THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome Kerry Mountcastle from New Zealand. Well played today, our leader at 8-under par after 64 in the first round of LIV Golf Promotions at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Can you tell us a bit about your round today.
KERRY MOUNTCASTLE: Yeah, had a great day out there, obviously, but I hit it really solid. Approach play was really good, and then managed to hole a few of the putts from when I hit close approaches. Just kind of kept adding up.
Q. Incredible round, nine birdies and just the one bogey today. It's not an easy golf course out there. What was the key to your low score?
KERRY MOUNTCASTLE: The key was definitely the approach play. I hit a lot of greens. I think I missed one green out there today, and I've managed to hit it close quite often and managed to hole a few of the putts.
Q. As things stand, you're top of the leaderboard and safely advancing through to tomorrow at LIV Golf Promotions. What's the game plan going into Saturday and the rest of the weekend?
KERRY MOUNTCASTLE: Just the same really, just turn up and play and see what I've got. Obviously today I had everything. Tomorrow is another day and reset. So that 8-under I had, other than getting me through to tomorrow doesn't count. Someone that gets in at 20th is in the same position as me, so just have to turn up and do the same and see where we go.
Q. I think this is your sixth straight week of playing; is that correct?
KERRY MOUNTCASTLE: It is, yeah. Had a pretty busy schedule in Aussie at the moment.
Q. You must not be tired if you're going out and shooting 64?
KERRY MOUNTCASTLE: Well, unfortunately I've had the last three weekends off, so I've had a chance to relax and recover in those three weeks, but prior to that, I managed to get my first win, which that took a mental toll.
Q. What did that win mean to you just in terms of confidence level and that type of thing?
KERRY MOUNTCASTLE: I mean, obviously I had full status in Australia for two and a half years. I was doing everything I could to try to get into the Australian Open and the Aussie PGA, and that win got me into those, and it also got me into this, which I didn't know anything about the LIV Promotions until I got told the Monday after I won, and now I'm here and I've made it to the second day, which everything is on.
Q. It's kind of been a whirlwind for you.
KERRY MOUNTCASTLE: Yeah, the last six weeks -- well, five weeks. I've played five weeks in a row, but there's been a lot that's happened during that five weeks.
Q. You really hadn't given it much thought in terms of possibly joining LIV until a week ago?
KERRY MOUNTCASTLE: Well, I didn't even know about it until three weeks ago. I didn't know the tournament was happening or anything, and then found out that there's a high chance I was going to get into it, so I was like, well, I'm not going to say no to that opportunity.
Q. Have you followed it much, though?
KERRY MOUNTCASTLE: No. I was there for the second day of the first event in London when I was in London last year and really enjoyed that. Obviously it's not as much fun when you're a spectator as when you're playing. But I did get a little bit of a firsthand look into LIV on that first event.
Q. What would it mean if you were to get through, get one of the top three spots and have the LIV Golf League on your schedule in 2024?
KERRY MOUNTCASTLE: To be honest, I haven't thought about it. Obviously every day counts differently, so it's just -- and I've been playing the last five weeks. I haven't really had a chance to stop and think. Obviously it would mean a lot because there's a lot of money involved, and it looks like they're running everything really well on LIV. Yeah, it would just mean a lot to me if I could get that.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports