HORIZON IRISH OPEN

July 3, 2022

Adrian Meronk

Mount Juliet Estate

Press Conference

NEIL AHERN: Many, many congratulations. Can you sum up your feeling? You've made history today becoming the first Polish player to win on the DP World Tour, and to do it here at the Irish Open.

ADRIAN MERONK: Such a relief, to be honest, I've been a couple of times close this year. So to close it off in Ireland in The Irish Open in such a special event on the schedule, it's really special for me and I'm very excited.

NEIL AHERN: You spoke about how you felt a bit of home coming down the fairways at support. How did it feel to get that back being from so many people out there?

ADRIAN MERONK: The spectators were amazing this week, probably the best of the year, and also a lot of Polish guys coming and supporting me. That was really nice to hear, and made me feel really good. I had a couple chills today on the golf course after a couple putts, so that was an amazing feeling yeah.

Q. You had a lot of good finishes this season. Did you feel this coming?

ADRIAN MERONK: Yeah, to be honest, I had a good feeling about this week. Especially coming after a break, obviously a couple of close finishes this year, and so I had this experience coming into Sunday. So I just focus on my game of stay patient, and it finally paid off.

Q. You've gone at high as 61 in the World Rankings. What will this win do for your career?

ADRIAN MERONK: It's just another step to go forward. My goals are quite high. I'm usually just aiming quite high so this is a great step going forward. I'm super excited of what's ahead of me, and I'll be focussing on the next couple of weeks which are quite big for me as well.

Q. Is The Ryder Cup in Rome next year one of your goals?

ADRIAN MERONK: Definitely that's somewhere in my mind as well. Yeah, that will be one of the goals as well.

Q. Irish green on your hat and Irish green on your shoes. Was that deliberate?

ADRIAN MERONK: Yeah, yeah, I brought the shoes especially for this week. Wore them every day, same with the hats. I thought playing Irish Open, wearing the green might bring some luck, and it did. I'm glad I did it.

Q. Standing on 15 tee, I can't remember what sort of situation it was, but obviously that's where your big finish started. What were you saying at that point? What was your mindset standing on 15 tee?

ADRIAN MERONK: Yeah, I had a good finish yesterday and I knew I'm one shot behind, so I knew I had to do some birdies. So I just focus on those final four holes. I knew there are some opportunities, and just gave it my best and luckily, you know, I dropped two great putts.

And then on 17, to just make eagle was such a relief, going into 18 with a three-shot lead. Yeah, that was an amazing feeling.

Q. What was the feeling standing on 18 tee? You've been in this situation before where you've been close to the win, but to be standing with one hole to go and having a three-shot lead?

ADRIAN MERONK: To be honest, I knew I had a three-shot lead but playing 18 is probably the toughest hole on the course, so I still was super focussed on my targets trying to do a couple good swings. As soon as my ball landed on the green after the second shot, I knew that was it. It was such a relief after the second shot.

Q. And I don't want to put any pressure on you or anything like that, but you are a man in form and you've got a win under your belt, and you have so many top six finishes this season. You're going into a major at St Andrews. Do you feel like you're in contention to win there?

ADRIAN MERONK: Anything's possible. I know my game is strong. I would try to save as much energy as possible and I will go for it for sure. Anything can happen. I know my game is strong and I like St Andrews, so it will be a special week for me, and I'll give it my best. I think if I play the way I did this week, I have a good chance for sure.

Q. Could I just ask, what's it like being a pioneer for Polish golf? You're venturing into new territory with each step.

ADRIAN MERONK: Yeah, it's true, it's been like this ever since I turned pro. I never had anyone to look up to and I was the first one from Poland. To be honest, I quite like it. I set new goals every year to go a step forward, and it's been working quite nicely so far. So I'm going to keep doing that. Really exciting for me to be the first one from Poland for sure.

Q. Who was your inspiration growing up?

ADRIAN MERONK: Growing up, I would say Tiger Woods obviously and Rory McIlroy. I always looked up to them and was watching them on TV and wanted to be like them, winning tournaments. So it's super special for me that my first win is in Ireland.

Q. What club did you hit into the last?

ADRIAN MERONK: 6-iron.

Q. Nice shot.

ADRIAN MERONK: Thank you.

Q. Wondering with the announcement earlier in the week from Keith Pelley about the player pathway, how excited are you about that possibility of playing on the PGA TOUR?

ADRIAN MERONK: I'm super excited. It opens a lot of new doors. I think it's a step in the right direction. So I'm super excited for the future. I hope there will be a place for me.

Q. You have an Irish manager as well, I believe. Do you have any other connections to Ireland apart from Kate?

ADRIAN MERONK: I have a lot of friends living in Ireland. Obviously there's a lot of big Polish community in Ireland, so I felt the support all week. I think we get along quite well.

NEIL AHERN: Thank you very much, Adrian, well done.