MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 4, 2022

Corey Conners

Quick Quotes

Q. Tell me about your trip coming in.

COREY CONNERS: You know, it's a thrill to be back here. I think every time you're here, it puts a smile on your face. Yeah, I've played a lot of golf lately. Took it fairly easy today. Just wanted to see the course and feel some of the shots. Learned what I could from Mike, and yeah, just get -- looking forward to a good week.

Q. Any delay coming in?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, finished yesterday in San Antonio, took a flight last night. It was kind of always the plan.

Yeah, planned to really take almost the day off, but weather forecast tomorrow doesn't look great, so wanted to make sure I could see some holes at least in case that doesn't happen tomorrow.

Q. Glad to have played the back nine today because of the two changes on 11 and 15?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I wanted to see how those holes had changed. I feel they play fairly similarly. The tee shot on 11 looks a little wider maybe. But a few changes around the green. It was nice to feel a few shots there, and then 15 obviously lengthened a little bit. It's going to be tough to hit irons into that green.

Q. On 11, what kind of strategy were you thinking of?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I don't think my strategy changes after seeing the hole, obviously trying to hit it in the fairway and then looking to place it in the middle of the green. I think the right side is a little more penalizing on the green, but it's a long hole and difficult approach shot.

Q. That's not the first time as you've mentioned you've played with Mac and Mike. How special is it still?

COREY CONNERS: It's amazing. I smile thinking about it. Mac and I are obviously great friends, we grew up playing together, both grew up idolizing Mike, and being able to walk around out here with him is really special.

Q. Is he still giving tips?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, yeah, I'm keeping an eye on what he's doing, asking a few questions here and there. I've been fortunate to play with him a number of times around here over the last number of years and feel like I've learned a lot from him, and I'm sure there's a lot more I can learn.

Q. What was the best piece of advice he gave you?

COREY CONNERS: I think just some angles that he likes and the reasons he likes them on a couple of the par-5s if you lay up. You know, just some creative short game shots around the green, some creative lines on some putts.

Q. Any number in mind for the first rounds?

COREY CONNERS: You know, just going to go trust my game, try and play with some freedom and see what happens. I'm not exactly sure what the conditions will be like. We'll see if the course softens up the next few days with some rain. Just play my game, try and be smart but take advantage of opportunities when I get them.

Q. When did you get in and --

COREY CONNERS: I got in late last night from San Antonio. Yeah, slept in a little bit this morning, played with my little daughter Reese, hung around, saw a few family members who made the trip down, took it easy, came out this afternoon for the back nine.

Q. Your game has been in good shape recently. Around here you're probably not worried about your game as much as learning as much as you can?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I feel like I've prepared really well the last number of years and have some good memories, some good notes. I'll definitely draw on those times in my preparation this year and feel like I've got a pretty good handle on the course. I know what my strategy is going to be on pretty much every hole, know where you're trying to hit it at least, and that's definitely important.

Q. Did you pick up any tips from Mike around here today?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, you always watch him, what he's doing, some of the shots he's hitting, his creativity around the greens, seeing some slopes that you maybe wouldn't see on a few longer putts, using slopes to hit it by the hole and maybe it comes back to the hole. Yeah.