Meronk eyes top-10 finish in rankings
PGA Tour privileges and European Team cut also on the radar
Gulf News caught up with Dubai-based Adrian Meronk on his travels to play in this week’s KLM Open on the DP World Tour as he approaches his 30th birthday next week.
■ Adrian, how do you feel your season has gone so far?
I currently stand in fourth place in the Race to Dubai Rankings. I am pleased with my game. I have had three victories on the DP World Tour in the last ten months: the Horizon Irish Open last July, the ISPS Handa Australian Open in December and the DS Automobiles Italian Open earlier this month. I think I am the only one to have done this on the DP World Tour — which I am very proud of. Today, I am number 47 in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). I did not move after last week’s tied 40th in the PGA Championship in New York. The OWGR is a tough animal to make any progress these days — but it is not for the lack of me trying!
Finally, looking at the many statistics around the game, I am currently fifth in the Ryder Cup European Team Points Table and 10th in the World Points Table.
Statistics and Rankings are what golf is about these days, especially for playing opportunities — I am one of the privileged few golfers to have invites for all four Majors in 2023.
■ How did you enjoy the recent PGA Championship at Oak Hill Country Club?
I am enjoying my visits to the US more and more each time. I am feeling very comfortable around the top players. My challenge is that I am playing these venues and golf courses for the first time. Others have played these courses many many times before.
I was fortunate to partner Luke Donald, our Ryder Cup Europe Team Captain in the first two rounds in Rochester, New York, which was fun. I do hope he was impressed with my golf?
Looking at my cards for my four rounds of 75. 69. 74. 68 to finish in tied 40th and winning €43,545.66, it made interesting reading.
I made 18 birdies all week over the 72 holes, whereas the PGA Champion Brooks Koepka had only 17.
Sadly, I also had four doubles. It just proves to myself that on tough courses, which I like, I can mix it with the best.
■ Have your targets for the season changed at all?
Nope! My 2023 targets remain to make the top 10 in the Race to Dubai Rankings to get my 2024 playing privileges on the PGA Tour plus make the European Team in the Ryder Cup at Marco Simone G&CC in Rome, September 25 — October 1st.
I am determined to play my way in to the European Team and no one ever wants to rely on an invite. The last Qualifying Tournament is the Omega European Masters which concludes on September 3 — just 102 days away — it will be soon upon us.