MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 6, 2021

Joe Long

Quick Quotes

Q. Two days to go until the Masters. How are you feeling?

JOE LONG: Yeah, not too bad actually. I've had a good three days here, played nine on Sunday, nine yesterday and then nine today. In some great company the last three days, which has been awesome. I'm feeling pretty good. Not too bad.

Q. How are the nerves with the expectations and everything? Do you put any pressure on yourself?

JOE LONG: I try not to put pressure on yourself. Like a lot of guys I've played with, they just say how tough it is playing out there, how firm and fast those greens are, so you've got to kind of take some shots with a pinch of salt and not let it kind of get to you and just some acceptance of each shot that sometimes anything can happen. As long as you kind of play those shots the way you want to play them, that's all you can do.

It's a new experience for me. I haven't really played many courses like this before. Played a few in Australia, but it's all kind of new. Playing in front of people, as well, is a new experience, as well. Kind of just trying to soak it all in and keep progressing really.

Q. There's about 25 percent capacity, I think, of patrons, but for you that feels like a huge thing?

JOE LONG: Yeah, for sure. When I played the Amateur final last year, there was a lot of the R&A there and some cameras there but not many people, so it's kind of a new experience, but the people almost blend into one and you kind of just focus on what you're trying to do really.

Q. We've seen some great performances from previous amateurs, for example Viktor Hovland in 2019. Do you see that as inspiration for yourself?

JOE LONG: Yeah, yeah, sure. Anything is possible as an amateur. Kind of just got to do my own thing, play my own strengths and just stick to what I do best, not change anything this week, keep doing what I'm doing and just have trust in myself and self-belief. I've earned my right to be here at the end of the day, so just kind of trust myself there.

Q. Can you go into a little bit of detail how it was coming here and the things that really stay with you?

JOE LONG: Yeah, sure. So when I first arrived, it was actually almost two weeks ago, and I booked four practice rounds, which was great. The first day is kind of like a dream. To get to even come here is a pleasure, but to actually get to play the course is pretty amazing. So kind of taking in all my surroundings.

And then the second, third and fourth day, trying to suss the course out a little bit more. I've got a local caddie on the bag this week, Johnny Chance, and he's really helped me with the greens and all that stuff. They're so tough to read, being your first time here, so it's good to have him, his experience behind me, as well.

Just the history here, I got to stay in the Crow's Nest on Sunday. That's pretty special. Not many players get to do that. You see the players on the wall and the history behind it, it's so special. There's memories for life. Yeah, it means a lot to me.

Q. What's your history playing in tournaments in the U.S.?

JOE LONG: I've never actually played in the U.S. My first full 18 holes was actually at Augusta National, which is, yeah, pretty special.

Everyone is saying, yeah, it's probably just going to go downhill from here, so don't take anything too much. Yeah, that was good fun, though.

Q. What experience do you have with a field like this? Have you seen a field like this before? What have been your interactions?

JOE LONG: No. Yeah, just trying to pick their brains, and when they're staying it's tough out there and it's probably the most firm they've seen it, not to take too much shots to heart, and these guys are the best players in the world. I had the pleasure of playing with Fleetwood, Garcia and Ortiz yesterday, and picking Garcia's brains, and even he's kind of scratching his head at a few chip shots he's hit in, so I'm like, I've got nothing to worry about really.

So yeah, it's always great to kind of pick their brains and learn little things here and there, which is good.

Q. Can you tell us any advice you got from Garcia?

JOE LONG: You know, you kind of just always got to be mentally switched on and not get too aggressive. You've got to be aggressive at the targets you are picking, but holes like 11 you can't kind of aim it far enough right with your second. If the ball is above your feet, the last thing you want to do is go left. Even on that chip shot it's tough, but still you've just got to be sensible. If you're in the trees, don't get aggressive, lay up, because that's what goes down to the water. So you've always just got to be on your toes mentally. Little things like that, and just not get too frustrated.

Q. What's your favorite? Do you know any of them? Do you know your pairing already for Thursday?

JOE LONG: No, I haven't seen -- I don't know if tee times are out, are they? I haven't seen them yet. I'll take a look in a bit.

Q. When you played here the first time, what was your favorite hole?

JOE LONG: Ooh, that's a good question. I mean, I think the first tee shot is pretty special because I've always kind of like watched it on TV and actually the first hole looks quite a bit different when you get up to it and how those left trees come in. But probably the 12th, Amen Corner, that par-3 tee shot is just iconic. It just kind of looks amazing, so it's cool.

Q. Who's here with you?

JOE LONG: Just my dad this week, which is nice. It's good company.