LIV GOLF PROMOTIONS

December 9, 2023

Laurie Canter

Abu Dhabi Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Well played today, 3-under par 69 here at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Can you talk us through your round.

LAURIE CANTER: Yeah, I got off to a steady start. I drove the ball well on the front nine, holed a couple of nice putts. I think I was 4-under going out.

This is such a unique kind of event because in normal circumstances, you'd be keeping your foot down on it a little bit, and that's what I was trying to do, but truthfully because you just know today is just about moving on to tomorrow, I was just trying to just focus -- just basically trying to hit fat side of the green and seeing if I could pick anything up.

To be honest, once I made that bogey on 15, it got pretty ugly coming in. I was grinding really to get in that playoff. Yeah, so obviously just delighted to hang on and get through to tomorrow.

Q. You had a taste of playing in LIV Golf last year, playing with Cleeks and Majesticks. Did you feel like you had a bit more to play for heading into your round today?

LAURIE CANTER: I did, yeah. It's like you've been out there and you've played in that environment with those players, it's like it's meant a lot to me to be able to do it. I've absolutely loved it. As much as I can, I want to just work as hard as I can and obviously give it everything I've got to give myself an opportunity tomorrow.

There's going to be 20 guys tomorrow, including me, who would like to have a shot. It's going to be a lot of fun, I think, tomorrow from a mindset perspective. We're going to be able to knuckle in and play a golf tournament. I think starting today felt a little bit -- it felt tough from a mindset point of view. I'm just excited to wipe the slate clean and go on. It would mean everything to get myself back on.

Q. Took a five-man playoff to determine the top 20 players going into tomorrow. Can you talk us through your approach heading into the playoff?

LAURIE CANTER: In regulation, I bailed out in the left bunker and it's a hole that really suits me. My caddie said to me, this is a great tee shot for you, just aim at that trap and hit a fade. The wind just gusted back in, otherwise I think I would have hung on to the fairway.

I think the other guys must have had 270, 280 there, had to lay up, and it left me a shot at the green, so it just made life a lot easier, to be honest. I knew if I made 4 I would get through. That was my mindset.

Q. What's the game plan going into 36 holes on Sunday?

LAURIE CANTER: I think I'm just going to -- I think it's going to be easier tomorrow to just focus in shot by shot. We've obviously got -- there's a big pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. We're just out playing golf tomorrow, and it's 36 holes. At the end of the day we're going to have a result. That will be my mindset. It's just going out and doing what I've done all year, and I think if I was going to say one thing, it's just staying aggressive on that back nine just gives us chances.

I think it's going to take good numbers around here. There's very, very good players. Yeah, we'll see what happens.