Because the defending champion of The American Specific, Sepp Straka stands out as the one the others are all seeking to beat, however the Austrian says he feels the depth of the competitors popping out to kick off the 2026 PGA Tour schedule on Thursday in La Quinta, Calif.
“I believe the competitors, the truth that you bought to beat … I assume there was 156 guys, and now it is 100-whatever guys. It is loads of actually, actually, actually good gamers which might be all taking part in the identical golf course,” Straka informed reporters at Wednesday’s match press convention.
“They’re all making an attempt to win. When you have the lead, then everyone’s making an attempt to make birdies to attempt to beat you, and you may’t make errors. So I believe simply the depth of the competitors is what makes it actually arduous.”
Straka’s two-shot win over Justin Thomas at this match final season set the inspiration for an impressive yr. He performed for the victorious European Ryder Cup group and earlier gained the Truist Championship in Could for his fourth PGA Tour title, which he stated was greater than he thought he’d have when he began taking part in professionally.
But, he stated he nonetheless finds himself striving for extra.
“As you develop, as you get these, then swiftly you are considering it is not sufficient. So it is by no means going to be sufficient, regardless of the place you might be,” Straka stated.
The advance within the degree of aggressive play lately has solely made gaining wins more difficult, the 32-year-old informed reporters.
“Yearly you bought new expertise popping out, younger guys popping out, which might be unbelievably good at golf, and which might be approach higher than I used to be after I was popping out of faculty or highschool. So, yeah, it is actually powerful. And it will preserve getting youthful, and it will preserve getting extra athletic, quicker. You simply do not understand how for much longer you bought, however you bought to only preserve making an attempt to get higher at golf and hopefully it is adequate.”
Whereas another golfers set match wins as objectives, Straka stated he units his sights in another way.
“My objectives are extra of every day. So every day I need to be sure that I do my placing drills. I need to be sure that I do my drills on the vary. I do my Trackman mix. I am going within the gymnasium and do my swing drills, my technical drills. And, hopefully, these find yourself leading to some good tournaments,” he stated.
“My purpose is at all times to enhance my golf recreation and proceed my course of. Particularly in observe, simply proceed to do all of the issues that form of enhance my golf recreation, and that is going to be my purpose once more this yr is to attempt to enhance.”
–Discipline Stage Media
