34-year-old shares moment he found unbelievably uncomfortable right before LIV debut

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Laurie Canter has shared what he made of that press conference involving Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter before the first LIV event back in 2022.

Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter were amongst the biggest names to jump ship and sign up for the breakaway tour ahead of its first event less than two years ago now.

Given how synonymous that the pair have been with the DP World Tour and Ryder Cup for more than two decades, it was a kick in the teeth for many to see them depart to play on a tour owned by PIF of Saudi Arabia.

Laurie Canter opens up on infamous press conference alongside Lee Westwood and Ian Poulter

Unsurprisingly, the pair were amongst the golfers forced to answer a number of tough questions about signing up for the tour ahead of its first event at Centurion.

What many may not immediately remember is that it was Laurie Canter and Sam Horsfield sat alongside the two veterans in their first press conference. And speaking with Andrew Cotter and Iain Carter on The Chipping Forecast podcast, Canter has now shared what it was like to be involved in that meeting with the media.

“That press conference was unbelievably uncomfortable. When we got out and went into the holding room, I gave them both a hug, Westwood and Poulter. They had to handle all of that. And Ian comes out, I feel like he reverts to all guns blazing. That’s how he operates if he feels something’s being thrown at him. That’s how he’ll come back,” he said.

“And so, I think for me and Sam, we had to sit. I think you were the only person who asked me a question, Iain. I remember you asked me a question about my schedule or something. I can’t help but feel sorry for a lot of the guys who had to do those interviews in the early days because there is no right or wrong answer.”

LIV defectors did little to make the situation any better

Admittedly, it is hard to know what answers Poulter and Westwood could have given which would have satisfied those of us who were so disappointed to see them make the switch.

Clearly, those who made the move saw more positives than negatives. They would have known that they would need to weather a storm, particularly in those early stages. And that press conference will clearly live in Canter’s mind for a very long time.