MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 4, 2022

Collin Morikawa

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, everybody. Good to see you all.

I'd like to welcome you, Collin, back to Augusta again for your third Masters.

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Thank you.

THE MODERATOR: And to congratulate you, also, for your great 2021, you know, beginning, of course, with Royal St. George, you were also at the Olympic Games, did well, did well in The Ryder Cup and The Race to Dubai, a lot has happened.

You've had eight competitive rounds here in competition over the last couple of Masters. What have you learned about the course and your game on this course?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: I think the biggest thing is -- I say it a lot, but it's true here -- is I need to play my game. You hear how much you need to hit draws and you have to hit it high and you have to do certain things, but that's what I did wrong the past two years. Pretty much my week prep two years ago and last year was how do I hit a draw, how do I hit a high draw, how do I do this.

This year was a little different. This year I just made sure everything was finely tuned and I go out there and figure out how to play the course to my strengths. And that's the biggest thing that I've learned I think overall. Speed and putting is going to be really key out here. You can't be hitting things three feet, five feet, six feet by and three-putting. There's just shots you're going to give away that a lot of guys who are going to be near the top of the lead aren't going to do for the week.

Q. Can you tell me, what is your first Masters memory as a fan?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Probably watching Tiger's '97 win. For me, I would say that's my first actual memory. I think going back, the most memorable, like everything I remember, where I was, everything, was probably 2019 when Tiger won. I was in college. We were sitting all together, we were watching it. I mean, that Sunday was booked out to do nothing other than watch TV.

And that's like really special because normally I'll watch with the parents, be home on a Sunday, and you watch the late half of the back nine, even a little bit parts of the beginning, but you just have it on.

I'm not really zoned in on focusing on every shot, but 2019 was where we were all just glued to the couch and glued to the TV.

Q. Were you in a dorm room? Do you remember where you were?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: We had a bunch of guys on the golf team that rented a house, and we were right there. So I lived with my roommate a block away, so we'd go there every day. But it was just we set up as many chairs, couches, everything. We had a massive TV I think they bought off -- I don't know where they bought it, but I'm glad it worked.

Q. Your overall impressions -- I know you played this morning -- of what you saw on the golf course and some of the changes to the golf course. There are several, greens and also maybe specifically the 11th hole.

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Well, I haven't played 11 yet. I did kind of 10 and then hopped to 15.

I think the biggest thing is actually seeing how firm this course is. This is probably the best shape I've seen it in over the past two years that I've played.

I mean, look, the first one I played was in November, and it wasn't -- I think we can all agree it wasn't like the best and tiptop of what Augusta really wanted or what we could have seen.

But so far today, I mean, it's as good as it can be. And, you know, I know there's some rain and I know there's some weather in the forecast, but if they can somehow cover it up -- this is the first time I've seen roll in the fairways.

The past two Masters, I've worried about mud balls -- maybe that's a bad word to say here. But it's true. When I played 15, the tees were back and the wind was kind of helping, but I got more roll than I've seen ever.

And it's kind of cool to see the course like that because you really have to pinpoint and play your way out here strategically with all the slopes and really, you know, making sure you miss in the right spots.

Q. What did you have into 15?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: I was behind the left trees, which I moved one out, and we were 225 to the back pin. That's up there with where I was the past would years just because I got that bounce. But if you get rain and they soften up, who knows where the wind and everything will play out.

Q. I thought your opening answer was interesting about playing your game to fit the golf course, or rather, taking your game and playing the golf course as it is. If you're going to say what your game is, what would that be? How would you actually describe that in terms of shot shapes or things of that nature?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: In a small package, it's just really hitting cuts and hitting fairways. That's as simple as it gets. Those are my strengths. Irons are my strength. How do I stick to that.

I remember when I came in November, other than 1, 2 I tried hitting a draw for no reason. You don't have to hit a draw. 3 I tried hitting a draw, which makes no sense. 5, I played it out right. 7, I tried to hit a draw. 9 I tried to hit -- so that's more draws than I hit the entire year off tee shots, right.

