English LIV Golf pro: "So I've been lucky in a perverse way"

England's Laurie Canter, who still plays DP World Tour and LIV Golf events, has explained why he is lucky 'in a perverse sort of way'.

Ben Smith

24 Aug 2023

English LIV Golf pro: "So I've been lucky in a perverse way"

English tour pro Laurie Canter, who has played in LIV Golf events, says he has been 'lucky in a perverse way' as he opened up on why he's proud to have won $5.5m on the rival league.

Canter fell into category 18 status on the DP World Tour having finished 131st in the 2022 Race to Dubai.

The provisional cut off for the retention of DP World Tour memberships was 117th.

It has meant that for Canter, his opportunities for starts on the Old World circuit have been limited.

He has played a handful of LIV Golf events as a reserve for Ian Poulter, Lee Westwood and Henrik Stenson's Majesticks side.

And Canter - whose friendship with Eddie Pepperrell was strained owing to his decision to join LIV - has also competed in Asian Tour events.

He does need releases from the DP World Tour, but will not be stopped from playing unless he is eligible for one of their events in the same week.

Canter explained to Golf Digest's John Huggan:

"I'll be at the final three LIV events, probably in a reserve capacity.

"I may be the only DP World Tour member who can do that, because of my category 18 status.

"I won't be subject to further fines or suspensions by the DP World Tour as long as that category does not improve.

"Technically, I do need a release for each LIV event or Asian Tour event, but they won't stop me playing as long as I am not eligible for a DP World Tour event in those weeks.

"Looking at the upcoming schedule, it's unlikely I'll make it into any. So I've been lucky in a perverse way."

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LIV Golf's Lee Westwood, Laurie Canter and other DP World Tour pros have reacted to the OWGR changes...
"How they could vote for this and get it passed I have no idea"
More: https://t.co/7JgQL320j5 pic.twitter.com/xsYIGpzLJh
— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) August 9, 2022

Canter told the publication he never thought of resigning from the tour and will only stop being a member 'when the system spits me out one day'.

High-profile golfers such as Westwood, Poulter and Sergio Garcia and have resigned.

He said for those golfers to be made to feel like outcasts 'isn't right'.

"The argument that LIV is a threat to the tour doesn't add up for me," he said.

The golfer also contended that before he joined LIV he sat down with his team and modelled how the OWGR would look over the next 36 months.

He claimed 'any chance of me climbing the rankings whilst playing in Europe was going to be hugely diminished'. "It was shocking," he said.

Canter added:

"My wife tells me that when I talk about LIV it sounds like I am apologizing. But I’m not. It has been an amazing experience. At first, I thought it was an opportunity to play a couple of events. But it turned into two seasons.

"I got the chance to play with heroes of mine, often on the same team. I got to play practice rounds with them and pick their brains. Plus, going to LIV was an opportunity to play for a lot of money.

"I earned $5.5m in just over a year, which is insane. I'm proud of what that means for my family. So no regrets. LIV really was a great opportunity for me."

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