MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 8, 2021

Adam Scott

Quick Quotes

Q. Apart from your old mate as an outlier, it was a tough day here. How do you feel about sort of scratching in at 2-over?

ADAM SCOTT: After the start, it wasn't so bad, but I just didn't hit enough good shots today really. Some poor shots from the middle of the fairway even, which on a tough day, you need to be kind of more taking advantage of those positions from the fairway and creating some opportunities, and I didn't. It was just a grind all day. I was never making momentum go my way.

Q. You said it was set up like 13 coming in. It's not a surprise then, given that Justin's pretty similar in the way he plays as you are, that he's nine in front. Does it surprise you at all that he was that far in front, though?

ADAM SCOTT: Well, you know, we've seen this on the back nine here before. The pin on 16 was in a position where you can really take advantage of it, and when you strike it as good as he does, if he puts some good strikes on it, he's going to be able to get it in there close, and he can get a roll going. That's the momentum I'm talking about, and when it's really going, you can shoot a good number out here. When it's not going, it seems like you're playing a different golf course.

Q. What we did see was a lot of swings too either way. So that must keep you in good stead going forward the next three days knowing that you can go deep here and otherwise can come back?

ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, you can make up a lot of ground with a good score. So I feel like I need a good score in the next two days to put myself in the mix. That's possible, but I've just got to do it. I mean, it's as simple as that.

Q. Anything specific that was worrying you out there that wasn't quite right?

ADAM SCOTT: Nothing was worrying me, no. Just sometimes it takes you a few extra holes to get settled, and didn't put it in play off the first two tee shots. I was on my back foot. Then it's a tough one. You can't afford to make any more mistakes after that. Otherwise, you're going really the wrong direction. So just trying to balance getting myself back on track and waiting for an opportunity to present itself, and it took a while for that to happen. That's Masters golf.

Q. Adam, you're +2 after your first round. How would you rate your day?

ADAM SCOTT: It was a bit scrappy. It was a tough start, and then I just grinded all day, managed to not shoot myself out of the tournament. So I need a good round in the next couple days to really put myself back in there.

Q. You seemed a little bit frustrated on the front nine, but talk us through those birdies on 13 and 15.

ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, well, I had to take advantage of some par-5s there, and I hit it in both fairways. That doesn't mean it's an easy birdie. I still hit some good shots on some good putts to get it done. When the greens are like this, you're just on high alert all the time. You're never in the hole until you're in the hole.

Q. Describe all the elements that are making it so tough out there.

ADAM SCOTT: Well, it's just the firmness of the greens. The rest is beautiful. I mean, we've had the most beautiful day. There was a little bit of wind for a short period of time, but it was nothing serious.

This course is all about firmness on the greens and creating angles, and if you take those angles away from yourself with a bad shot, it's very hard to recover.

Q. Marc Leishman says it currently reminds him of Royal Melbourne. Would you agree with that?

ADAM SCOTT: Certainly around the greens, it is. I mean, it's firm and fiery, and wedges are taking big bounces, and you have to be very precise.

Q. Very few players in the red. What's your strategy for tomorrow?

ADAM SCOTT: Well, just to move in the right direction. I mean, ideally just close a few shots on the lead, and if I get things going and the putts are falling, then you've got to run with it while you're hot around here, and you're just a good nine away from being right in the tournament.