MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 4, 2023

Scottie Scheffler

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, we are pleased to welcome the 2022 Masters Champion, Scottie Scheffler, to the interview room.

Welcome back to Augusta National. You know, last year at this time, you were sitting in that same chair, wearing a green jacket for the first time. Do you remember that?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I do recall. (Laughter.)

THE MODERATOR: Can you share with us your Masters preparation this year versus last year, how would you compare your preparation for this year's Masters.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I would say this year I got in earlier than I usually do. I think I came in pretty late on Sunday. This year we flew out pretty early Sunday and came out here and played.

That was pretty much the only difference. I think going into the tournament, I tried to get a little bit of the memories and stuff from last year out of the way as early as I could, so that's why I played 18 on Sunday.

But as far as the week has gone, just normal stuff. I have dinner plans tonight, which is pretty fun. Last year I was sitting at home eating dinner. Yeah, dinner this year will be a bit more special.

THE MODERATOR: Let me ask you another question. Does it feel different driving down Magnolia Lane as the Masters Champion?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I think so. I think it's a bit different. I think, like, when you see the list of guys when they get in the tournament and how they qualify and you see "Lifetime Exemption" by your name I think is really cool. Hopefully I'll have the opportunity to be coming back to this place for many years.

But just going one day at a time and just trying to enjoy each day, and the drive down Magnolia Lane definitely never gets old.

Q. Last year in the winner's press conference, you talked about crying Sunday morning before teeing off. What would it be like Sunday morning this year if you had a three-shot lead? How would Sunday morning be different this year than it was last year, let's say, if you were leading by three?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: That's a good question. I don't know exactly how different it will be. I think any time you're in the lead at a big tournament that you want to win, I think each one is separate. Maybe last year could be a bit different just because it was my first one. But I think going into a weekend with a lead, I'll still be nervous. I'm still nervous playing at home. I don't know what the emotions will be, but hopefully I find out and I'll let you know.

Q. We know how hard it is to repeat as a champion here, as we know by the short list of people who have done it. What do you think is required to join the likes of a Tiger, a Faldo, and a Nicklaus, as being a back-to-back champion here?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Just because it's the Masters and it is what it is, and it's such a special tournament that I think we build it up so much in our heads. When I show up this week, there's just more going on. That's really just all there is to it.

As far as my preparation goes, I've kept things pretty similar to what they were last year, outside of getting here a few hours earlier on Sunday so I could play more golf. When the tournament starts on Thursday, everybody starts even par. Just because you're defending doesn't mean I get to start at 1-under. I'll be approaching it just like I do a lot of other tournaments.

Q. You're in terrific form again, and the top three players in the World Rankings at the moment are now running away with it, and there's a clear gap between you guys and the rest. What are the three of you doing that nobody else is?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I think you've seen just a pretty high level of consistency from -- from us so far this year. I think if you look at a lot of the leaderboards, we've been pretty close to winning most of the elevated events. I just think that the consistency; you had Jon beating up on everybody starting the year, and I had a little run there with THE PLAYERS in Phoenix and Rory is up on a bunch of leaderboards like he seemingly always is.

A lot of that is just good, healthy competition, and hopefully we'll continue to elevate ourselves through that competition, and then the guys behind us will be nothing but motivated to get to where we are.

And so I think that kind of competition is really good and healthy for our game.

Q. Do you think you keep each other better?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: We are definitely not making each other worse, that's for sure.

Q. Can you describe your feelings and intensity on the first tee and how they might change from Thursday to Sunday?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I guess it just depends how the tournament is kind of going. Thursday you're definitely nervous where you're just trying to get settled into the tournament. A lot of that is positioning. And then depending on where you're going, or where you're going into the round on Sunday, it's a different kind of approach.

So last year playing with a lead I was just trying to stay as aggressive as I could and kind of sticking with whatever game plan I had at the beginning of the week because that was working.

So it definitely changes a little bit as the week goes on, but it's all very situational.

Q. Tonight, what do you hope your message is to all of the past champions in that dinner?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: That's a good question. I hope it's more of a celebration than anything. I don't know what it's been like in years past. For me it's such a special group of guys, and the opportunity to get together and enjoy a meal, just us, is a really, really special opportunity.

