Locals give LIV Tulsa an Oklahoma flavor
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The big reason LIV Tulsa is being held in Oklahoma Friday through Sunday is due to the efforts of the players with Oklahoma ties to work with LIV officials on bringing an event here. In particular Charles Howell III, who learned upon calling Cedar Ridge that a former college teammate at OSU – Billy Lowry – was current president of the board. And Talor Gooch, the only native born Oklahoman in the field, who was very keen on having an event in his home state and using the event to help raise the profile of his Talor Gooch Foundation.
Below, courtesy of the LIV media staff, are some thoughts from the players with Oklahoma ties on this event.
Charles Howell III – Crushers GC
Oklahoma State
CHARLES HOWELL III: I’m really excited to return to Oklahoma. It’s a bit of a second home for me, going to school there. A few of us played college golf in Oklahoma. Oklahoma was a huge event for us to get on the schedule. It’s an area that’s a bit starved of professional golf, and it’s a great sports place, and we’re ready to get there.
Q. Are you expecting to see any old friends there?
CHARLES HOWELL III: Well, we’d better see some old friends there. I know I’ve had a lot of people reach out for tickets, and they’re going to come over. I believe the turnout is going to be fantastic. I know our attendance and popularity is growing, and I believe Oklahoma will continue that trend. It’s such a good sports state, I’m quite sure the guys will have a great week.
Q. How much does it mean for them to see you play at LIV?
CHARLES HOWELL III: Well, it means a lot. We were looking at the schedule, and we started talking about Oklahoma last year. It’s a big event. Cedar Ridge in Tulsa is going to be wonderful, but the state is small enough where people can drive in from all over. We’re going to see great crowds. We’re going to see Oklahoma State and OU fans out there, and it’s going to be good.
Abraham Ancer – Fireballs GC
Oklahoma University
Q. You’re the only OU alum, so how excited are you going to play in Tulsa?
ABRAHAM ANCER: Man, I’m pumped. I feel like people from Oklahoma absolutely love sports, and they love to root on guys that obviously went to school in the state. Last time I was there playing at a big tournament was the PGA Championship in Tulsa, and it was incredible.
I think the atmosphere is going to be phenomenal. I can’t wait to be out there, and there’s going to be a lot of “Boomer Sooner” going on and obviously a lot of Pokes out there, too, so it’s going to be entertaining.
Q. You finished great last year in Tulsa, the PGA Championship. Are you extra motivated to play well when you come back to Oklahoma?
ABRAHAM ANCER: Absolutely, always super motivated. I don’t feel like I need any extra motivation anywhere I go to play, but it definitely helps to have a lot of people cheer you on and obviously want to do good in Oklahoma. Also my boys just won the Big 12 Championship yesterday, so that’s a big win for the OU alumni and obviously the whole school.
Q. Speaking of the PGA Championship, you have two consecutive top-10 finishes at that major. As you’re gearing up for this year’s event at Oak Hill, what will be your approach?
ABRAHAM ANCER: Same as it is really for any tournament. I don’t want to hype it up too much or think it’s a major. I like to go out there, do my work, prepare, do everything possible to get the best outcome, mentally and physically be ready, and that’s all I can control. Just put everything I’ve got for every shot, and we’ll figure it out whenever I get done.
Eugenio Chacarra – Fireballs GC
Oklahoma State
Q. What type of reception do you think you’ll get in Oklahoma?
EUGENIO CHACARRA: Yeah, it’ll be fun. I have all great things to say about the state of Oklahoma. It changed my life when I decided to go to Oklahoma State. I was an average player, and I became one of the best players in the world in amateur and college golf. It’s been fun for me. It’s a great journey. I love the fans over there. I love the people. They love golf. I expect a lot of crowds, I expect a lot of folks. Oklahoma State is huge, it’s big. I know there’s going to be some “Boomer Sooners,” but it’s so fun. I always have a great relationship with them. I think we’re great rivalry. It’s going to be fun. I can’t wait. Like I said before, it’s one of my two favorite weeks of the year. I’ve got Tulsa, Valderrama — obviously Valderrama, I’m Spanish and it’s always a dream to play against the Spanish people and crowd, but also Tulsa is like my second family. Oklahoma has always been great for me, and hopefully we’re going to have a good crowd, it’s going to be fun, and I know if I can play good, the people are going to be happy.
