LIV GOLF HONG KONG

March 8, 2024

Dean Burmester

Hong Kong Golf Club

Stinger GC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome Dean Burmester from Stinger GC, our co-leader at 7-under par 63. Can you talk us through your round and any highlights from your day?

DEAN BURMESTER: Yeah, thank you. Firstly, thanks for having me. First of all, a highlight is seeing Stinger at the top of that leaderboard, which is really good. We had a good week last week and the Crushers did something crazy on Sunday, but I see they're right behind us again. Hopefully we can do something to them this week.

For me personally, it was a great day. I've been pretty ill this week. It hasn't been the best week for me. But seems to be every time I get ill, I seem to play okay, so that's great news.

I had a slow start, and then went through a stretch there on the back nine where I think I went birdie, birdie, eagle, birdie, birdie, and that eagle putt just caught the right edge perfectly and beautifully. When it's into the wind like that, it's a good eagle.

I'm really happy with the way my day went, obviously, and happy with the way the boys played, too.

Q. Hong Kong crowds was really awesome. Can you talk about some of the atmosphere and the fan reception out on the course today?

DEAN BURMESTER: Yeah, it's just so good to see golf and this caliber of field here. I've heard so many great things over the years of this golf course and I've never had the opportunity to come here and play. The city, as well, the city is amazing. We've had so much great support everywhere we've been, outside in restaurants, and everyone is just happy to have us all here.

It's very welcoming, and they really appreciate good shots, which is really nice to see. I'm sure it could get a little rowdy over the weekend, which is what we're hoping for. It should get a little bit fun, and hopefully there will be a lot more good shots and a lot for them to cheer for.

Q. Can you talk us through the last few days after Jeddah because the Crushers shot 20-under in that final round. There wasn't really a lot you guys could do about it. Did you take that into account in terms of the disappointment? How did you guys talk about it?

DEAN BURMESTER: Look, it was obviously a tough pill to swallow. I saw Bryson in the locker room, and I used some language. But all in good spirits. I was like, damn, you guys are tough to beat. It was a great day. For them to shoot in that wind 5-under average for four guys, 20-under par, is just crazy. So credit to them.

We really didn't do much wrong with a seven-shot lead I don't think. Obviously Branden and I could have played a little bit better, but it was always going to be tough for Louis and Charl being in contention like that, too, to put a low one in.

I think we did a good job, and then we flew over, and we've enjoyed Hong Kong. Louis and I were a bit sick on Tuesday. We didn't make it to the golf course. But other than that, it's been fantastic.

This golf course reminds me so much of a course I grew up on when I was a little boy. I've loved it since the moment I've stepped on it.

Q. At one point there were 12 guys tied for the lead at 5-under. Can you talk about the course itself? There were a lot of guys that had bogey-free rounds. Just the course itself, were you surprised how low the scores were maybe?

DEAN BURMESTER: I think so. It's a good golf course. It's obviously quite narrow and fairly demanding off the tee, but at the same time you can rein yourself back and you're still going to have loads of wedge opportunities out there.

I think the scoring was probably better than I expected, but with the greens rolling and nice and as pure as they are, guys are going to make putts. When you put a wedge in a pro's hand in this caliber of field, guys are going to make birdies.

I think keep it in the fairway and the guys will just keep crunching out good scores.

Q. You're obviously one of the longest hitters out here. We're playing a 6,700-yard course. Do you feel like your advantage off the tee is negated a little bit? Did you have to use less drivers?

DEAN BURMESTER: Yeah, obviously I'm using a lot less than I normally would, and I obviously enjoy hitting my driver, so that's the only negative about that. But at the same time, where guys are hitting 3-wood, I'm hitting an iron. I think that kind of plays into my favor. I've got more chance of hitting a fairway with an iron in my hand than I do with a 3-wood. I think for the long hitters -- I think Bryson had a decent round, as well, and Brooks is pretty long and had a decent round.

I honestly think it can play into your favor as long as you've got your wedges under control. That's my two cents.

Q. I was watching you in Oman, and you were having great solid rounds of 68, 69, and you were getting really disappointed on the golf course with the way you were playing. Does that show how good you are playing right now?

DEAN BURMESTER: Yeah, look, the reason I was getting frustrated, I had a similar time in Jeddah, I just was not getting the ball in the hole. I felt like I was hitting good putts, and instead of them lipping in, they were lipping out. Sometimes that's golf. But it's testament to my ball-striking. I've been hitting it good now for quite a while, and I'm obviously really comfortable with where my golf swing is.

When I go to a golf course like Oman, for instance, where it's pretty demanding ball-striking wise and I'm hitting it that good, I'd like to think I should be featuring, or close to it anyway, and I wasn't, and I think that's where the frustration comes in. But it's nice to put a good round and a low round in like this today. It just proves that I'm on the right path, and I've obviously found something with my putter.