MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 7, 2022

Mike Weir

Quick Quotes

Q. You doubled the first hole, but then finished 2-over. That means you must be playing some pretty good golf. How did the day go?

MIKE WEIR: I played fine. Kind of got a little bit difficult near the end of the day with the wind bouncing around. Yeah, I missed some opportunities. With the wedges in my handy felt like I hit some really nice shots into 2, 8, 11, and 15 and just didn't convert those. I thought they were really going to be close to the hole, maybe tap-ins, and that's Augusta National. You get a little hard bounce, and next thing you know it's a 10-foot downhill slider and with a difficult putt.

Outside that, I played pretty well, but for me to score well around here, I have to convert my wedges, and I didn't do that today.

Q. There's not many low scores out there, so I imagine you have to be playing well to even come in where you did. Did you think you were playing that way before the tournament started?

MIKE WEIR: Yeah, I felt very confident. I felt good with my game, and it was unfortunate on the first hole to do that, but the rest of the day I played fine. I could have really gotten the ball -- could have gotten it under par today, which would have been great, but still, plus-2 at the end of the day won't be too far off. Someone might shoot 4, 5 under out there today, but all in all, I played pretty well.

Q. You look at the day right now compared to when you teed off. It's a bit different. How did the conditions change while you were out there, and if we're not getting any more rain, what do you think is in store for us?

MIKE WEIR: It changed a ton. With the heavy mist, the ball was going nowhere. It was just playing so long the first five or six holes. Then when it started to open up a bit, the 7-iron was going 150 yards early in the morning, and then it was going 175 yards. It was a big, big difference once the sun came out and that misty, heavy air got out of here.

Q. The turf conditions, how did they change?

MIKE WEIR: They're good. With as much rain as they've had the last two days, the course was great as usual. You're going to get a few mud balls. I had a couple of those. I had one on number 5, and I had a pretty good one on number 11 as well and 17 a little bit, but the one on 17 went straight, so that was good. The other two didn't so much, but everybody is going to get that out there.

Q. You played with Harrington, and I was thinking about the two of you, and you are two guys that have never really taken any time off from trying to get better with your game. Some guys in their 40s, mid-40s might take their foot off the gas and then put it back on, but it seems like the two of you are both guys that have been grinding from day one. What did you talk about? Do you feel the same way, and do you feel any sort of connection about your path in the game?

MIKE WEIR: Yeah. I have a ton of respect for Padraig. He has always worked very hard on his game. He continues to find ways to improve. He is a great guy. I enjoy playing with him. Every time we get a chance to play together, now that we're on the -- he just turned 50, so he has a few tournaments under his belt, and hopefully we'll get paired together some more, but always had a great time playing with Padraig.

Q. Champions dinner, how was that? Hears some reports that Jack said it was one of his favorites. Did you like it?

MIKE WEIR: Yeah, it was one of my favorites, too. It was just really special.

Q. Who were you chatting with?

MIKE WEIR: It was just very special. Hideki did a great job. English isn't his strong suit, but he did give a great speech in English. Gary Player spoke very well in Japanese, which we were all just blown away by. I guess he used to play quite a bit in Japan in his early days, so that was really cool to watch him do that and talk to Hideki in Japanese. Jack recalled his '86 Masters. It was great. It was lighter. It was a great, light atmosphere. Lots of stories being told. The food was great. Yeah, it was a great night.

Q. Did you think it was any lighter just sort of because it's been a while and sort of the things are opening up again and that's a good feeling in the air?

MIKE WEIR: I think so. The last couple of dinners we've had we've been spread out a lot manager. We, in fact, have been in the Founders Room, not in our normal room upstairs, so to get everybody back together, and then special to have Tiger back. It was just a great evening, as Jack said.

Q. What do you think about what Tiger has done? You have battled injuries. Very different injuries, but you've battled injuries too. What do you think of him out here today?

MIKE WEIR: It's wonderful for him, for the game of golf, for him to get back, and I think everybody in the champions locker room was super glad to have him back. The fans, obviously. Yeah, it's impressive. His work ethic and his battling back from adversity is really great and inspiring.

Q. Green pants, anything special for the event?

MIKE WEIR: Hey, it's Augusta, right. You've got to break out the green day one.