Q. With five OSU players in the field, who do you think will be the fan favorite?
EUGENIO CHACARRA: Well, I feel like all of them have been huge golfers and been great for Oklahoma and for Oklahoma State. I know all the fans love all of us. They love us all the same way. Talor Gooch is born there in Tulsa, so we’re expecting a lot of people for Talor, but I feel like Peter, Charles, Wolffy and me, we’ve all been doing great things for Oklahoma State. I know they’re going to try to follow us Oklahoma State guys, and hopefully one of us can be on top at the end of the week. I think that’s going to be very special for Oklahoma golf and will be very special for us. We all know we want to play there, and we’re all very happy for the opportunity LIV gave us to be playing golf in Oklahoma.
Q. What do you miss most about Oklahoma?
EUGENIO CHACARRA: Man, it just means a lot, the Oklahoma State family. I feel like the coaches, the tutors, all the staff that works there, and obviously my teammates. I feel like I had a great time there. It was so sad when I decided to leave, but they’re still family for life. Every time I have a week off or something else, I go back there to give the program what they gave me. I feel like I’m super grateful for what they did for me. I think they’re just the best program in the world. I think what they do for golfers and in my case for me is something that nobody will do.
My teammates, my coaches, my staff, the tutors and everyone out there, I feel like Oklahoma, Stillwater and Oklahoma is my second home, and I’m always really proud to say that. I’m going to be a Poke for life.
Matthew Wolff – Smash GC
Oklahoma State
Q. It’ll be a homecoming for you and the rest of the Oklahoma State gang. How excited are you about coming back?
MATTHEW WOLFF: I’m really excited to go back to Oklahoma. I think that there’s a few people from Oklahoma that went to college there, also that are from there, that are playing that week. I think the crowds are going to be great, and there’s not too many events that get to be brought to Oklahoma, so I’m sure they’re going to show out and be very excited.
Q. Can you tell us anything about Cedar Ridge Country Club?
MATTHEW WOLFF: I can’t, no. I’ve never played there, unfortunately. But I’ve heard it’s a really good course. All the courses that we’ve played on LIV have been great and really fun and in really good shape. I’m sure it won’t be an exception.
Q. Five OSU boys will be in the field; who do you think will be the crowd favorite?
MATTHEW WOLFF: Are you talking about like to win the tournament or just crowd favorite?
Q. Just crowd favorite.
MATTHEW WOLFF: Gosh, I don’t know, I’d probably have to go with me or Talor. I think Charles Howell, his wife is from there, from Kingfisher, Oklahoma, so maybe he’ll have some family out and stuff, but I think there will be a lot of Oklahoma State people out there, and like you said, five of us have been from Oklahoma State.
I’d like to say me or Talor, but they’re very good at showing love and keeping all of us in the family, so I’m sure they’ll spread the support mutually between all of us.
ABOUT LIV GOLF TULSA
Showcasing some of the sport’s biggest names, LIV Golf’s 12 teams are led by the likes of four-time major winner Brooks Koepka, reigning Open Champion Cameron Smith, World Golf Hall of Famer Phil Mickelson, two-time major winner Dustin Johnson, 2017 Masters champion Sergio Garcia and 2020 U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau. More than a quarter (13) of the league’s global field are major champions, with 24 major victories amongst them.
Fan festivities begin on Friday, May 12 at 9:30 a.m. local time when gates open to welcome guests of all ages to the variety of unique activations on site. Parking is free at Oral Roberts University with shuttle busses all three days in advance of the tournament’s 12:15 p.m. CT shotgun start on Friday and Saturday and noon start Sunday. Grounds passes for LIV Golf Tulsa start from $50 per day and are all-inclusive of the live music, fan activities, and world-class golf competition. Youth 12 years and under receive complimentary admission to the tournament as do active-duty military and veterans, in addition to a guest. In celebration of Mother’s Day, a special offer going on sale soon to receive four tickets for the price of three for Sunday, May 14, will allow moms to attend for free with family and friends.
There has been an update to the drop-off/pick-up point for all LIV Golf Tulsa tournament attendees planning to use rideshare services. The new location will be the Park Church of Christ at 10600 East 96TH Street, Tulsa, Friday – Sunday. Access from the rideshare point to the course will be via a 5-minute shuttle ride to the Garnett Road gate. Updated public maps are linked here for reference and media distribution: Course Map and Parking Map