Laurie Canter’s long-awaited victory at the European Open in Hamburg has finally come to fruition, marking a monumental moment in his DP World Tour career.
The Englishman’s triumph at the Green Eagle Golf Courses was a tale of perseverance and nerve, as he battled through a slow start in the final round to clinch his maiden title.
Entering the last day tied for the lead, Canter faced early challenges, playing his first ten holes over par.
However, a display of sheer determination and skill on the back nine, including three birdies, turned the tide in his favour.
His final round score of one-under 72 secured him a 13-under-par total, edging out Bernd Wiesberger and Thriston Lawrence by two strokes.
Canter, 34, has come close to victory several times before, with four runner-up finishes on the DP World Tour, including earlier this season at the AfrAsia Bank Mauritius Open.
His breakthrough win at the European Open not only validated his persistence but also propelled him into the top ten on both the Race to Dubai Rankings and the European Swing Rankings.
Reflecting on his achievement, Canter expressed his delight, especially after experimenting with a new set of irons this week.
His decision paid off handsomely, setting him on a course for future success. The victory was not only significant for Canter personally but also highlighted his potential to compete at the highest levels of professional golf.
Laurie Canter: “This is what I’ve always wanted to do, to win on the DP World Tour.”
“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 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 not getting it over the line and 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.”
“I tried to 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 and 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.”
“Today I holed a great putt on 15 and 16, those sorts of things were happening for me today and from my perspective, I kept putting one foot in front of the other. I know how to play golf, I just kept telling myself that.”
Behind Canter, Julien Guerrier of France and Denmark’s Niklas Nørgaard tied for fourth place at ten-under-par, while Japan’s Keita Nakajima finished sixth.
Rafa Cabrera Bello of Spain closed in seventh, with a group including 2023 European Open champion Tom McKibbin and Guido Migliozzi, sharing eighth place.
Looking ahead, the DP World Tour now heads to Sweden for the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed, scheduled from June 6-9 at Vasatorps Golfklubb.
The tournament promises to continue the exciting momentum from the European Open, as the world’s top golfers vie for more crucial victories and ranking points.
Canter’s victory at the European Open underscores his resilience and skill, marking a new chapter in his career and setting the stage for what promises to be an exhilarating season on the DP World Tour.
