MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 4, 2022

Talor Gooch

Quick Quotes

Q. Talk about how you're seeing the golf course right now and how it's playing.

TALOR GOOCH: It's pure. I know that sounds very generic, but it's pure. The greens, I know we've got some rain coming in. I hope it doesn't rain as much as they're saying because the greens have a firmness to them right now that could make it a really, really good test this week. So hopefully some of that rain will stay away.

Q. Did you come here prior to play at all?

TALOR GOOCH: About six weeks ago, I came for a couple days to play with Max.

Q. Was it good to kind of scout it out and see for the first time?

TALOR GOOCH: Yeah, it was my first time playing it, so for me, it was good to -- obviously it's a bucket list thing, but it was nice to have a couple days of kind of getting the stargazing out of the way where, once I showed up here, it could really be a work week and I'm not kind of in awe the whole time.

So it was nice to have a couple days to get the stargazing out of the way and come here and get to work.

Q. You haven't competed here before but just get your thoughts. The change there to 11, I know they told you about it. What are your thoughts on that?

TALOR GOOCH: I think it's great. I don't have any reference prior to what it was just seeing it on TV, but I think it plays great.

When I was here about six weeks ago with Max, he stepped on the tee, and he goes, the greatest stretch of golf begins now. So that kind of sums it up, I feel.

Q. How was it out there with fans? I know you came a few weeks ago, but having the patrons out here, how does that kind of feel?

TALOR GOOCH: So my freshman and sophomore year at Oklahoma State, we played Augusta State's tournament and came on Monday. It's just cool to be on the other side of the ropes for this now.

Q. Last time we talked, you had qualified for St. Andrews.

TALOR GOOCH: Yes, sir.

Q. Now you're here. Big year?

TALOR GOOCH: Oh, absolutely. Once I knew that I was going to be in all the majors for this year, for me it's tough to beat the venues obviously. Augusta, obviously St. Andrews, and then the PGA is in my home state. Then the U.S. Open is a place where I played a U.S. Am at.

For me, just the four of them, it's a beautiful thing.

Q. At Arnold Palmer the issues were different. Do you feel like you're prepared for anything after that?

TALOR GOOCH: Yeah, this course is so different than what we're playing on a week-to-week basis. There's not much to compare it to. I think obviously having played it in tournament conditions for guys, the experience is a big thing out here, but at the end of the day, it's still golf. Get below the hole and try to make birdies and try not to make bogeys.

It's in great shape. It's a great test. Like I said, hopefully the rain stays away a little bit, so we can get maybe not quite Arnold Palmer firmness, but something that's going to make it challenging.

Q. Are you surprised that Tiger is here and possibly is going to play this week?

TALOR GOOCH: Yes and no. Nothing he does -- I mean, we all know his determination. We all know his competitive nature. We all know this is what he loves to do. So it's not surprising, but it's still surprising at the same time. To know where he came from and obviously what he went through, it's just a testament to his drive and determination.