Former LIV Golf Reserve Player Puts Brand New Set Of Irons In The Bag And Claims Maiden DP World Tour Title
Englishman Laurie Canter - who has played 20 out of the 28 LIV Golf events - claimed his maiden DP World Tour victory in Germany on Sunday
![Laurie Canter poses with the 2024 European Open trophy](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/CoScb3EDM9ejLrKP2EgMWJ-415-80.jpg)
Former LIV golfer Laurie Canter claimed his first-ever DP World Tour title at the European Open in Germany on Sunday courtesy of a two-shot victory over Thriston Lawrence and Bernd Wiesberger at Green Eagle Golf Courses.
Canter has played 20 out of the 28 LIV Golf League events since its inception in 2022, teeing it up for Martin Kaymer's Cleeks GC in the first season before going on to fill in for various players since.
The Englishman was then a temporary 'wildcard' for the opening two events of 2024 but was later ultimately replaced by Anthony Kim after the American's much-anticipated professional comeback.
Yet, long after clearing his fines and serving the suspension handed out to him by the DP World Tour, the World No. 224 was able to continue his latest stint with the Wentworth-based circuit as he aims to make a return to the world's top-100.
Canter's form this season has been mixed, with a highlight of three top-10s on the DP World Tour supplementing results of 15th and 21st in his two LIV events at Mayakoba and Las Vegas.
The moment @LaurieCanter claimed his debut DP World Tour title after 142 appearances 👏🏴#EO2024 pic.twitter.com/ERVyUNDMf8June 2, 2024
The former World No. 81 has suffered several near misses in his career to date - more recently at the Mauritius Open (solo second) and the Australian Open (T4), both during December 2023. Prior to that, he had finished as runner-up at the 2020 Portugal Masters and 2020 Italian Open.
But just a week on from securing a top-10 finish at the Soudal Open, Canter finally took the step he had been so desperate to make in northern Germany, starting the week off with rounds of five-under and seven-under on the par 73 layout - one of the longest golf courses in the world - all with a brand-new set of irons in his bag.
Get the Golf Monthly Newsletter
Subscribe to the Golf Monthly newsletter to stay up to date with all the latest tour news, equipment news, reviews, head-to-heads and buyer’s guides from our team of experienced experts.
He bounced back from an indifferent level-par Saturday and an overnight share of the lead to close out his maiden DP World Tour victory on 13-under via a one-under 71 on Sunday. It was his 142nd European Tour start.
Afterwards, an emotional Canter said: "It's all I've wanted to do since I turned pro, since before I was a pro, so it's hard to rationalize now but I'm really happy.
"I tried to just not get caught up in the tournament, I tried to keep it as factual as possible. It went my way today, and in the past, it hasn't. It's probably now that I've done it, I look back at when I didn't do it and think it wasn't so much what I was doing, it was other people doing stuff.
"I just kept putting one foot in front of the other. I know how to play golf. I just kept telling myself that... It's a great feeling, and it will probably take a while to totally digest what's happened."
"It's all I've wanted to do since I've turned pro"Hear from our new champion, Laurie Canter 🎙️#EO2024 pic.twitter.com/YgT1F8xQeVJune 2, 2024
Able to pull away from overnight co-leader Guido Migliozzi and three other back-nine challengers - which included another ex-LIV player in Wiesberger - Canter is now able to start planning the rest of his season, which is set to include more starts in high-ranking tournaments such as the Scottish Open.
The relief that greater job security, and removing the apparent stigma around his lack of success, was palpable to Canter - with the 34-year-old explaining: "Now that I've done it, it's going to open up some opportunities for me.
"If I'm going to try and climb the world rankings and get myself up and playing in the biggest tournaments in the world, you have to know how to win and I think you only get that belief once you do it. Hopefully, it means I can push on and go from strength to strength.
"It's quite difficult if you feel like you're serially not getting it done to have that almost stigma around you. I know in my own self that I could win. My realisation was to focus on what my close friends and family are thinking of me and be more immersed in that versus trying to win for someone on twitter. That's probably helped me."
Jonny Leighfield is our Staff News Writer who joined Golf Monthly just in time for the 2023 Solheim Cup and Ryder Cup. He graduated from the University of Brighton with a degree in Sport Journalism in 2017 and spent almost five years as the sole sports reporter at his local newspaper. During his time with Golf Monthly, Jonny has interviewed several stars of the game, including Robert MacIntyre, Ian Poulter, and Lee Westwood. An improving golfer himself, Jonny enjoys learning as much about the game as he can and is hoping to reach his Handicap goal of 18 at some stage. He attended both the 150th and 151st Open Championships and dreams of attending The Masters one day.
-
The 6 Golfers Who Won Medals In The Tokyo 2020 Olympics
After returning to the Olympics in 2016, golf was again in the schedule for the 2020 Tokyo Games – here are the players who won the medals
By Mike Hall Published
-
How Many Fans Are There At Le Golf National For The Olympic Games?
The Paris Olympic committee has released the number of available tickets for each day of the men's and women's golf events, which are expected to be sold out
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
Jon Rahm Calls For Links Event To Be Added To LIV Golf Schedule
The Legion XIII captain has told Golf Digest a links event immediately before The Open would offer the ideal preparation for LIV Golf players
By Mike Hall Published
-
Bryson DeChambeau ‘Wouldn’t Put It Past’ Tiger Woods To Win Another Major
The US Open champion has defended Tiger Woods amid his recent poor form at Majors and calls for him to retire
By Mike Hall Published
-
'The Golf Crowd In The UK Are Starved For Golf, Plain And Simple' - Paul Casey Ahead Of LIV Golf Return To England
Paul Casey makes his first start of the year in the UK and admits the home fans are "starved" of top level golf
By Elliott Heath Published
-
'It's Definitely Up There With Majors' - LIV Golf Pro On Olympics
Abraham Ancer, who won gold at the Pan American Games last year, says the Olympics is up there with golf's four Majors
By Elliott Heath Published
-
'A Dream Come True' - Jon Rahm Relishing Return To Paris For Olympic Bid
A return to Paris will hold fond memories for Jon Rahm as he completes "a dream come true" in playing in the Olympic golf event
By Paul Higham Published
-
‘We’ll Have A Lock In' - Ian Poulter Thirsty For LIV Golf Victory On Home Soil
Ian Poulter will celebrate in his team's own on-course pub if he can secure an emotional home victory at LIV Golf UK this week
By Paul Higham Published
-
How Much Anthony Kim Has Earned In LIV Golf
The American has already banked an impressive figure despite failing to finish inside the top-40 in his first season back from 12 years away
By Jonny Leighfield Published
-
'I Think It Will Happen' - Joaquin Niemann 'Hopeful' Of LIV Golf Major Route
The LIV Golf points leader believes the tour will have its own route into the four men's Majors next year
By Elliott Heath Published