LIV GOLF PROMOTIONS

December 8, 2023

Taichi Kho

Max Kennedy

Abu Dhabi Golf Club

Quick Quotes

THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome Taichi Kho and Max Kennedy. Taichi, fantastic performance, 5-under par 67, six birdies and one bogey in the first round of LIV Golf Promotions at Abu Dhabi Golf Club. Can you provide some insights into your round today?

TAICHI KHO: Really pleased with my round today. Had a bit of a rough start; bogeyed my first hole. But I felt like I was really calm and composed out there. I trusted my preparation, and yeah, I was able to execute quite well for the rest of the round.

Overall pretty happy to just have a strong mental performance out there. Obviously hit a lot of good shots. To play with Max who I played a lot with in college was really fun, as well. I feel like we both fed off of each other and played some good golf.

THE MODERATOR: Max, outstanding performance yourself, as well. Currently low scoring amateur today, matching Taichi's 5-under par 67 with five birdies and no bogeys. Can you share some of your thoughts about your round today?

MAX KENNEDY: Yeah, I played well at the end of the round. I started out slowly enough.

But I didn't get too ahead of myself. I stayed patient and I stayed with each shot, and it paid off in the end. As Taichi said, we have played together in the past, and we really enjoyed it out there. We fed off each other making putts, and it felt really easy, so that was kind of nice.

Q. How has the support been from your family, friends, even friends back home this week?

MAX KENNEDY: Yeah, it's been fantastic. This is probably one of the biggest tournaments I've played in so far just because it's a professional event and I've only played one other professional event, so the support has been amazing, and I'm grateful for that.

TAICHI KHO: Yeah, the support has been huge from back home, especially with LIV Golf Hong Kong announced this coming March. I think there's a lot of buzz around LIV Golf and just the opportunity for me to maybe be a part of that in the future, it's really exciting, and I know the Hong Kong community shares that excitement, as well.

Q. You're both safely advancing to the weekend at LIV Golf Promotions. What's the game plan going into Saturday and the rest of the weekend?

TAICHI KHO: Yeah, I would say the game plan stays the same. Just have to execute on all fronts. Got to just stay patient out there, try to execute, and at the end of the day try to have some fun, as well, because the course is in great shape. It's a great layout. Might as well enjoy it.

MAX KENNEDY: Just make birdies. That's all it takes.

Q. Taichi, looking at the front nine, you had four birdies, and then two birdies on the back nine. Was it a strategy that you were attacking certain holes? Can you talk me through that?

TAICHI KHO: Yeah, I feel like I have a pretty good strategy on each hole just to try and score as low as possible throughout four rounds, so I feel like the strategy is solid out here. I might change my shot off of 1, but other than that, I feel like I have a good strategy out there.

On some holes I got the putts to roll in, so that was an extra bonus, but overall I'm pretty happy with how things turned out today.

Q. I suppose there must be a fear for players about the cut every day. Does that come into your mind? I'm thinking about the run of pars on the back nine. Do you get more defensive or is there a --

TAICHI KHO: Yeah, that's a good question. I think as a professional golfer, every tournament you play, there is that fear of a cut, unless you play on LIV, which would be nice.

It's something that professional golfers or just all golfers have to deal with, and I feel like having strategies to go around that -- I think everyone naturally gets a little nervous as you come down the stretch, but you can either benefit from that and hit better shots and execute better, or it could go the other way.

I think just having strategies to go around that and try to play your best when you're under that pressure.

Q. Max, tell me about your approach today. You said it's about birdies, but the top 20 that you need to get in, does that affect your mindset at all?

MAX KENNEDY: Yeah, that's something that affected me in the past, trying to make the cut and just trying to be average. But you can't have that mindset in professional golf if you want to be at the pinnacle. You've got to think about winning each round. Especially in this event you've got to think of winning each round and sticking to your strategy and staying disciplined and patient. That's all it takes.

Q. You've got an additional 13 players who are coming in with exemptions tomorrow, so there will be a more verified atmosphere. Wonder what your thoughts are on some of the big guns, some of the guys who were on LIV last year coming in and how it will affect the performance?

TAICHI KHO: I think it's great that you've got those big guns showing up tomorrow. I think they've earned their way into the second round, rightfully so, and I feel like it'll be a good atmosphere to be in. I'm looking forward to it, and it's going to be a fun format.

I think what LIV has done here is quite revolutionary in terms of qualifying tournament, promotions tournament, so it's quite exciting to be a part of.

MAX KENNEDY: Yeah, I mean, they're there for a reason. They're in the second round for a reason. They're very good players.

I think there's less players tomorrow, so that might make it a little easier, but again, you've got to play good golf to get through. It's not going to take anything but good golf. If you do that, you'll be through to Sunday's round.