ALFRED DUNHILL LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

October 1, 2021

Eddie Pepperell

Ronan Keating

Quick Quotes

TOMMY FLEETWOOD: At the moment I think we're there or thereabouts at the top of the leaderboard and I am confident we're going to stay there actually.

Q. How have you been finding it?

RONAN KEATING: It's such a privilege to be out here playing these golf courses with these guys, you just don't want to get in their way. That's the thing. They have got a serious job on their hands and getting there on Sunday and finishing at the top of the leaderboard, for us amateur, it's such a buzz to come to these courses and play these courses, but also witness the sort of golf these guys play. It's off the chart.

You know, from a fan of golf, I'm watching so much of it on television, when you get to stand beside them and see how they work out the shots and actually hitting the shots, it's just incredible it's such a buzz, and again an honour to be here.

Q. And of course you're at Carnoustie today. How was it tackling the infamous Car-Nasty?

RONAN KEATING: It's been hell. Hogan's Alley broke me. It's the longest par 5 I've ever played in my life. I threw out a driver, 3-wood. I couldn't get close. It's really difficult. And it's actually the course for amateurs is not as difficult as, you know, it can be set up for out here. They have been nice to us. They put us, we're far more forward on the tees than the pros are obviously, so there's less trouble for us to get into but it's still so challenging.

But the sun was shining and it wasn't raining on us and that's a big deal out here. It wasn't raining. It wasn't wet. The wind is the wind. You try to play shots around it and enjoy it as best you can.

Q. How great an event is this for you to be involved in, both of you, because obviously it's one that you take very seriously as a golfer and I know the amateurs take it very seriously, too, but there is this fun element to it, as well.

EDDIE PEPPERELL: It is a special event. It's one we all look forward to at the start of the year. Johann and Dunhill do such a great job supporting the Tour, not just for this tournament but the one down in South Africa, and he is one of the Tour's greatest partners and sponsors, really. So it's an opportunity for us top players, frankly, to show appreciation and get to spend time with very different people. I grew up listening to some of Ronan's music and never thought I would play golf with him.

RONAN KEATING: Unfortunately, says him.

EDDIE PEPPERELL: It's a great opportunity to meet new people and it's great fun.

Q. And your hopes this week for the pair of you?

RONAN KEATING: It's just awesome. Having a great time. Yeah, look, it would be nice to make Sunday but it's not the be all end and all, just to be at the tournament is enough for me. I hope that Eddie can go on and if I don't -- if the team don't make, it hopefully Eddie can go on and do really well on Sunday and I'll be watching it. It's such a buzz. It's the invite we all want and we all wait for and when we get it, it's just such a buzz to be here.

EDDIE PEPPERELL: I think Ronan had his wine wasting last night and I have my mind scheduled tonight.