And really 10 and 13 are the only ones I need to move right-to-left. The other ones I can neutralize it and have it maybe fade a little bit less. But that was my issue. I've slowly worked my way out to where now I can just show up and feel comfortable on what tee shots I need to hit actual draws versus let's hit it a little straight to a five-yard cut.

Q. How did you come to that conclusion? Was it a moment or conversation with Rick after last year's Masters?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: No. It was just frustration of me missing a bunch of tee shots and thinking -- I was pretty much starting the hole uncomfortably. If I'm on 2 -- give 2, for an example. I need to hit 2 pretty neutral. But if I'm on 2 trying to hit a draw -- and I feel very uncomfortable hitting a draw. I never hit a draw driver. Ever. The only time is Sony on 18, but I'm trying to hit a 40-yard hook. Like it's just not natural for me to do that.

Doesn't mean I can't play it, but when you're over a shot and you want to hit a fairway, and I can play it to my strength, why not? It doesn't mean you have to play it out on 2, right in the bunker and bring it in. I can play it a little closer to the trees, trust the cut and just play from there.

Q. How old were you when you first developed that shot shape?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Going into college from high school, I was probably still hitting draws to neutralizing it out. Freshman year was pretty straight, and by end of freshman year into sophomore year was when everything worked its way to hitting cuts, yeah.

Q. Talking about how you played, what's the level of frustration when that's over and you've realized maybe it was just a bad decision, not necessarily you played bad, and then what's the level of anticipation coming into this, this week?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: It's always exciting whenever you show up to these majors, right. You want to be playing well, and you want to be playing great for the four days when you tee it up.

The frustrations are more like giving away shots to the field. And it's not like I made a bad decision here or there, because, I mean, I don't think I was ever near the lead the past two years, but it's like, okay, we can get near the lead if we can just stop making these mistakes.

And that's the biggest thing is three-putting, hitting tee shots in places I normally don't, missing them in places that I really shouldn't. You have to drive it pretty well out here, but you can get away with a little bit here or there on some holes. And I was just making it so much tougher because I was trying to hit these shots that, you know, aren't my go-to shots.

Q. Using 15 as an example, can they move a tee back 15 or 20 yards and really have that much of an impact on you guys and the decisions you'll ultimately make?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Yeah, I mean, for me, I think if the wind -- just the wind today was downwind, so that helps. But if it's straight in the wind, instead of 220, I might have 240, and if you're 240 with a hard, firm green, you're going to think about it. You are 100 percent going to think about it. It's not like the lay up is easy. The second shot to lay up is easy because you have a wide fairway, but it's not like the wedge shot is easy, either.

Yeah, it's going to make guys think. I'm right in the middle of distance, I think. And if guys were hitting 6-irons before and now they might have a 5- or 4-iron into the wind, it's going to make you think. It just all depends on how much roll. Because like today, I hit it the same distance today, even though I teed it up all the way back, than I did in the tournament for the two years. But during the tournament, into the wind, soft.

So, you know, it 100 percent makes a difference.

Q. Is it one of the greatest decision-making holes out here that you guys face, do you think?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Out on TOUR? That's a loaded question. I'm going to pass on that.

Q. Why is it loaded?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Yeah, you do have to think about it, but a lot of holes -- nothing is coming to mind right now.

Q. With the stature of the tournament more than anything --

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Like coming down a line on 15? I mean, I guess. But it's not going to make me change on how I play it. Yeah, I'm not answering your question (laughter).

Q. Just curious, have you actually -- do you remember a time sitting down and watching the full three hours of the '97 Masters broadcast?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: No.

Q. Highlights?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: No. I'll say it again, history of golf kind of goes in one ear, comes out the other, goes in the eyes, exits somewhere.

