MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 6, 2023

Kevin Kisner

Quick Quotes

Q. How was it today?

KEVIN KISNER: It was an up-and-down day. It was the most benign I've ever seen the golf course. Greens were soft and not overly fast. I felt like the scores are going to be lower than they are, and there's still plenty of time for that.

Everyone kind of eases into Augusta, so we'll see how it goes. It's still hard as hell, but it seemed easier than it has been.

Q. Did it dry out a little bit from the practice rounds?

KEVIN KISNER: The greens are not dry. They're not scary yet. 13 was the only one that shocked both Louis and I on the wedge shot. They both skipped probably six or eight yards. But I spun it back a lot with 9-irons and wedges. So that's different.

Q. Is there a world where you can reach 13?

KEVIN KISNER: 13, yeah, 210 front today with limb in my way and side hill lie and aiming at a bridge. So I'll decide to lay up.

Q. But from 210 --

KEVIN KISNER: If we were playing last week, I'd go for it every time.

Q. What's the most club you would hit?

KEVIN KISNER: I would hit a hybrid if I was playing with you. Playing here, I probably need a 5 or 6-iron.

Q. No tree, though?

KEVIN KISNER: If I hit it good, I can't get past the second limbs. So I have to hit a 30-yard hook. So it's not real appetizing.

Q. With how long the course is now, do you think a player like a Zach Johnson type could win here still?

KEVIN KISNER: Why didn't you say Kevin Kisner?

(Laughter.)

Q. I didn't want to put you on the spot.

KEVIN KISNER: I think with the current forecast, yes. The bombers still have an extreme advantage just because of the less yardage they have in in the small areas we're hitting to.

They keep adding these small pines off the tee, where you think it's wide open and you get up there and you're blocked out and have the limb trouble. Doesn't seem as open as it used to off the tee.

Q. So it feels like they've done enough to kind of keep everyone in it?

KEVIN KISNER: I think so. If they're not all going for it with 13, it really helps me because I'd rather play them all with a wedge than a 5-iron.

Q. Yeah, everyone laid up that year when Zach won.

KEVIN KISNER: Yeah.

Q. Does that mean with the conditions the longer guys aren't able to go for those holes?

KEVIN KISNER: 15 today, I could have gone for it for the first time in a long time. I don't know where the wind came from downwind. It was supposed to be off to the left. But I decided not to because it's just too far. It's 235 hole. I'm like what if I hit it perfect and it goes over the green in the water?

I can hit a wedge within ten feet. It's still those types of thoughts going through your head whereas old days you watch Tiger hitting 6 and 7-iron to that hole, it's no brainer what you're doing.

Q. Is that a different shot for you coming in with a longer club?

KEVIN KISNER: I always say the best conditions for me are fast fairways and soft greens. That way I can get the ball out there, and then I can control my distance really easily.

Hopefully these things get hammered with rain, and I can keep competing.

Q. Satisfied with how you played?

KEVIN KISNER: Just struggling off the tee, man. If I could drive it a little bit better, I could compete. I've been struggling for like a year, so fighting it out there.

I got it in play on some hard holes that gave me an advantage. Like 2, I pumped it down the middle there, which is a hard hole. If I can keep doing that, figure it out, I know I can compete with the short game. That's no problem.

Q. How do you go about fixing it? Are you a guy with a track man?

KEVIN KISNER: Man, I go hit 8,000 drivers after this round and stripe every one of them and then push cut it in the right bunker on 1 and get pissed off for the rest of the day. That's pretty much how it goes.

Q. Sounds familiar.

KEVIN KISNER: Exactly.