MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 11, 2021

Adam Scott

Quick Quotes

ADAM SCOTT: Well, I think the biggest story is Hideki. He would be huge to be the first Japanese male to win a major. You know, he's got such a big following every week, no matter how he plays anyway, I think he'd become the superstar of Japan if he isn't already.

But I don't think he really feels the weight of expectation like we all kind of can see what it would mean for Japan and golf over there. I think he will do well today.

Q. By comparison, did you feel the weight of expectation? There was a lot of expectation when you did what you did, from a country.

ADAM SCOTT: Well, yeah. It was a different position. I mean, yeah, when I was in the playoff, it was -- now it's really just me and Angel, and I wasn't teeing off with the lead, I didn't have to sleep thinking about it, and luckily for me the way it all panned out I didn't really think about winning much on Sunday on the course. It's a little bit different position for Hideki, but I don't think he's processing much of that, which should be to his advantage today.

Q. If I remember right, at Muirfield you kind of got the duties to take him around Muirfield that year, didn't you, the Presidents Cup?

ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, yeah, I've played a lot with him.

Q. He was about 12, 13 or something like that?

ADAM SCOTT: That's right.

Q. What was he like? What was he like when he bring him along out there?

ADAM SCOTT: Well, I mean, it's pretty easy to kind of guide talented players. Not that I really guided him, but I was just there if he needed anything. I just had to tell him to quit hitting me over the backs of greens that week at Muirfield. I want to be under the hole. Because he's good, he can do it.

You know, he was really -- I found back then he was really interested to learn everything he could. Obviously because of his limited English, that may have been a bit trickier for him, but I've had some dinners with Hideki and his old caddie back then, and we've partnered a lot in the Presidents Cup, and I've talked to Bob a fair bit over the years.

You know, hopefully he can put everything he's learnt into use today. I mean, they're all tough. The first one, the second one, whatever it's going to be, it's going to be tough, but he's in a great spot, and I think if anyone kind of has the blinkers on, it's Hideki, is my opinion on that.

Q. You've spent some time in Japan. How golf-mad are they? Can you quantify that?

ADAM SCOTT: Actually I play the Japan Open every year, and I convinced Hideki to play one year, and they paired myself, Hideki and Ryo together the first two days, and it was like teeing off -- it reminded me of teeing off at Torrey Pines 1, 2 and 3 in the world back in '08. Hideki and Ryo are superstars, and Hideki ended up winning that tournament. I didn't get much thanks for convincing him to play, but that's okay.

But he's a bit like a Tiger Woods to the rest of the world, Hideki in Japan.

Q. Can you talk about his maturation as a player since you first shepherded him around Muirfield in 2013?

ADAM SCOTT: Well, he's obviously developed a lot. He's continued to win, and he's won at least one world golf event, I believe, if not two -- did he win two or just one? You know, I think he's -- just looking in from the outside over the last year or so, I think he's done some nice work on his game. This week watching some highlights, he looks very fluid, looks like he's worked on his swing a little bit, and certainly his putting.

You know, going through -- I think he goes through his process very well and seems to have a pretty level head on his shoulders as far as I can see.

Q. Is there a question he asked you early on that kind of showed that desire to learn from people that you remember, something maybe other 19-, 20-year old players wouldn't have thought to ask a veteran player?

ADAM SCOTT: Nothing really stands out. I think he was interested in the whole picture. He was interested in what I was kind of eating and what I was -- which wasn't anything special. And how I was training, and back then how Steve and I were working together. Obviously at that time I was playing some of my best golf. I think he was more interested at that point.

But no, I would say just someone who's got a desire to do well is what it looked like. He wasn't afraid to ask the questions, and I think that shows. As timid as some people can be, the desire to do well overshadows the language barrier or being shy or anything like that.

Q. How would you describe his personality?

ADAM SCOTT: That's a hard one to sum up. I mean, I think he's quite an intense character, actually, even though we don't really see that. I mean, and obsessive about his game.

Q. If he wins, do you think he'll say something different than we haven't seen before?

ADAM SCOTT: I have no idea. No, it would be fabulous to see. I really don't know.

