18th?
Just a bad swing. Nothing more than that.
Was it technical or purely mental?
I think it was purely mental, because he had hit the tee very well and there I think he hesitated a bit in the path he chose and rushed a bit. It was something more mental.
Did you have a flashback to what happened in the Olympics qualifiers?
It was different because there was a good game that didn’t work. Now it was a bad swing that cost him dearly. Here it was a mistake, at the Olympics it was a good move.
What were the keys to your game to finish third in the tournament?
He rolled a lot better this week, but he hit very solidly from tee to green. He is consistent, with a good feeling about his game and this week he was able to define a bit better over the green and that shot changed the result.
Do you think this is a tournament that takes Mito to another dimension within the PGA?
Entering the world’s top 50 already takes you to another dimension. He can now participate in all major tournaments and Mito undoubtedly belongs to this select group. Our goal was to be there and now we have to keep working to stay.
Did they expect something like this in such a short time?
Yes, and in the case of Joaquín and Mito, we are still waiting for it because we know the potential they have, so we don’t know when it will happen, but we know it can happen. I am clear that both have extraordinary potential.
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Source: Latercera
I’m Todderic Kirkman, a journalist and author for athletistic. I specialize in covering all news related to sports, ranging from basketball to football and everything in between. With over 10 years of experience in the industry, I have become an invaluable asset to my team. My ambition is to bring the most up-to-date information on sports topics around the world.
