David Puig has just finished a hard-fought opening round at the Turkish Airlines Open. He shot a 71. Under par. A birdie at 18 rewards his patience and resilience. He admits he’s running on a low battery. No wonder. His 2026 has been very intense. He’s close to breaking the record for miles flown. Review the stamps in his passport with us: he started the year in Dubai and then Saudi Arabia, Australia, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Africa, India, Mexico and now Turkey. Next, back-to-back, are Virginia (LIV) and Philadelphia (PGA Championship). At least between those two he can go by car because they’re only 200 kilometres apart. He almost pumps his fist as he says it
He still feels the jet lag. After the LIV Golf in Mexico he stayed in Puerto Vallarta for an event with his good friends at Torque. He was the guest of Carlos Ortiz. From Mexico to Turkey is a long haul and ten hours’ difference. For all that, it’s even more appreciated that he takes the trouble to sit and chat calmly about everything right after his afternoon round. He doesn’t avoid a question. We touched on everything: his round, the future of LIV Golf, his own future, the PGA Tour, Scott O’Neil’s role, an ambitious DP World Tour schedule, Sergio García… Very interesting.
About the round, a hard-fought and valuable 71… “Yes. The day has been relatively tough, with the breeze that blew all day, playing in the afternoon and a bit the accumulated tiredness I have, with the jet lag and all the tournaments I’ve played… I did feel quite tired and there were a couple of shots a bit odd that normally don’t happen. But well, I think I was very patient, I think I behaved quite well, I talked to myself quite well and, in the end, being able obviously to make a birdie on the last and finish the round under par is important. And eager to continue”
The double bogey at hole 2… “Well, I suppose it was a bit of a bad swing. For some reason the ball is going shorter than I expected. I’ve been a bit between clubs. Obviously the wait didn’t help and, in the end, if something usually costs me a bit more it’s shots into the wind a little from the left. Also, the pin is a bit left, so well, I shaved it a little, it wasn’t the best of swings and the margin for error is relatively small. But well, yes, it was, so to speak, painful. After playing a great hole one. But I think I recovered quite well. On 7 an unexpected flyer came out and it cost me another bogey, but I could recover quickly on the next hole. The back nine were a bit more ordered, except on 17, which was a very bad tee shot. But overall happy. Let’s see if I can rest a bit and tomorrow I’m a bit fresher”.
Checking the 4-iron on the 14th tee… “There’s something odd with the 4-iron, that’s for sure, because I’ve hit it four times and I must have made some bad swings, but the ball’s reaction has been strange, as if there were too much loft or maybe it suffered a knock during travel or whatever. Like I say, I’ve used it four times. I’ve hit it two or three times thin, which, well, I can hit it thin, but it hadn’t happened to me hitting it thin three or four times and also in two of those it came out very, very high, as if I were hitting an 8-iron. We’ll see what solution we can find for that. Let’s see if I can rest and find a bit better feelings tomorrow and do better”.
LIV Golf and the announcement that the PIF will stop funding the league… “Well, in the end I’m taking it day by day. Yes, it’s something we already knew since Mexico, that that was going to happen. But well, in the end it is what it is. It’s something I can’t control in any case. I, thank God, I suppose also because I’ve earned it in my own way, am in a relatively good situation compared to other players in case the league disappeared. But at the same time I have a lot of affection for Scott (O’Neil, CEO of LIV Golf). I think he’s a great guy, I think he has a lot of strength and will, a very good person, and let’s see if they can find some kind of solution. But as I say, in my case quite calm. I don’t think it’s affecting me. I mean, it’s not affecting me at all. And little more, try to control what I can control”.
“thank God, I suppose also because I’ve earned it in my own way, I am in a relatively good situation compared to other players in case LIV disappeared”
The future of LIV Golf without PIF backing… “In the end I’m somewhat on the sidelines of all this. Somehow I get the news practically the same as the rest of the world. I find out a bit via social media and all that. So, the truth is I don’t know. But I do know that both Scott and his team will try their hardest to secure sponsors and for the league to be profitable and find the necessary sponsors. I know they’ll give it their all until the end. What will happen I don’t know, but I think it’s important to be positive, try not to let it affect you too much, try to play the best golf possible and, in the end, when there’s a decision, we’ll see what happens. But as I say, quite calm and, above all, happy to be in LIV, for what it has given me. It has made me a hundred per cent better player, it has given me the opportunity to have a great team by my side and, in the end, as I say, very happy. If it continues, I’ll continue. And if not, then obviously I don’t know what I’ll do, but calm and happy”
“I’m quite calm and, above all, happy to be in LIV, for what it has given me. It has made me a hundred per cent better player, it has given me the opportunity to have a great team by my side and, in the end, as I say, very happy. If it continues, I’ll continue. And if not, then obviously I don’t know what I’ll do, but calm and happy”
Contact with the PGA Tour in case LIV Golf doesn’t continue… “No, not for the moment. I have no idea. Obviously we’re taking it step by step. It’s relatively recent. I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’m trying to stay focused on these weeks, which are important for me and that I’m very excited about. I play the PGA next week, I have the other two majors roughly nearby, there’s Valderrama, the European Tour, the Race to Dubai… There are many other things to focus on and I’m trying to be focused on that and do it as best as possible”.
“PGA Tour? For the moment there haven’t been contacts. I have no idea. Obviously we’re taking it step by step. It’s relatively recent. I don’t know what’s going to happen”
Information from Scott O’Neil or the captains… “No, well, the truth is no. In my case, surely with the captains there’s more discussion. In my case I’m not very involved. As I say, I’m gathering the information everyone has. But as I say, I think since Scott came in he has tried to make the league better. He has taken certain decisions he believed were important and in the end we players have been able, in some way, to get world ranking points, get certain invitations to the majors, etcetera. So I think the path and the process is good. As I say, I don’t know what’s going to happen, but if anyone can achieve anything it’s Scott”.
“I think since Scott came in he has tried to make the league better. He has taken certain decisions he believed were important and in the end we players have been able, in some way, to get world ranking points, get certain invitations to the majors, etcetera”
Sergio García as captain and his current situation… “Sergio is a great captain. Obviously, poor guy, especially the Augusta accident he doesn’t like, but I think he has done things very well. He spoke with us and I think he is feeling better. I’m very confident that he’s going to start playing that great golf we’ve seen for so many years again. Surely for Valderrama he’ll be back in the fight. Surely. At Valderrama, one hundred per cent”.
“I’m very confident that he’s going to start playing that great golf we’ve seen for so many years again. Surely for Valderrama he’ll be back in the fight”
The ambitious DP World Tour schedule and his unfinished business with the links… “After the LIV in Louisiana was dropped, I think I’m going to play the Italian Open on the DP World Tour because there are spots for the Open Championship. I’ll also play the Scottish Open (co-sanctioned by the PGA Tour and DP World Tour), the Irish Open, Wentworth and the Spanish Open. If I qualify I’ll also go to Abu Dhabi and Dubai. I want to play on links because I still feel I need to learn these courses properly. I don’t think the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship alone is enough and I want to test myself at others like Ireland or Scotland”.