I remember shots -- quick story. We were on 18 today, and J.J. is like, Oh, you want to hit Mark's putt? And I'm like, Mark O'Meara's putt? I saw him last week and I talked to him a bunch, and he's been a great friend and someone I can just talk to about golf. And I was like, What putt? I had no clue which putt he had to win the Masters. So he drops the ball, and he's like, Oh, I thought you would have known. I was like, No, I have zero clue.

As it comes to those things, I mean, I had to ask J.J. today on 10. I was like, Did Adam Scott -- like the putt we always see Adam Scott win, was that on 10 or 18?

It's bad.

Q. The changes to 11, what have those brought out in the hole?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: I haven't played it. Couldn't say.

Q. I'm fighting to consider to ask you this question because I'm from the same town, La Cañada?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Let's go.

Q. I have two boys that go to the same college as you. My question is a little weird. Hero, last round, maybe a lot of people ask you about that, right.

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Actually, no.

Q. Well, I'll be the first one, okay. Do you really -- everybody has a bad round, you know, golfer, pros, amateurs. Does anything World Ranking-related on your mind bother you a little bit for that bad round?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: I mean, I knew what was on the line.

Q. So there was something -- you did thought about it; right?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: It's there, yeah. I think if anyone says no, they are lying to you --

Q. Thank you very much. That was a very good answer. I really appreciate it. And are you getting married?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Yes.

Q. And my friend said, boys want to get married, their games start get rusty. Ladies, when they get married, they win majors. You worry about that? Or it was a bad question; you prefer not to answer?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: I mean, no, I'm not worried.

Q. I've heard you say this before several times. Why, when you have been so steeped in a sport as you have and so successful, do you know so little about it, the history of it? Although, you've always been quite open about saying, you just said just now, it went in one ear and out the other. Why is that?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Things just don't stick in my head. Like, yeah, I don't know, it's not like I don't respect it -- and don't take it the wrong way, like I respect the sport fully.

I just want to win. I want to be out here. I want to make history. I want to remember -- I've said it before, sometimes I don't have memory -- go back to The Open. People are asking me, What's your earliest memory? I really didn't have one. I just love playing the game.

For me, history, it's something that I respect everything that has been in the past and I want to learn from those guys, I love seeing it, but it's just, I don't know, maybe I have other things taking up space in my head.

Q. But when you are not playing, surely you looked at golf stuff and thought about it and other people talked to you about it.

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Yeah, but I need to separate myself when I'm out here. If golf surrounded my entire life, I would be done. It would be frustrating to be out here because it would just be so tiring.

But every time I have an off-week, I have to step away. You have to put your mind on other things. You've got to do other things.

I mean, that's the biggest thing, if I have want to have a long career, is that if is golf 24/7 and I go study everything and watch everything and remember everything, that's just not how my head works. Movies, songs, they just -- I can't remember a single title. I mean, I can't remember what I watched two weeks ago. That's just how I work, I'm sorry, yeah.

Q. Is it almost beneficial in a way? You're not weighted by the history of this guy made this putt or this shot there; you're almost in a Zen-like, in-the-moment sort of trance?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: What happens in a place like Augusta, you show up for your first time and that's what happens with a lot of people. They are like, oh, man, this happened here, this happened here. To be honest when I showed up, I was like, okay, here we go. Let's go play golf at Augusta National.

Yeah, there are certain shots here and there that you want to see and have people recreate them and a bunch of putts on 18. But for the most part, like yeah, I guess it could be beneficial. But sometimes that takes over the week and your prep. Normally those are -- when it's the first time you're playing a tournament, you show up and you're just overwhelmed with things.

But this is the first year that I've, you know, fully had everything here. I mean, I'm in a different locker room. I've got a bunch -- there's a bunch of fans out there. But it's actually narrowed my focus. This place is so big size-wise that when you see a lot more people out there, it actually helps. It just puts me in a lot different perspective of -- versus, you know, November when I'm one person out there and you only have 90 players or whatever and you just feel so small out there. It just feels like the course overwhelms you. When there's fans, it's nice.

