In a surprising twist this week in the world of golf, Laurie Canter emerged as the unexpected answer to a trivia question over in South Africa. Although the 35-year-old golfer from England faced defeat in a sudden-death playoff against the local contender Dylan Naidoo during the DP World Tour’s Investec South African Open, he still secured a significant career milestone by breaking into the top 50 in the Official World Golf Rankings. This achievement paves the way for Canter to potentially tee off at The Players Championship in just a couple of weeks. The PGA Tour traditionally extends invitations to the top 50 players on the OWGR list.
If Canter takes part in the showdown at TPC Sawgrass, he will achieve a notable distinction as the inaugural former LIV Golf member to grace a PGA Tour event that’s neither a major competition nor a collaborative event such as the Genesis Scottish Open. Delving into Canter’s background, he was part of the Cleeks during the first season of LIV Golf back in 2022, and he played a reserve role in 2023, with his last appearance on the LIV circuit being in February at LIV Las Vegas.
Just last month, Canter claimed victory at the 2025 Bahrain Championship, which catapulted him to third place in the Race to Dubai standings. Earlier, he had secured a commendable third place at the Hero Dubai Desert Classic, an event where Tyrrell Hatton reigned supreme this past January.
Looking back at Canter’s previous season on the DP World Tour, he achieved six top-25 finishes and clinched a win at the European Open in June. In an interesting turn of events, Canter found himself in a tie with Naidoo as they dominated the leaderboard after 54 holes. Unfortunately, due to inclement weather causing a cancellation of the final round, the contest boiled down to a sudden-death playoff. Naidoo seized the opportunity, claiming his first DP World Tour victory with a birdie.
Now, with his runner-up finish, Canter positions himself as the trailblazer among former LIV players securing eligibility for the PGA Tour’s marquee event. The tour enforces a one-year waiting period post-LIV participation, and with that time now elapsed, Canter’s impressive OWGR position grants him entry into TPC Sawgrass, carving a remarkable footnote in golf history.
For more insights on golf and beyond, connect with Josh Schrock, Golf.com Editor, and lifelong golf enthusiast. When not reporting, Josh enjoys conquering hiking trails in Oregon and rooting for his favorite football team, the Oregon Ducks.
