HERO DUBAI DESERT CLASSIC

January 20, 2024

Adrian Meronk

Majlis Course at Emirates Golf Club

Press Conference

Q. You've added a round of 70 to your 10-under par opening total. How do you feel about your day's work?

ADRIAN MERONK: I'm exhausted to be honest. The course wasn't easy today. The course is playing, I thought, tougher. The greens were firmer and faster. Tough pin positions. But overall, yeah, good position going into Sunday, so I'm happy for that.

Q. You had the dreaded shank on the 5th. Was it a shock to you? How did you overcome it? Because it can feel frightening when you have one of those?

ADRIAN MERONK: To be honest it's my first shank in my career in a tournament. I was completely shocked when it happened. The ball was lying quite high on the grass. I thought it was a good lie but I must have done something wrong. It just went 90 degrees to the right, and yeah, I was pretty shocked. But at the end it was a good bogey.

Q. Rory's 63 today, 9-under par was better than anyone's by four shots. Can you put it into perspective from a player's point of view how good that is on this golf course, as difficult as it's playing?

ADRIAN MERONK: It was very good. I think it was expected for him to shoot something low on Saturday, and he did, which is nice for us. It's going to be a fun Sunday.

Q. How excited to have the opportunity to add this trophy to the growing group of trophies in your trophy cabinet?

ADRIAN MERONK: Yeah, I mean, I'm in great position going into Sunday. I'm excited for tomorrow. I just want to get good rest tonight and get ready for tomorrow and it will be fun.