THE MODERATOR: Laurie Canter, Majesticks Golf Club, welcome to the media center. 2-under 68 today. You're just one back from the lead entering Sunday. Please just for starters take us through the round.
LAURIE CANTER: Yeah, I got off to a really good start today. 3-under on the front nine, which I think statistically is the tougher nine. Yeah, I was really happy with how I played 6 and 8. They're pretty difficult holes and got through those with a couple of good pars and managed to pick three up.
I think probably back nine I felt like, yeah, I obviously left a couple out there, a couple of silly drops, but did have a great save as well from the left there on 15. Yeah, I'm in the tournament tomorrow. Got a chance.
Q. Back in the UK last month, we reflected on what this LIV Golf experience has meant for you. You've had a unique path. You were on the original Majesticks club and have competed as both a reserve and a wild card and now back on the team this year. You've put yourself right in position now for securing a win. What would that mean to you to get it done tomorrow?
LAURIE CANTER: Well, it would be really cool because obviously I've been a bit on and off my kind of journey with LIV. I started out in '22 and didn't really qualify in 2024. Then had a couple years off.
Yeah, I obviously love playing here. It's why I came back to play. It would be really special to win.
I think the quality of the field and kind of how these events have built now, world ranking points, everything, it would be a massive thing for me to win.
Q. I don't know if you've gotten a chance to look at the leaderboard, but it's a pretty eclectic leaderboard. You've got the youngest guy in the league, got Blandy up there, a lot of guys looking for their first LIV Golf win. What do you think about tomorrow and the guys that are really hungry that are looking for that first win such as yourself out here?
LAURIE CANTER: Yeah, I think it's seriously a bunched leaderboard, which I feel like after the first day, I feel like the scoring would accelerate and go forward. We've had a bit more -- yesterday was quite tricky picking the wind and today was just more windy.
I think just the kind of length and the way the golf course is playing, it's kind of been difficult to really separate yourself. The people setting up have done a good job of putting the pins on some slopes and making our job a bit more challenging.
Yeah, in terms of the field, I hadn't realized obviously you've got probably maybe the oldest guy at LIV and the youngest guy at LIV. That's a pretty cool story. I find myself rooting a bit for La Sasso because I think he's a really funny kid. He's obviously adjusting to life as a pro, and I obviously want to beat him tomorrow, but I kind of look at him on the board thinking, go on, keep it up.
I think there's a few good storylines out there. It's cool that potentially we'll get somebody who hasn't won an event tomorrow win. Obviously I'd love for it to be me.
Q. Have you played much with Michael this year? Have you had any rounds together?
LAURIE CANTER: Yeah, played with him a couple times. He kind of reminds me of everyone when they come out from amateur golf and they kind of roar, and he's got a lot of amazing talent. He's figuring it out. This can be quite a difficult environment to do that. He's playing in a great field all around the world. He was telling me he hasn't traveled a lot. I'll let him tell you the stories. But I've enjoyed playing with him. I've been paired with him a couple of times. He makes me laugh. He's funny.
Q. Obviously you've won two European Tour events the last couple years. How much more comfortable or confident would you say you are when you're in the heat of the moment going into the final round versus maybe a few years ago before you got those wins under your belt?
LAURIE CANTER: Yeah, I still feel nervous at the beginning of the round, which is great. I consider that good. I was really nervous actually yesterday, especially on the first tee. It's my first time off the first tee this year, which doesn't say much about my play.
It was good to feel that really. Then I think today was a little -- I kind of knew a bit more what to expect.
Knowing how to win a tournament is huge. You have to be comfortable hanging around the lead and be comfortable in that environment. But I think first and foremost, we're playing here where everyone is trying to push forward. There's going to be a lot of birdies made.
Really, first and foremost, that's kind of where the focus is. I think luckily we're at a course here where you are going to have to go out and make a lot of birdies. You're not going to win this tournament defending. That's kind of where my mindset was today and will be tomorrow.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports