LIV GOLF MIAMI

April 6, 2024

Dean Burmester

Trump National Doral

Stinger GC

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Let's welcome Dean Burmester from Stinger GC. You are currently sitting at second place at 7-under, had a round of 3-under today. Tell us about your day.

DEAN BURMESTER: Yeah, just a solid day's golf. Anytime you can shoot under par around this place, you've played pretty well.

It's not called the Blue Monster for nothing. It's tough. There's not one golf shot you stand there and think, man, I've actually got a chance, it's quite easy.

But any hole there's no water you kind of feel a little more comfortable. But yeah, I'm proud of what I did today. I'm proud of what Wolffy did, as well. The two of us kind of kept each other going and we managed to put in two decent scores, and looking forward to tomorrow.

Q. You've been in contention a lot since joining LIV. You're always knocking on the door. What do you need to do to break through and break out of the pack tomorrow?

DEAN BURMESTER: I think just treat it for what it is. It's 18 holes of golf. A lot of time we all get worked up, everybody gets nervous, but I have a tendency to kind of go above and beyond that. I've been working really hard mentally to calm myself down and focus on what I can control.

Around a golf course like this, to shoot two rounds under par like that or two rounds of 70, I've managed to do that, so that's my goal for tomorrow, and if I come out on top, great; if I don't, it's another learning experience.

Q. You've been playing so well since you got out here. Is there something about LIV, the environment, that has really helped you up your game?

DEAN BURMESTER: Yeah, I think so. I was always kind of -- I always felt that I was a solid enough player to compete with some of the best in the world, but coming out here and getting that gratification from my peers, the three guys I'm in a team with, and then to be able to compete on a regular basis against some of the top players in the world just proves that. That builds your confidence, and that's where I'm at right now. I'm pretty confident in what I can do and what I can achieve. Hopefully one of these days I'll lift one of those big L trophies.

Q. Everybody wants to know, are you guys still doing the big hat for the worst score of the day because I haven't seen it yet this year?

DEAN BURMESTER: I think Branden really didn't like that hat and Charl didn't like it, either. We all wore it, but I think they've burnt it or they've hid it away from Louis because we can't find it.

But we've got other couple things that we're doing which I probably can't mention.

Q. Stingers currently sitting in third place. You guys are in contention tomorrow. With all four scores counting, it can be super volatile on a Sunday. I know you're going for the individual win, but are you also thinking about getting another team win when you go out there tomorrow?

DEAN BURMESTER: Yeah, we need a Crushers kind of Sunday, don't we. All four golfers are solid. I know Branden shot under par today, which is good around here, so if four of us can post under-par rounds, I think hopefully we'll be up on the podium.

Q. Did you think this course would fit your game given your length off the tee when you first saw it?

DEAN BURMESTER: If you look at the history of who's won around here, it definitely suits length. I can see that. There's certain covers that I have that other guys don't have, and that makes holes like 18 -- if you can't cover that water on the left, it makes 18 an absolute big hole. It makes it a bastard. It's tough. Things like that.

That lends to it, but you've still got to place your ball around this golf course. When it comes to the greens and stuff, you can't be short-siding yourself too often or you're going to get in trouble. It's firming up. It's getting a little quicker after the rain, and tomorrow will be a good test for sure.

Q. I think of the top 10 or 12 guys on the leaderboard, only Talor has won out here on LIV. You've obviously had a couple of knocks on the door. How much do you think that'll be a factor in terms of people really antsy to get back on that LIV winning leaderboard?

DEAN BURMESTER: I think everybody wants to win out here on LIV. It kind of proves that you long belong here if you win, and if you win multiple times, it really does. There's not one golfer in this place that's not won before. I think every single golfer has won in some capacity in professional or top amateur golf. Everyone can play. That's what it takes. It takes three really good rounds of golf to beat the best in the world, and that's what everyone wants to do.

Q. Whether you have a good round or a bad round, do you sit down and look at your numbers, either every day or at the end of the tournament? When do you do that during the week?

DEAN BURMESTER: Yeah, stats, most stats I'll do at the end of the week probably. I'm not too stats driven during the week. But in saying that there's little things I like to accomplish on a daily basis so I'll go and look at those. I've got percentages I do kind of mentally within myself to see how I handle myself out there, and those are things I score myself on daily.

Q. How do you see yourself against your competition? What would you say is your best strategy?

DEAN BURMESTER: I mean, I don't know. Probably hitting it a long way, it helps me, and when I put guys under pressure by hitting my wedges well when other guys have got mid irons into those holes, that kind of helps me. That gives me a lot of confidence.

And on top of that, staying patient. You're not going to birdie every hole out here, especially around a golf course like this. I think the best in the world are going to get nervous over certain shots, and some guys are going to hit bad shots, some guys are going to pull them off. If you stay patient, you're more likely to pull those shots off.

Q. How do you prepare yourself mentally and physically before game day?

DEAN BURMESTER: Yeah, I mean, it's routine, isn't it. I think most guys go through their own routines. Everybody's is different. But for me, it's the moment I put my shoes on, I start getting myself ready, listen to some good music, go through my physio, go through my stretching and my warmup and then get to the range and just make sure I've got all my feels and all my things in place and then head to the first tee backing yourself. That's pretty much it. Everyone has got their routines mentally and physically, and that's what I like to do.

Q. What message do you have for aspiring young individuals that want to be golfers just like you?

DEAN BURMESTER: I think the best thing to say is just never give up. I saw a kid out there, he finished top 30 in the U.S. Junior thing at Pinehurst, the world event. That's really good at his age. But you don't want to just do that and think you're great. Just keep grinding.

This is a tough sport. It's a long way, and it takes a long time for most guys. There are very few guys that just have it and get it early and get that early success. Just keep grinding, enjoy the grind, enjoy the love and work harder than everybody else, and you're going to win a lot.