Laurie Canter backs LIV Golf London to shake up ‘stuffy’ British summer of sport

Laurie Canter believes LIV London can provide a fun-filled alternative to the ‘stuffy’ showpiece events which make up Britain’s sporting summer.

Canter, 33, is one of LIV Golf’s trailblazers, having participated in the tour’s first event at the Centurion Club in May last year.

The Bath-born star will be returning to London for a second tilt at the individual prize in July and believes the spectacle is a must-watch for any sports fan.

“LIV has got and is building its own identity,” he said. “It’s a perfect vehicle for people to watch golf and enjoy seeing some of the best players in the world.

“You can pick a hole, watch them go through and then you’ve got the whole partying aspect afterwards.

“Compared to other golf events, there is a lot less of a stuffy vibe. You’re encouraged to make noise.

“As a sporting day out, if you look at Wimbledon and the Ashes, it’s a bit of quiet applause and nodding your head versus LIV going for something different.

“I think that’s great and as a Tour we should embrace that and get people involved in that process as much as possible.”

Despite being a sub for the 2023 season, Canter has all but been a main member of the league, having stepped in for Martin Kaymer and Sam Horsfield during their time on the sidelines.

A hole-in-one at the par-3 17th hole in Singapore in April has been among the highlights of his year to date and says he’s loved his time on the tour so far.

“I was not totally sure about what to expect when I turned up,” recalled Canter.

“Once I got there and got familiar with the surroundings, it fell into place.

“One other thing I remember was the first shotgun. I was starting on a par-3 on the back nine and remember this build to hitting a shot which I’d only experienced when in the final round of a big tournament because there is so much going on.

“It took me a few events to figure out a routine where I could calm myself down as I felt quite wired to hit my first tee shot of the week.”

Looking ahead to his trip to Hertfordshire, Canter added: “Home comforts are hard to beat.

“For me, it’s a good cup of tea.

“Knowing what to expect a little bit in terms of food is great, though that sounds boring.

“I’m excited. I think we’ll see a lot of golf fans come and really enjoy that weekend.”