Toms and Duval talk about their Sony Open successes

(Jan. 16, 2006) - David Toms ran away with the Sony Open in Hawaii this weekend, winning by five strokes to garner the 12th PGA Tour victory of his career. And while Michelle Wie got all the early headlines, David Duval stole them when he shot a blistering 63 in the final round to continue his career comeback.

Here's what Toms and Duval had to say in the post-tournament press conference:

David Toms

Q: DAVID TOMS: Yeah, it was. I played really well when the winds were strong. Had good, solid rounds and took advantage obviously yesterday of calm conditions, and then played another solid round today. Kept the ball in play and just, you know, kept the pressure on Chad and just I played well.

It's nice to win, obviously. It always is, but this early in the season helps my mindset a lot going into the rest of the West Coast.

Q: How important it was for to you get off to that good start, birdie the first couple of holes?

TOMS: That was big. First hole, making birdie there, kind of just set the tone for the way I guess the day was going to be. I felt very calm out there all day today. Felt good over all of my putts. My speed was good. Not only did I hit a lot of fairways, but I hit it on the right side of the fairway to where I had good angles, and it's just one of those things where it was working well for me.

Q: Your pattern has been other than the Match Play to typically win more in the middle of the year, is there anything that you can pinpoint as to why you won so early this year?

TOMS: You know, I just think it's more willpower than anything else. You know, wanting to win more than anything else.

Before, early in my career it was like, oh, make some cuts, try to get into contention, see how you do. When I started winning tournaments that felt good, too. But I wouldn't say it was everything to me, and now it is.

I feel good, I'm confident in my game and my ability, and it's what I want to do is win. I think you have to really, really want to do it before it's going to happen. I think the last couple of years, I'm getting older, I was 39 last week, so I'm not saying I'm close to being done or anything. But I have to get it now when I can and when I do play well, capitalize on it. I think it's just a mindset more than anything else.

Q: You're pretty good with the lead going into the final round, are you aware of that?

TOMS: I'm aware of it. But today, being tied with a guy that played great golf the day before, I knew I was going to have to play well. It wasn't like you're lying in bed last night trying to figure out how to pars and get by. I knew I had to play well and get in that mindset to have a good round, just like I was going out and play Thursday's round knowing I was going to have to play well.

Q: It's probably an old story in your eyes, but there's still people that look at you and think of you on the stretcher and that whole incident back at 84 Lumber, can you talk about winning in terms of being able to just let everyone know that "this is behind me," if it is?

TOMS: I still get questions about it. Every week somebody will ask me in the gallery or somebody with the media or just somebody with the golf tournament, you know, am I okay?

I'm fine. That is definitely behind me. Just like when I had the hand surgery a couple of years ago, I came out and was able to play well right away and erase any questions that I might have and whether or not I was going to be able to do it again.

You know, I've come a long way obviously from that day in Pennsylvania.

Q: Was it on your mind at all to start the year?

TOMS: None whatsoever. I have no diet issues. I've got a clean bill of health other than that one little problem I have and that's fixed and it's really not an issue at all.

David Duval

Q: Progressing through the round were you thinking differently, going for a score or is it just one of those things, I can play every day?

DAVID DUVAL: Not so much thinking of a score, if anything, just try and make more and more birdies, that's all. I'm not one to sit there and try it hold onto a score. Just try to get as low as I can.

Q: Is it fair to say you never let off the pedal today?

DUVAL: Sure tried not to. I was forced to play some smarter shots at times. 15, I sure wanted to hit it at that flag out of the rough, some other holes where I just wanted to be a little more aggressive but I couldn't.

Just take what I had and as aggressive as I could be.

Q: Swinging hard?

DUVAL: When I want to. Certainly not trying to hold back at all.

Transcripts provided by ASAP Sports.

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