MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 8, 2022

Viktor Hovland

Quick Quotes

Q. Even though you're trying to beat him, is it still a thrill to see Tiger out here doing his thing?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, it's pretty incredible. I'm sure everyone else has touched on it. It's pretty miraculous he's out here playing and playing pretty well as well.

Q. In your mind, what makes Tiger Woods, Tiger Woods?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I mean, we're so used to seeing him winning, and I mean I feel like even now, when he's maybe not on his best, he's still -- like you see the moments here and there that just kind of separates him from everyone else -- the crisp ball strike, making clutch putts, never giving up, always hanging in there and fighting.

I just like the charisma he has when he plays golf.

Q. What do you think are the most important qualities for managing around a very difficult day like today?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: You definitely have to be even keeled a little bit. You're going to make bogeys early. I mean, I've made two double bogeys so far this week, and it's going to happen. Thankfully, I've made some birdies and even an eagle today. It's just a matter of not freaking out and trying to get that shot back immediately, which is a tendency that I have sometimes.

So I've still got to work on that a little bit, but I feel like I've done a better job of -- even though I might be 3-over par after five holes, not necessarily going for that pin that I'm not supposed to go for.

Q. When you're like warming up and preparing and you know the round's going to be difficult, are you doing anything differently?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Not really. I have my warmup, my routine that I go through. It's mostly just mindset. For example, the 1st tee shot is going to be hard. I know it's going to be off to the left and just thinking about, okay, this shot kind of fits that hole. And just kind of trying to manage my game the whole time.

Lag putting becomes really important, chipping around the green, and just kind of understanding that 30-footers for birdie all day is damn good.

Q. Is this something you're kind of reminding yourself as you go throughout the round? Like it's difficult up here?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: A little bit. I had a rough start today, and I was 3-over par after five holes, and I made -- I think I made two kind of eight, nine-footers for bogey on 4 and 5. I missed those two, and I made three double bogeys in five holes. Even though they weren't great holes, I was able to mitigate the damage to just bogeys and then make that eagle on 8 to kind of get me back into a decent spot.

I didn't take advantage of it after that, but at least I kind of stopped the bleeding.

Q. How do you feel about your position going into the weekend?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I mean, if I would have played a little bit better, I would have liked to be under par. If you're under par right now in the clubhouse, you're looking really good because it's not easy out there, and I don't think it's going to be any easier the rest of the weekend.

I'm a few too many shots behind, but if I play really, really good the next couple days, you never know what's going to happen.

Q. Do you feel like it's easier to make a charge up the leaderboard when it's cold and conditions are hard and stuff like that? Or is it easier when you can go really well?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: It's really tough because, when it's easy, it's hard to separate yourself. So I would say, when it's harder, you can make up the most ground. But you can't go too far under par when it's playing this hard. So everyone else has to kind of come back to you.

I don't know if it's that hard -- yeah, you kind of just have to see. Play your best and see what it ends up on Sunday.

Q. Viktor, how do you describe the challenge 11 and 12 are presenting on a day like today?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, they're really hard. Number 10, I actually -- if you can get the tee shot right, I mean, kind of the green is big enough to where, if you hit a good shot, you know you're going to end up on the green. I feel like I played 10 very well.

11 is really hard, especially now with the new changes because that front pin -- I mean, you've got nowhere really to hit it because obviously you don't want to go in the water. So you tend to aim it a little bit right. But you miss it right, you don't really have an easy shot. You're hitting up into a slope, and then it goes straight down into the water and it's straight downwind as well. I was lucky that mine hit the pin and stopped to a tap-in.

Yeah, you've just got to get through it, try to not make doubles essentially. Try to get yourself looks for par, try to make easy pars, and if you make a bogey, it's not the end of the world.

Q. Do you have any type of routine or system on 12 to make sure that you have the wind before you hit the shot?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Not really. I was lucky enough to hit third on that hole today. I saw Jordan spin one up in the air and hit it in the water. Xander kind of did the same thing although he was a little further right.

I mean, I have a good Oklahoma shot where I just kind of show a couple more knuckles on my left hand and really lean the shaft hard. I basically don't put any spin on the ball. It just goes straight through the wind. Even then, if you don't get a gust, it's in the back bunker. It's just one of those holes. You kind of have to hit it and hope for the best.

Q. When did you develop that shot in Oklahoma?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I mean, it took me a while my freshman year. I didn't play that great, but maybe sophomore year in college, I was really good at hitting it low. Yeah, you kind of have to have that shot around there.

Q. How many times did you hit it today about?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I mean, I hit some like knock-down punches, but the one on 12 was like -- you know, we really tried to manufacture something, so just about that shot.