I don't know many of the guys in the room really well. Some of them will be my very first interactions with them. So it will just be kind of just a fun, special night, and I hope that we'll have a good time. I know we'll eat some good food, and hopefully we'll have a good time.

Q. When you think back to last year, were there moments short of Sunday that stand out as separating moments, moments that clearly made a difference in helping you build the margin that you had, whether it was Thursday, whether it was late Saturday, were there a couple that stand out?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I would say what stands out the most to me about the tournament last year was I think Friday afternoon. I turned and I was about -- around the lead and I had a really good back nine on Friday to kind of extend myself. I built up, I think was a five-shot lead.

I believe late in the round on Saturday, I struggled a little bit. And if I remember, I maybe bogeyed -- I know I bogeyed 15. I can't remember if I bogeyed 14, too, but I had many mistakes late in the back nine on Saturday. And I had a good birdie on 17 and a really, really good bogey on 18. So I would say those are the moments that probably stand out the most.

Q. Tiger talked about how important teamwork is between the player and the caddie, especially here at Augusta. Just wondering in what ways Ted has been most valuable to you here?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I think around this place, a lot of that has to do with his prep work. He knows this place really well, having been around it so many times. But that doesn't mean he gets lazy and he doesn't do anything. Because this golf course seems to change year-to-year. He is out there doing so much work getting us ready that when it comes time on Thursday and the bell goes off and it's time to go, I know exactly what he's looking at.

That's how I approach my practice, is when I show up to a tournament, I've done everything I could to have played a good tournament, and I've done the prep work and prepared the way I should so when I show up I can play freely.

When it comes to Teddy doing all the work at the beginning of the week, I know on Thursday we're both doing everything we can to play well, and it's very easy to kind of rely on him.

Q. Jordan was in here yesterday, talked about some of the coolest moments with the jacket in the year that he had it, and going to Rangers games and Mavs games. But he said the coolest thing was walking around with a suit bag saying "Masters Champion." As you look back on the last year, what are some of the great moments with the jacket for you?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I would say I enjoy doing -- I didn't do too much with the jacket. I did bring it on an airplane once on a commercial flight, which was -- I don't know if I'm breaking any rules with that -- but it was hidden. It definitely wasn't in the "Masters Champion" bag going through the airport.

I had fun with it. I did the first pitch at a Ranger game. There's a really funny picture of me almost breaking the buttons off the jacket because I forgot to unbutton it and I was throwing out the first pitch. That was fun. I dropped a hockey puck at a Stars game.

I think one of the most special memories was we came here after THE PLAYERS, and we came straight here Monday morning after THE PLAYERS and came here. I was with my dad and my coach. And we got to celebrate a little bit and wear the green jacket around the property here. That was probably one of the times where it felt the most real, which was really special for all three of us to be able to do that together.

Q. Phil once talked, he wore it to an In-N-Out Burger, something, Waffle House, whatever. Did you wear it anyplace goofy?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Not really. It stayed in my closet. I got a closet in my golf room, and it was there for a little bit. And then it was in just our regular closet so I would kind of see it every day as it was leading up to the tournament. Just enjoyed it being in the house. I didn't wear it to any fast food places (giggles).

Q. As prepared as you were last year, and as much as you prepared this year, do you still walk around this place and really feel there's a lot to learn constantly?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I think so. I think there's always little changes they don't tell us about. The one making waves this year on 13 is a big difference. But outside of that, there are some little changes on the golf course that always happens.

Depending on green speeds, the place changes a lot too. A lot of it is preparing for what we're going to see as the week goes on. I feel like I could never learn enough about this golf course.

Q. New era for the Tour, and Tiger and Rory have big voices, and you're starting to play your way into top echelon, but would you want the responsibility of being a spokesperson and taking on that extra advocacy?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I think when my opinion is needed, I have a voice. I'm not sure exactly how much that is. I know that Rory and Tiger have been our spokesperson. Tiger, especially, it's hard; how can you not listen to what Tiger says? He's our Tour, led our Tour; we would be playing for a lot less, and the Tour would be drastically different if Tiger never came around.

