LIV GOLF JEDDAH

March 1, 2024

Adrian Meronk

Royal Greens Golf & Country Club

Cleeks GC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome, Adrian Meronk, from Cleeks GC, an incredible round of 62, 8-under par, to start LIV Golf Jeddah. Tell us about your round today.

ADRIAN MERONK: Yeah, it was very solid. To be honest, I didn't get off to a good start, like a hot start, but then towards the middle of the round and towards the end, I played quite nicely, holed a lot of good putts, and it was just overall a very solid day.

Q. You spoke about in the first couple of weeks being a bit of a whirlwind for you. Are you quite settled this week?

ADRIAN MERONK: Definitely. I'm feeling way better this week than my first two weeks. I had some quality practice time last week in Dubai. I'm happy where my game is, and it's definitely a big difference from even Vegas.

Q. New to LIV this season, ninth in Las Vegas. The putting stats weren't maybe your friend. Was it good putting this week? Was that the big difference for you?

ADRIAN MERONK: To be honest, yeah, I hit a lot of good putts, holed a lot of good ones. But overall I've been working on my pace a lot, and in Vegas it was great and today, as well. I think the pace was the key again.

The striking quality was way better today than in Vegas, so I'm pleased about that because I spent a lot of time last weeks to work on it, and I can see improvement already.

Q. A lovely eagle on 10. You scored in bunches there, 9, 10, 11. To play those three 4-under is really impressive.

ADRIAN MERONK: Yeah, I think I just like the layout of this course. Really enjoy playing here. I have played here before. I'm trying to just be friendly with the wind. It's always quite windy here. But just like the setup. It suits my eye and I think suits my game, as well. I'm enjoying playing here.

Q. Is 62 your best professional round, or have you done better?

ADRIAN MERONK: To be honest, we might have to check it, but I think it might be the best one. I think it was 63 before.

Q. Today, seven birdies and an eagle and one bogey. What were the strengths of your round in your opinion?

ADRIAN MERONK: Definitely putting. Again, I holed a lot of good putts but gave myself a lot of good chances. Could have been lower. But just overall the whole game was quite solid. I didn't make too many mistakes. I was quite solid off the tee.

Just really a solid day. I really enjoyed it today.

Q. You mentioned you've been here to Royal Greens before, but today you played really well. Was playing here at a different time of the year, apart from what you said, doing the right things and everything that went well for you today, was it a deciding factor, as well, playing at a different time of the year with different weather circumstances?

ADRIAN MERONK: To be honest, when I was here four years ago, we played around the same time because I played on the European Tour back then. Funny story, I came back three years ago, as well, and tested positive for COVID, so I spent 18 days here in the town in quarantine, so I couldn't leave the country. That was my last memory from Saudi.

We played in the same kind of weather and wind. Even I said to my caddie that the wind never really changes here; it always plays quite similar. It also makes it easier as the week goes on because you just know your lines, and you just have to commit to it.

Q. Obviously today's result is amazing, but what would you do in order to make sure that you'll have the same result at the end of this event?

ADRIAN MERONK: To be honest, I won't change anything. I'm going to play the same golf, same strategy. Nothing changes. I just hope the wind will be from the same direction. Nothing will change. Just do my same routine and I do every single week, and I hope it will be enough at the end of the tournament.