Saturday Nov 16, 2024
Saturday Nov 16, 2024
Friday, 15 November 2024 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
In the wake of Paul Waring’s sensational Abu Dhabi victory, Laurie Canter is eyeing more English glory in the Middle East at this week’s DP World’s Tour Championship.
The fact that the Bath native is among those competing in the tournament that marks the climax of the European tour’s Race to Dubai is noteworthy in its own right.
The field is limited to the leading 50 players of the year, with Rory McIlroy on the cusp of clinching the season-long title for the third year running and sixth time overall.
McIlroy would need to finish top 11 this week to complete the job, but only if his closest rival, South Africa’s Thriston Lawrence, emerges victorious this Sunday.
More intriguing is the battle for the 10 PGA Tour cards on offer to those not already exempt for the US circuit. And Canter is in the mix for that.
That in itself is remarkable given that just under a year ago, the 35-year-old Englishman was rueing missing a five-foot putt that brought into question the future of his playing career.
He had needed that putt at the LIV Golf Promotions event in Abu Dhabi to retain a place on the lucrative breakaway tour.
Canter had played 19 of their events, but participating in those tournaments jeopardised his status on the DP World Tour. His failure at the Promotions competition piled up pressure to make the most of whatever starts he could subsequently get.
So, when the chance came, he leapt at a last-minute opportunity to play last December’s Mauritius Open. Canter finished second to Louis Oosthuizen and his career was back on track.
Within six months he became a DP World Tour winner for the first time and now he is one good week away from securing a card on the PGA Tour for next year.
Canter heads into the final lap of the DP World Tour season this week with plenty of optimism. In 2020 he nearly broke through, when he played in the final group here with eventual champion Matt Fitzpatrick.