They have done such a great job of leading us in the right direction, and I feel like the Tour is headed so quickly in a positive direction for all of us. Membership across the board, they are doing such a great job. I don't have any issue with anything that's going on right now. I think they are doing a great job, and I'm just proud to be walking alongside of them just trying to play some good golf.

Q. Do you think other players feel empowered to speak up if necessary, or is there a feeling like, we'll just let Tiger and Rory handle it and I'm not welcome to speak my views?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I think that's been one of the biggest improvements within the Tour is everybody having a voice. There are so many avenues to have your voice heard, whether it's Jay being present at tournaments, and then we have Jason Gore on the squad as well.

And there's so many avenues where guys can have their voice be heard, and I think that's one of the most drastic improvements the Tour has made.

When I first got on, I didn't really see that very much. We didn't really have a Jason Gore type of person that we could go to. But I mean, the guys are getting face time with everybody out here. Our Tour is working so hard making sure everybody out here is happy, and I think that's been a really, really special improvement.

Q. You mentioned the post-players visit here. How many trips have you made here since last year's tournament, and why was it important on Sunday to play 18 holes and get the memories out of the way?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, that was kind of the idea of the trip before. It's pretty special any time you come on property. I never really had a chance to do it before I won. I know some guys made time throughout the year, but I never really had the time.

This year, just carved out a couple days, and just had a good time. Got to play with my dad and my coach, and then on Sunday I played with my sister who has caddied for me numerous times. And so that was really cool just to have her out here playing. Played all 18 holes. She probably has not played in about a year and a half, just crushed it. Had a great time.

Stuff like that is memories we'll have forever, so it was important for me to really soak everything in on Sunday. Sunday is just a really cool day out here with the Drive, Chip & Putt Championship, everything going on, it's really special.

Q. Last year I said that people in Britain would ask me what you're like and would you describe yourself -- you laugh; you remember it?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah.

Q. You said you would rather not describe yourself and I would be better after asking your colleagues. Well, a year on, a lot more confident, a lot more successful, could you now describe yourself?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Probably still same answer. You've got to find somebody else to ask. I mean, that's what's strange. I think people expect -- when you have success in whatever field it is, and I think ours especially, when people see it happen on TV, they expect you to change.

You would think that I'm a significantly different person than I was a year and a half ago, but when it comes to life at home, everything is still the exact same.

Nothing changes at home. I still have the same friends; I married the same girl I did in high school. My family definitely doesn't treat me any different. It just so happens that we get to come to places like these on occasion and have fun.

Life on the golf course has changed just with fans and more people being around, which is a ton of fun. But as far as life at home, I haven't changed a bit, so same answer.

Q. If you do win this week, you will then be mentioned in the same breath as Jack and Nick and Tiger. What does that mean to you, and how much are you motivated by the pursuit of mystery within this game?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: So I think it's kind of a loaded question, I would say it's a tough one to answer. Because I mean, legacy at the end of this is not really why I play.

Any time -- so I guess with that being said, any time you can get mentioned in the same breath as a Tiger and a Jack and a Nick Faldo is really special, but it's not a motivating factor for me to come out here and play.

It's so special and cool when it happens, but it doesn't motivate me out here. I'm just trying to come out here and could my best and play good golf and have fun. Outside of that, I'm just hoping to have a good attitude and just come out here and just do the best that I can do, and wherever that ends up in my career, I'll be happy with.

Legacy just a complicated thing. In a hundred years I'm going to be forgotten and it's not a big deal. Yeah, it's just one of those deals.

Q. You were asked initially about this rivalry with Rory and Jon Rahm. The world No. 1 spot has been batted between you over the last few months. To what extent does actually being No. 1 mean to you? What does it mean to you and is it important? You could say it's a mathematical equation or you could say it's proof that you are the best in the world. Is it something that sits in your head, builds your confidence?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I wouldn't say it gives me my sort of special confidence. But I mean, it's a math algorithm. So for me to sit here and tell you guys I'm the best player in the world I think is not really my style.

