MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 8, 2021

Webb Simpson

Quick Quotes

Q. Do you feel like you were on the edge?

WEBB SIMPSON: Yeah. You're talking about my scoring?

Q. Yes.

WEBB SIMPSON: Yes, I feel like I left a lot out there. We were just talking about it. It's a good feeling. It's disappointing to only get 2 under. I had 25 feet for eagle on 2, made par. Three-putted 5. Then, obviously, 16, hit it in the water.

So good news is I feel like the game is really there, and it's a firm, dry golf course. So I don't want it over, but I look back on this round, and though a couple shots sting, I'm really happy with the way I played.

Q. Webb, how critical is it for you to get off to a good start like you did today?

WEBB SIMPSON: It's huge, especially when we have a golf course like this. Today's a day where I think there's going to be some high scores. Guys are going to shoot themselves out of the golf tournament on day one. I knew it would be tough today. I didn't know it would be -- we'd be dealing with gusty winds like we were. But I'm very happy. I don't think we'll see guys kind of run away with it today at all. So very happy.

Q. Webb, how challenging to select a club on a day like today with the firmness of the greens and the winds swirling?

WEBB SIMPSON: It was hard. A hole like 14, I haven't had this feeling in a while, but I had a 9 iron in the middle of the fairway, and I did not think I could hit the green. Straight downwind, and you obviously can't land a short there, and I landed it two yards short of the hole, and sure enough, it went over the green.

We're going to see more of that, I think, unless we get rain tomorrow. But there's certainly -- you guys can see it, especially 9 and 18 up here on the hill. The greens are starting to brown out a lot.

Q. Is it as difficult as you can remember it being on a Thursday?

WEBB SIMPSON: For sure. I think it's been five years at least from last time I remember it being this firm, but it's fun. I think this golf course is more fun this way because you really have to think, you really have to use the slopes. You can put yourself in some really bad spots.

Q. On a scale of 1 to 10, as far as 10 being the toughest, where do you think it is right now?

WEBB SIMPSON: I think they were smart today. The greens actually weren't as fast as they can be. So I think they have some room to make it quicker. I think they're just waiting to see what the rain does. It's definitely as firm as I can remember it and as firm as they could probably get it, to be honest with you.

You know, we're seeing balls release 15 yards with 9 irons and 8 irons. So, yeah, they have a little room to go. I think they're just waiting to see what happens tomorrow.