MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 3, 2023

Scott Stallings

Quick Quotes

Q. I think everybody saw Scott Stallings, the realtor's, posts and heard the story from his point of view. What's the story from your point of view?

SCOTT STALLINGS: I mean, I've told the story countless times to this point now. I just think that I was sort of -- concerned wasn't the real thing because I had been here twice in November and was preparing to play the tournament. It was just more sort of like honestly, that story that we did with ESPN, I just thought my wife had it and she was trying to surprise me. So that was the whole thing.

Then just everything that happened surrounding it was just sort of surreal, just the coincidence of everything that took place.

But I was looking for it for a while. Then we got ready for Maui and Christmas and stuff like that, so I sort of -- but it was funny for sure.

Q. How much will the two of you interact this week?

SCOTT STALLINGS: I met him for the first time in person yesterday, gave him some tickets. We're having a Tennessee Golf Foundation dinner tonight, a bunch of donors that come in.

Q. What's the foundation?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Tennessee Golf Foundation. Doing a bunch of stuff with them, so kind of like friends and family of the program, so we invited him, cool opportunity to tell a cool story, and no better place to celebrate it than here at Augusta.

Q. Do you still have any connections in St. Simons?

SCOTT STALLINGS: No.

Q. How do you get along with the other Scott Stallings?

SCOTT STALLINGS: I get along with him fine. We're here, and I don't really have anything else to say.

Q. Has he relayed to you the frustrations of him trying to get here before and get a ticket?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Yeah. I think the way that you see it, anyone that's put in the lottery or whatever, just the excitement of receiving anything from Augusta National, and then kind of hearing the back and forth of him thinking that that was his tickets, and it was a ticket, I guess, just a different kind.

Q. A golden ticket.

SCOTT STALLINGS: Yeah.

Q. How is your game and how do you feel coming in?

SCOTT STALLINGS: I feel good. I kind of worked myself into a little bit of a funk coming back from the West Coast, but my record didn't show it at the Match Play, but I started playing like I know I'm capable of. I got steamrolled by Keegan, who played great the whole round, but kind of held my own against Rory and had a nice match against Denny on the third round, and a really good week of practice at home and feel like things are trending in the right direction at the right time. I love Augusta National. Every time you step on the grounds, whether here for the tournament or practice, play, whatever, it's a treat and it's definitely something that's not taken for granted.

Q. What was the length of your time between your last visit and this year?

SCOTT STALLINGS: '14 was my last year.

Q. It had been a while; how much does it mean to get back here?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Just like I said, anytime you have a chance to play, compete, stay, whatever, it's a special day. I don't care what level of golfer you are. Anytime you get a chance to experience this place, it's something that needs -- everyone should experience it at least once.

To be a participant is not something that's taken lightly, but at the end of the day it's still golf, and you try to focus and prepare as much as you possibly can but still enjoy it, too. I mean, it's an honor to participate in the event, but we're competitors, and we want to have an opportunity coming down that back nine on Sunday. We're doing the things week in, week out to prepare to do that.

Q. One of the biggest changes since 2014 has been 13 for you. Did that make a difference in your approach to that?

SCOTT STALLINGS: I just don't think you're going to see that many guys go for the green as in years past because where the ball ends up is in the middle of the slope. Like today we had 230 in the middle and I went for it today, but if I had that same lie on Thursday I would have laid up. A lot more of a decision making -- a lot easier to hit from that slope in the middle of the fairway with an 8-iron compared to a 4-iron. The shot just plays a lot different.

The tee shot is actually easier because the ball lands in the flat but then it feeds into the hill. Flat is relative. But the flatter part of the fairway, and then kind of feeds in, instead of where traditionally from the further up tee, it would land in the slope and kind of kick down towards the water.

Q. You went for it today; how did you do?

SCOTT STALLINGS: I mean, I hit it down there and it went to the right a little bit, and it was fine, but just like -- it makes the decision a little bit easier. To, not to, whatever, you're talking 6- or 7-iron, and then you're going back in the difference of like 4- or 5-under, hybrid, 7-wood, something like that. It's like, all right, I can pitch it out there to the right or play it short and have a lot more opportunity just to try not to make a mess.

Q. You would have hit like 6 or 7 before do you think?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Yeah, probably. You'll see way more drivers off that tee now. It used to be -- especially when it got firm. It'll be interesting to see what the weather does. Obviously the forecast for the weekend is not great, specifically Saturday, but I mean, the landing area for a driver from that back tee is way bigger than it's ever been, and kind of you get to use the contour of the hole the way it's originally designed rather than try to force driver up into like a narrow neck.