I think I learn a lot from all the people out here. I've learned a lot from all the guys that kind of came before me. I'm a student of the game and I've learned a lot from playing with guys like Jordan growing up. I grew up at a golf course where it was Harrison Fraser, Justin Leonard and Colt Knost were out there and I got to sit down and watch them. I like to continue to learn and improve. That's what's fun for me is I like that aspect of the game; that you can never perfect it, and hopefully I'll keep getting closer. But golf is a pretty difficult game and I'm sure things will change. It's just a complicated deal.

I mean, at the end of the day, it's an algorithm. But No. 1 is better than being No. 2 in the algorithm.

Q. You picked up distance after last year, was that a concerted effort from analyzing your game or more a byproduct of something you were doing?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I think it's more a byproduct of the stuff that I've been doing in the gym. I think in the last two years I've taken much more of a priority in my physical health. When I first came out on tour when I was in college, it was a priority but it wasn't as important as it is now. It's a huge part of my daily routine is making sure I'm physically ready to go, and my trainer, Troy, has been a huge part of that, kind of helping me along since I've been had in high school.

We've just gotten to a point where I've been able to get rid of a lot of the aches and pains I used to deal with when I was in college, and I've gotten to a place where my body I feel like is really healthy, and so we've been able to build some muscle and endurance from there. But it was a long journey to get to a point where I was in balance for a long enough period of time where we could actually start building a little bit of muscle.

Q. Is the Yukon still running?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah.

Q. Touch on that a little bit. It's obviously been a very, very successful year for you. I'm wondering, what's the greatest indulgence you've allowed yourself?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: That's a good question. I haven't got a new car. Still in the same house. I would say I bought a cold tub. That was a pretty big indulgence. Still not running at home but we bought it.

I think Meredith and I, one of our kind of somewhat traditions is buying a bottle of nice tequila after each win, and that's pretty much the extent that it gets. I'm not -- I'm sure eventually maybe I'll get a new car. I don't know. I'm not huge on that kind of stuff.

I think for me just a celebration at home is always fun and getting to enjoy it with our friends, whether that be sharing a nice bottle of tequila with everybody and having good food and hanging out and celebrating.

But I'm not a big car guy. I'm not into all that kind of stuff, not really.

Q. How many miles on the car?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: It's probably close to 190. I don't really put miles on it. It's really all my dad. I drive like three places at home. I go to the golf course, where I work out and a restaurant that's usually within five minutes of the house. So all credit to my dad for those miles.

Q. Just for the record, what year is it? What car is it?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: It's a 2012 Yukon XL. It's white. My dad bought it here at the Masters, so it's got a Masters GMC logo on the back of it.

Q. Do you like to think of golf as more art or science?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Probably art. I think there's a lot of value in the fundamentals. But that's not how I play. I think I use those tools to hopefully improve, whether it's TrackMan or my grip club.

I like getting my fundamentals down but then when I feel good about where my fundamentals is at, it's about hitting shots and kind of creating and having fun. For me, that's what's fun about golf is being able to curve the ball both ways and hit all kinds of shots and trying to spin it, do kind of cool things with the golf ball.

Q. So, like, creativity over repeatability?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I would say so. I like my golf swing to be repeatable, though. (Laughter).

Q. Todd asked you about your message at the dinner tonight. Curious, last year, the NBA celebrated their 75th anniversary team. Several years ago the NFL had their all-century team so Montana and Brady were on a field together. Tonight ostensibly the all-century team are going to be in that room. Have you thought about just looking around at those faces and how rare they convene together, and do you expect to get emotional speaking to them tonight?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I'll definitely get emotional. I wish I didn't but I always do. I don't know what it i. The weight of everything hit me as I was leaving the locker room and they were setting up for the dinner. I was like, oh, boy, here it comes.

So I'll definitely get emotional. I still can't believe I'll be sitting in that room, and so it will be fun. It will be special. How rare is it to get everybody like that in a room where it's just us; there's nobody else. There's the Chairman and then there's us.

And it's such a cool tradition. I'm excited to see how it goes. I'm excited to see everybody and I'm excited for the dinner and just to hear stories. Like I said, hopefully we'll have a good time. I know we'll have some good food and it will be a special evening.

THE MODERATOR: Thank you all very much. Good luck this week and enjoy your dinner.