DORMY MORY

Read on to learn all about Félix’s first Challenge Tour victory.

By Inesis

June 8^th, 2021

"Dormy", that's almost an anagram of "Mory"... Perhaps our partner Félix Mory's first Challenge Tour victory was meant to be! Interview

FÉLIX, HOW WERE YOU FEELING DURING THE RUN-UP TO THE DORMY OPEN IN SWEDEN?

I was in a good place, I felt prepared after having played three tournaments on a mini-tour in California where I claimed my first victory as a pro. I then went on to play three Challenge Tour tournaments in South Africa. The first one started off well, but I played a bad third round. For the next two, I didn't make the cut. My putting was not up to par. I was probably also feeling the pressure, it's not easy getting back into the swing of the Challenge Tour after a long break. Then I skipped the first of the two tournaments in Sweden. I went back to Lille to rest up and train.

HOW DID THE START OF THE TOURNAMENT GO?

I played a solid first round at three under par. That put me four shots from the top. I had a particularly excellent second round, scoring 64 (-8). I think it was the best iron game I had played in a long time. The course is quite long, with a lot of drives to hit at the start, lots of water and some very good, steep greens. It's the kind of course that I like. A bit like target golf. I managed to get close to the holes, even on long iron shots, and got the putts in after. -8 is my best scorecard in a competition. I make it onto the leaderboard, jumping into second place, three shots from the top spot held by a Swedish player.

IS IT HARD TO FOLLOW ON FROM A GOOD SCORE?

Normally, it's really hard to get two really low scores in a row. But I manage it nicely with a -6 on the third round. I tried to play the rounds independently of one other. I find myself at the top of the tournament at -17 with a two-shot lead.

HOW DID YOU HANDLE BEING TOP OF THE LEADERBOARD DURING YOUR LAST ROUND OF THE TOURNAMENT?

This is where mindset becomes key. Obviously, you start to imagine yourself there. I tend to sleep really well between rounds, but suddenly I couldn't get to sleep. You have to accept it and try not to push those thoughts away. I played normally, it was only after the 14th hole that I told myself that if I did the right thing, I would be heading for victory.

THE GAME WAS INTERRUPTED IN THE FINAL ROUND, DID THIS HAVE AN IMPACT ON YOU?

I told myself it is what it is, I just had to accept it because it's the weather, you can't do anything about it. At the time, I was one shot ahead, the Swede was starting to play really well. I went to eat and then 45 minutes before play resumed, I went back to warm up. At the 13th hole, I managed a great birdie, where I holed a putt from 20 feet, and then on the 14th, I completed a very tricky par 3: 175m with a green surrounded by water. Looking back, I would say that the interruption did me some good.

AND THEN, AT THE 18TH, EVERYTHING CHANGED...

Naturally, I was watching what the Swede was doing. At the 18th, I hit a good drive but I had my feet in a bunker for the next shot. Once I got to the green, I needed to succeed a 13-foot putt to win. And then, curve ball. I get par and he gets a birdie. We go to sudden death. Clearly, at this moment, things were on his side.

<- THE 18TH HOLE OF THE DORMY OPEN.

TELL US ABOUT THOSE TWO PLAYOFF HOLES.

We drew lots. I went first. I hit a very good drive. I'm 205 metres from the green, I hit a 5-iron, but with the adrenaline, it goes a bit long, I end up in a bunker. I'm 6 feet from the hole. It's almost the same putt as the one I just did. The Swede also went long on his attack on the green and his chip was not very good. Just a 6-foot putt to win the playoff. And again, curve ball. There, I tell myself that if I lose it on this, it's going to be hard to live with.

We go back to the start, everything is to play for. My drive is OK, this time I go one club lower, a 6-iron to attack the flag. The Swede is not in as good a position and is 230m from the green. He misses his birdie putt from 5 metres and mine goes in for a 5-foot birdie.

HOW DID YOU FEEL AT THAT MOMENT?

Relief. I was happy, proud, satisfied. Very pleased with my game but especially to have been able to handle it mentally. I managed to keep my cool.

After, it's the traditional awards ceremony, interviews, photos, speech. Funny story actually, all of that part takes a long time and I ended up getting to my hotel quite late. I thought I would treat myself to a nice little restaurant meal to celebrate—but everything was shut! In the end, I celebrated my first Challenge Tour victory with a McDonald's!

WHAT WILL THIS VICTORY CHANGE FOR YOU?

Not much in fact. After the tournament, I went to Austria with my girlfriend and her family to spend a few days mountain biking in the mountains. I gave myself a few days off from playing golf and now I have resumed training. I'm skipping the Challenge Tour tournament in Ireland this week. It's important to manage your schedule effectively. This tournament in Sweden was very tiring, much more so than after a running or cycling training session in fact! I am getting back into competition in the Czech Republic.

The good news is that with this victory, I've got a guaranteed spot on the "Road to Mallorca" at the end of the season and the chance to play all the tournaments on the calendar. I will be able to choose my tournaments and in particular go to China where I can earn a lot of points. My ultimate aim remains the Top 20 at the end of the season to get onto the European Tour.