MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 8, 2022

Patrick Reed

Quick Quotes

Q. Kind of glad to be done? It's starting to get pretty blustery out there.

PATRICK REED: It started blowing from the very beginning. Really, I mean, on the first hole it didn't feel like it was blowing that much until all of a sudden I saw how far the drive the 8-iron I hit that ended up going about 130.

Yeah, it was a challenge today. You had the wind pumping, and it was gusty and kind of swirling, and I think that's what makes this place so difficult is when it starts gusting. It's one thing if it stays consistent blowing 10, 15, 20. If it's just constant blow, that's fine. When you start getting areas where like 12, for example, today.

I hit in the water. I hit an 8-iron and overturned it left, and it went 133 yards. Seamus hit 8-iron and flew it boo into the back bunker right into the flag. It's kind of one of those things you have to figure out what gust it's going to hit and what direction it's going, and it just makes this place even harder. Especially with the greens getting a little firm ir. They're still relatively receptive, but they're going to keep on getting firmer as the day goes on.

Q. There are certain greens that are much firmer than other?

PATRICK REED: For sure. Certain greens are a little firmer. Certain greens are a little slower. 17 and 18. 18 I was on top. I was back edge of the green. I haven't seen anyone really leave that putt short that gets it down the hill. Not only did I leave it short, I left myself a 3.5-footer.

It's just stuff like that that you kind of know certain holes that you have to play a little more receptive. You have to play slower in the beginning of the day because with the weather coming in and the wind blowing, it's just going to bake them out. It's going to be interesting kind of seeing how this afternoon goes.

Q. So you are saying more the gusting and not the swirling of the wind that makes it --

PATRICK REED: It's both. Both makes it tough around here. That's the thing. You step on some of these holes, and you get in these little valleys in between some certain trees. The wind could be going one way, but then once it hits those trees, it turns, and you feel something completely different where you're at.

That's just what you have to expect when you are around here. You have to expect to get weird feelings on certain shots, but get comfortable knowing where it is. It was supposed to be west-southwest all day, and there was no way. There were certain parts of that golf course I swear felt completely different and played differently.

That's what makes this place fun is you have those kind of things. It makes it frustrating, but at the same time fun.

Q. With you and Kessler knowing this place kind of the way you guys do, of course, now --

PATRICK REED: For sure. Course knowledge is always a blessing around this place. I think the biggest thing is just you have to hit the ball solid. If you are making solid contact, the wind doesn't affect it quite as much. It's when you start mis-hitting shots is when it starts getting everywhere.

I felt like for the most part today the contact was where it needed to be. There's a couple of loose shots here and there, but it's just one of those things. I have to make a putt outside of 10 feet. I haven't done it yet this week, and nothing I can do.

Q. You are --

PATRICK REED: -- for the weekend.

Q. You're seven off the lead. How do you feel going into the weekend?

PATRICK REED: I feel good. I felt like yesterday I made a bunch of mental mistakes that a rookie around this place would have made rather than someone who has played here 1,000 times. It's just one of those things.

Today I felt like, besides, of course, hitting in the water on 12, if I were to step up on that tee again, I would hit the same club. There's no way from 154 yards that I'm going to go ahead and think that's a 7-iron. My full 8-iron goes 157 in the air, and it goes 133, and I pulled it, and it was left.

It was kind of one of those things that I felt like the decision-making today was solid. I felt like the execution was close. There's obviously a couple of shots I felt like I could have gotten back, but really I just need to get a little closer and make some putts. It's hard to win any golf tournament, nonetheless a major, with making zero putts outside 10 feet through two days.

Q. The honorary starters, they commented how moved they were by Hideki's speech that he learned. Just wondering your thoughts, and how good was the food?

PATRICK REED: The speech was unbelievable. For that to be his first speech or interview or anything in all English was amazing and to not have any paper, nothing. He looked at us all straight in the eye and gave that speech. It was amazing.

It just shows you how important it is to be a part of the group and a part of the champions where everyone can understand the speech and what he is saying. Then on top of it, who can go wrong with A5 ribeye? The food was top-notch from the beginning from the sushi and through the dessert.

At the same time, honestly, the food is always going to be great when you have great company. To be in a group with those guys and to hear the stories from guys around my time all the way to stories from guys like Mr. Player, Mr. Nicklaus, it's just unbelievable.