MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 6, 2023

Kurt Kitayama

Quick Quotes

Q. Maybe not the round you wanted, but tell us about your first competitive round at Augusta. How did it go?

KURT KITAYAMA: Just struggled. It feels tough. I didn't seem to get comfortable off the tees. Just made a bunch of bogeys today. Seems like it's easy to do.

I don't know, it was just a tough day.

Q. I think you did your homework on the par-5s. So what was the hard part?

KURT KITAYAMA: I don't know, I just made -- I think I must have been 3-over on the par-3s. Really didn't hit my irons very well, and I think that kind of put me out of position on those holes. Yeah, I think that was it. Didn't really hit my irons real well today.

Q. You haven't talked about the good things, obviously, which is arriving here. The impressions and feelings and all that and what it means to be here.

KURT KITAYAMA: Yeah, it's awesome being here. This is one I hadn't played in yet, and it's still very cool. The crowds out here, it's pretty crazy walking down like 15, like seeing that. You get up over the hill and see everyone on 16. Hearing the roars, it's a really cool experience for sure.

Q. You've been in contention a lot the last month, playing tough courses at designated events. How's your energy level? Seems like a very heavy stretch for you.

KURT KITAYAMA: Yeah, it's been definitely tough in that way, but I've had weeks off where I can catch a breath. You know this course, it's a big course. It's definitely been a tiring week for sure.

Q. What's the most important thing you have to do tomorrow?

KURT KITAYAMA: I think I just have to stay patient, try to give myself as many looks as I can and then see what happens.

Q. How did you play 13?

KURT KITAYAMA: 13, I hit to like -- hit a great second ball in there, hit to like five feet, but didn't make the putt. But made 4, so that's always good.

Q. What did you hit in?

KURT KITAYAMA: 7-wood.

Q. What was your number?

KURT KITAYAMA: It was like right around 270. I hit 3-wood off the tee.

Q. 270 in with a 7-wood?

KURT KITAYAMA: Yeah.

Q. Following up on that, I mean, you've played some majors, but that win at the Arnold Palmer opened the door for you to get in the majors all year and to contend with all these guys. How do you feel being part of this group of the few players that are going to play all the majors this year?

KURT KITAYAMA: It's great. Just getting the opportunity to play in the majors is great.

Just keep building on from experiences in the past and just try and get better and just try and contend eventually, hopefully. That's kind of the goal.