Q. Why do you think the magnitude of the moment hasn't gotten to him yet, or might not?

ADAM SCOTT: I think partly his personality. I think he's really living in his own world a bit, and partly the language barrier he has over here. I think he probably knows a little more English than he lets on, but it's easy for him to kind of put the blinkers on and really not get distracted by much noise.

You had to laugh, like they interviewed him after his round yesterday, and in the rain delay he watched something on his phone in the car for an hour. Goodness knows what he was watching, but probably not many other guys out here were sitting in the car, they were standing around talking with the caddies or something like that I can imagine.

Q. What would be like -- if he wins here, they do have the Olympics in Japan, and from what I understand the crowd is going to almost only be Japanese because of all of the COVID --

ADAM SCOTT: Well, it'll be like it is normally for him, but more exciting. The crowds in Japan are fanatical is the best way I can describe them. It makes for an incredibly fun energy to play golf in front of. They love the game, and they love the superstars going over there, and if Hideki were to win the Masters -- I remember I took the green jacket over there in '13 when I went, and it was an incredible response I got, so I can only imagine what Hideki will experience.

Q. Are you going to stay here until the end, and if you are, will you be behind him doing a fist pump?

ADAM SCOTT: I'm staying for a bit longer, so we'll see. If he's in the hunt, I would consider coming back for sure later in the evening. But some of those things -- I don't like jinxing it, so I'd rather leave and have him win than hang around and come back and then something go wrong, and you don't want to preempt anything, let it unfold, but I'll certainly be keeping an eye on it later this afternoon.

Q. If it was him, just talk a little bit about your relationship with Marc?

ADAM SCOTT: No, I'd be so happy if Leish were to win. He's a hell of a good guy, and he's a really gritty player, and he's been close here and he's been close in other majors, and I'd certainly welcome the Australian company up there in the champions' locker room and at the dinner.

You know, well deserved. He's a grinder, and he's got a lot of guts, so I think that'll hold him in good shape today.

Q. He's contended here before. Is there anything about Augusta National that suits his game specifically, besides being a very good player?

ADAM SCOTT: I think the green complexes suit his short game very much. He's a good player tee to green like almost everyone, but he's really good around the Sand Belt in Melbourne. MacKenzie did a lot of them, MacKenzie did these greens. I think his creativity, and he's a really good putter. He holes out well from, whatever, 10 feet and in.

If that happens today, if he holes all those putts you hope to make, then I think he's a big chance.

Q. He hit that shot behind 4 the other day with a 5-iron. You look at it on the highlight, it looked like a putt.

ADAM SCOTT: Yeah. I spoke with Nick Faldo about it earlier in the week, and he kind of cringes at all of us chipping with 60-degrees and putting it in the back of the stance and we've got 100 foot of green and we use all this loft. You catch it slightly thin and you're 20 feet short all the time, and he just thinks, when are we ever going to learn. But Marc knows -- he grew up playing on the ground around the Sand Belt, and although you don't get that option every time here, there are certainly times where you need to know how to run it up through the fringe. I think that's right in his wheelhouse. And then again, he doesn't have to chip it stiff because he's a great putter from in close. He's generally a great putter, I think, but certainly holes out well.

Q. The picture of you, not the perfect one, but on the green, Leish is in the background, is that prominent anywhere in your --

ADAM SCOTT: Yeah, yeah. I have that at home framed with the other one. But yeah, I wrote a message to Leish about that. It's an incredible gesture. But it was a big thing for all the Aussies for all those years, I think. We all felt it, and there was a good opportunity right then. And Matty, his caddie, as well. He was there, too. Just with the one New Zealander on the green was the problem. (Laughter.)

Q. I know you're a strong iron player. Is there anything that makes Hideki a strong iron player year in and year out?

ADAM SCOTT: He's got a good technique, and I think he practices a lot. He gets the repetition up, and he practices a lot, and it's amazing because the amount of times you see him one-hand a follow-through to 15 feet makes me cringe because I'd like a bit of that. But he's got really a strong technique. I think he knows his own fundamentals very well, and he doesn't stray much from it, even -- we're all doing things to try and get better, but I don't think his swing looks like it's changed drastically over the years.