Dallas preview: Cleeks GC in upbeat mood for Maridoe despite disappointing Chicago finish
CARROLLTON, Texas – Cleeks GC has a collective spring in its step heading into this week's season-ending Dallas Team Championship which will be contested on a very challenging, links-style Maridoe Golf Club layout.
Although the all-European combination experienced a disappointing finish on Sunday to LIV Golf Chicago, where they wound up seventh after starting the final round in a share of the team lead, they are in upbeat mood for this week.
The Cleeks are seeded eighth for LIV Golf's 2024 season finale and they will come up against the seventh-seeded Stinger GC in Friday's opening quarterfinal matches.
"We're feeling good," said 2023 DP World Tour Player of the Year Adrian Meronk, who joined LIV Golf just before the start of this season. "Everyone is playing well. We are excited for this week and ready to go full out there and see what happens. It's going to be an exciting tournament."
While Sunday's final round in Chicago was a frustrating one for the team, it was especially painful for Poland's Meronk who closed with a 74 after firing a sparkling 5-under 65 the previous day to help lift the Cleeks into a tie for the tournament lead with Crushers GC.
"I had a bad day on Sunday and didn't have my best on the golf course, but I think the boys still played pretty well," said the 31-year-old, who finished 17th in LIV Golf's season-long Individual Championship. "We know it's possible. It's out there, it's in us, so we have to just believe it. Play our game and enjoy it as much as possible, and anything can happen."
The Cleeks will face a strong challenge on Friday in the shape of the all-South African Stingers, who have two players - captain Louis Oosthuizen and Dean Burmester - who ended the 2024 regular season ranked in the top 10 in the points standings.
In the singles matches, Finland's Kalle Samooja will play against the long-hitting Burmester while Meronk will compete against Branden Grace. Meanwhile Cleeks captain Martin Kaymer and Richard Bland will take on Oosthuizen and Charl Schwartzel in the foursomes.
"It's going to be a tough match against the South Africans," said Kaymer. "They play some good golf. They have a lot of talent. They have a lot of success in their career already. But we feel very confident with our team. We had a win already this year, which is huge, and we have a great team spirit. At the end of the day, match play comes down to that, supporting each other. I believe we can do it."
While Meronk took some time to adjust fully to the unique LIV Golf environment and playing format, he has thoroughly enjoyed a debut season highlighted by the Cleeks' first team victory in Houston where he finished second by just one shot.
"This season has been up and down for me," said Meronk, who became the first player from Poland to win on the DP World Tour with a three-stroke victory at the 2022 Irish Open. "It was a lot of stress for me coming out here, so it took me a while to adjust.
"I have played some good tournaments, and Houston was my best one, but I'm just not happy with my consistency. I would like to have had more consistent performances throughout the year. Still, it's only the first year and I'm really enjoying being here. It's a great environment, and being part of the team also helps make it more entertaining and more enjoyable."
Meronk expects this week's venue, a par-72 links-style layout at Maridoe Golf Club, to provide a tough test for the players.
"It's a tricky golf course," said the 6ft. 6in. Pole. "You have to hit a lot of good shots, and there are a lot of doglegs. The greens are quite tricky, there's a lot of grain in them, and they are quite slopey.
"It's going to be quite interesting. I think it's a good golf course for match play. There are quite a few birdie opportunities there, so it's going to be a lot of fun."