Q. We know you didn't ask Mark O'Meara about his putt, but have you talked to him about the course; past champions have interesting insights. Have you talked to him about this place?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Yeah, a lot of our conversations kind of stem around Augusta.

It just comes down to putting. He was the reason why I switched in the first place to go to that saw grip. But just little tidbits on, you know, coming out here and just prepping a little bit differently on these greens.

When they are this fast on Monday with how much slope they are, you have to be smart. You can't give away shots, and that's the biggest thing.

Q. After such a spectacular year last year and a strong, strong fall, seems like you've had trouble regaining momentum this year. Is there something that concerns you more than others as you get here this week?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Have I had trouble? I'm asking you. I don't know, I feel good.

Q. I haven't had a chance to come out and see you play, I'm not sure.

COLLIN MORIKAWA: No, it's a fair question. In 2021 at the beginning of the year, people are like, oh, how are you going to follow up 2020. You just go out and play golf.

And what's crazy is that my prep starting at THE PLAYERS through Valspar and WGC, my prep has been better than anything, anything I've ever done. And then when I show, I'm not making birdies and I'm not hitting my shots, so that's why it was frustrating. But I feel like it's small things and I'm really close.

I don't know, this is my almost third year in as a professional golfer and with COVID, it's hard to compare this season to this season, and you're not winning by this or doing this. You can't compare it like that because you're going to have ups and you're going to have downs and you're going to figure out when you're playing well and when you're not. I don't think that's a fair comparison. You can ask me that at the end of the year and see what happened.

From my perspective, yeah, the results haven't been there but we're close and that's what's exciting I feel good and you just keep moving on.

Q. You've had a lot of success early in your career. Has that changed your expectations for yourself at all?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Yeah, the standards have gone up and the standards sometimes are a little too high and they end up hurting me rather than helping me when you're out on the golf course. You know, I feel like I should eight an 8-iron to ten feet every single time, but, you know, it just doesn't happen. There are times that that happens.

But the biggest thing for me is just keep getting better. Like how do I keep figuring things out, learning small little things.

But at the end of the day what I have realized over the past month is I just need to go out and play golf. Like there are so many guys that think about so much. And yeah, it works one week, works this other week. But, like, just get in the ball in the hole. Figure out how to get it into the hole.

Q. What's the standard this week then?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: I mean, it's high. It's always to win, right. But I've actually taken it down a notch from what PLAYERS and from what Valspar was like where I felt so good, and then those standards went up to just this week, like let's go find a way to make birdies. Like find a way to play golf, and whatever it is, it is.

But, like, don't just hope that we're going to hit it perfect and we're going to hit every putt perfect and things not go your way.

Q. I don't know if you saw it but Bryson did a video are with the Dude Perfect guys at Amen Corner with All Sports Golf. I don't know if you caught that. Are you familiar with what that is?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: Yeah, I did not watch the video. I saw the announcement on that.

Q. When you think of this place and when you think of what those guys do, it doesn't necessarily mesh. At 16, I saw you guys skipping balls. Is this place maybe not quite as buttoned down as maybe you thought it was when you got here a couple years ago?

COLLIN MORIKAWA: I can't even wear shorts yet. Maybe next year.

What the Dude and Bryson are trying to do are reach a different audience. I didn't realize Augusta and the Masters had to reach a different audience; I think the audience is there. But it does, right. I don't know how the video turned out but I'm sure it has plenty and plenty of views because they have a different audience of kids, and the teams watching them that play a bunch of sports.

So as it relates to how buttoned up Augusta is, I mean, you know, I still walk on my toes around here and make sure I'm not breaking any rules. I almost kind of jogged down 1 because I was talking to one of the girls at 1 yesterday, I saw her watching on the ropes, and I had to quickly remind myself not to run.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you very much. We wish you the best of luck this week at Augusta National. Play well.