They say in Spain that kids come with a present under their arm, and the second one has already given me that present with my win in Mexico on May 1. I couldn't have asked for anything more. My first boy, Kepa, gave me the US Open last June and this next one has already given me this win before he's even out.
Obviously it means something more meaningful in life than winning a golf tournament, but I'll take it this way and hopefully I can get another win before he comes out this summer.
It was great that my wife Kelly and Kepa were on the 18th greenside at Vidanta Vallarta. At one point, when I was reading the break, I saw them walk up to the front and I thought, "I'd better two-putt this to make sure we enjoy this winning moment".
Kepa was still very young when I won the US Open last year, and I think he's still a little too young to remember this. I was hoping I would get that moment of him running towards me but I think he got a little bit overwhelmed. But it was still really cool I could enjoy the win with my family. It's a lot more fun and meaningful when they're here.
I know I have my good qualities, but Kelly is a heck of a person. She's got so many great qualities and for my part, it's to never give up and always be positive. I think that's one of my traits. Yes, I might seem frustrated sometimes and I might let some anger out or say some things, but I'm always hopeful and I'm always positive. That was the key to my win. I never lost faith, I never lost my approach or my confidence, and that's why I got it done.
When it's go time, it's go time. When it's over, it's over. I'm a very different person on and off the golf course, especially when I'm competing on a Sunday.
That's the stressful part of the job. You'll see a much more serious face and a much more intense look outside. I consider myself very lucky to be in the position I'm at in life. I've got a wonderful family and a wonderful life. Again, I count my blessings.
I'm honoured to win the Mexico Open. I was close to winning at Chapultepec (World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship) a couple times previously and didn't quite get it done. I feel like there was always something I left behind every time I finished that tournament. Hence, I went to Vidanta wanting to win this tournament.
It feels good to get this first win done early in the season. I had a couple chances early in the year and I couldn't close it out. I got close in Hawaii and Torrey Pines and since then, I have not been close. So I'm happy. I kept working hard even though the results weren't going my way.
It's just how the game is. I knew I was improving, I knew I was seeing results and winning in Mexico has proven that. I think playing on Sunday at The Masters with Tiger Woods gave me quite a bit of confidence. I think I just got a little too technical in my approach.
I'm very much a feel player and that Sunday at Augusta, I told myself just to go out there and hit the golf ball, make shots, see the ball flight and execute. I shot a three-under without having my best stuff on a tough day.
So I applied the same strategy in Mexico: minimal technical thoughts, visualising ball flight and getting back to my true self. I truly saw the difference. My iron game was really, really solid, especially into the wind. I was able to hit really, really good ones. Sometimes we deviate from our path but this time we didn't, and I'm happy to get my first win of the season and get back up there in the FedExCup standings and hopefully get my second one soon.
It would have been a lot easier to play No. 18 with a two-shot lead, let me tell you, instead of being the stress that it was. Still, I've had the enjoyable walk in the past and I think this is the first time I had to kind of buckle up and finish it in style and strong and I was able to do it. Also it was my first wire-to-wire victory and even though it was hard at the end, I'll take it.
