Ryder Cup veteran Ian Poulter and South African Louis Oosthuizen will be among the top players who will be descending upon the Lion City next week for the LIV Golf Singapore event on April 28-30, 2023 at the Sentosa Golf Club.
The duo are looking forward to returning to the award-winning Serapong Course, where Poulter won in 2009 and Oosthuizen, the 2010 British Open winner, finished second to Italian Matteo Manassero. They shared their thoughts on the course and the league via a virtual press conference.
On having a possible edge over the rest of the field, Poulter said, “I wouldn’t say I have an edge over the rest of the players, but it fills you with confidence going out to play the venue.”
On the other hand, Oosthuizen said, “You remember the good things. It gives you a little bit of confidence, but your game still needs to be in a good place. You must be in good form to finish at the top.”
Playing in LIV Golf events has rejuvenated the competitive spirit in players, as seen in how LIV players performed in the Masters recently. When asked about this, Oosthuizen said, “To be part of a team is massive, and it’s been a lot of success at the Ryder Cup, and I have really enjoyed being part of the Presidents Cup and being part of the team thing. You are playing not just for yourself, but you are playing for three other guys, and you are really trying to up your game and do every bit every time you go out there.”
Poulter added, “We are really fortunate to have that every single week. We would only normally look forward to that every two years, but now we have 14 weeks of doing that. It has definitely energised me. It’s given me a bit more passion for the game. I work even harder these days, and it given me the buzz back.”
Criticism over the 10 months of LIV Golf’s existence has been prevalent. However, both Poulter and Oosthuizen defended the league, stating that the level of hard work that the players have put in is evident in the Masters, where LIV Golf players showed that they are fit, strong, and can compete at the highest level.
Oosthuizen said, “Once you see the way the guys play, the level of effort they put in, you’ll realise it’s not just having fun and getting your pay cheque. It’s 100% doing your best for your team.”
The duo attested to the fact that the league has energised the players, rejuvenated their passion for the game, and given them the opportunity to showcase their skills on a regular basis. According to them, despite the criticism, LIV Golf has strong players, great personalities, and possess a level of detail in team preparation that is refreshing to see. It’s exciting to compete against the best players and to see what the future holds for the league.
