THE MODERATOR: Marcus Plunkett, welcome to LIV Golf Promotions 2026. Great to have you out here. First and foremost, what would earning one of the Top 3 spots here this week mean to you?
MARCUS PLUNKETT: I mean, it would mean like everything. This is a tremendous opportunity to be out here and very appreciative that LIV gave me this opportunity to compete, and getting one of those Top 3 spots would mean a lot for me and be a massive step forward in my career.
Q. Originally the expectation was just the Top 2 spots were going to be offered.
MARCUS PLUNKETT: Yeah.
Q. Last week they announced a third was. What was what your reaction when this news came out?
MARCUS PLUNKETT: I mean, it was exciting to see an extra spot drop or become open to us. Just increases our odds out here this week.
Q. Do you happen to have any relationships with any players that have played in the live LIV Golf League before or what have you gleaned from talking with folks that have competed over the past few years out here?
MARCUS PLUNKETT: Chase Koepka and I played some junior golf together, but I don't know a lot of guys that have played out there. Everything I've heard is positive, and just like the vibe and the overall atmosphere I've heard is like second to none.
Q. LIV is really focused on being a global league, right? Obviously the full season, it's a 14-event schedule. Majority of those are outside the United States.
MARCUS PLUNKETT: Yep.
Q. You mentioned the vibe, the atmosphere, bringing a different energy to the sport than has traditionally existed. What's your impression just on the nature of bringing top players and a different energy of the sport all over the world? Obviously the U.S. is a major market, but taking the sport outside the U.S.
MARCUS PLUNKETT: I feel like from a player's perspective it's really cool being blessed with the opportunity to travel, and to see different parts of the country and compete on a global level is really exciting from a player's end.
Q. Yeah. On top of the Top 3 spots for the LIV Golf League, also the top 10 finishers this week gain exception for the International Series which is sanctioned by the Asian Tour and also on that global scale these elevated events. So do you have -- you feel like there is really two different things that you may be playing for this week?
MARCUS PLUNKETT: Yeah, getting into those IS events would also be a great opportunity. Those are great events and have some very high caliber world class players. Being able to compete in those guaranteed would be tremendous as well.
Q. The format this week is a little unique than most golf events, right? Bit of a survive-and-advance competition. Does that change or impact at all your approach when you're teeing it up?
MARCUS PLUNKETT: It's definitely like, you know, a different format, like a format that I haven't played in previous to this. But I think ultimately like kind of same mentality, same game plan. It's me against the course, and whatever happens at the end of it is what's going to be.
But I think just going out and trying to me against the course, one shot at a time, one hole at a time, same mentality. At the end of the round it's just a little different.
Q. Speaking of the course, have you had a chance to get out there and play it yet or any initial impressions?
MARCUS PLUNKETT: Yeah, I've played it twice. Unbelievable golf course. The greens are some of the purest I've seen in Florida in a long time. What a cool place to play this event.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports