MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 6, 2023

Scott Stallings

Quick Quotes

Q. Scott, how would you assess that round today?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Well managed, I guess. I did a good job just pulling my drive on 1 and put myself in a good position to be able to get it up and down.

I didn't try to do too much. I gave myself opportunities with the way I drove the ball today. Just basically every time I had a wedge, it was kind of super in between to kind of like an awkward pin. It was never just to be able to hit it right down the flag.

Hit a good drive on 13, just pulled it a little bit and caught the edge of the tree. But happy with the way I kind of hung in there. I had two really good shots into 15. Had a chance for birdie right over the flag on 16. Then 17 was a miraculous par and two really good shots into 18 to cap off a nice day.

I mean, it's beautiful out there.

Q. How did you find the course playing out there today?

SCOTT STALLINGS: It was fine. Definitely firmer. The ball was kind of getting out there a little firmer than we've seen all week, but that's to be expected. Anyone that's ever played here, it's sort of par for the course, I guess.

But they used some pins that we were laughing when they saw the pin on 5 because you know they would like to use that, and this seems to be the only day they can have like total control with the forecast.

So as soon as we walked up to the top of the hill, I just started laughing. Hit one of the best 6-irons I've hit in a long time. That was a perfect number. All my numbers were really good like through the middle of the bag. But in the bottom part it was just kind of -- whether angle, just sort of where I had to kind of play a little bit safer than I would have liked just because the numbers weren't great.

Q. I was curious about coming back here after nine years and how it feels to be here. Whether you got some work in this winter checking it out again and familiarizing yourself with the course?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Yeah, I came twice in November and once Monday of Bay Hill. Even though I hadn't been here, like you still watch. I don't watch much golf at all when I'm not playing, but this is the one no matter what. This is what made you fall in love with the game. This is what made me want to do what I have a chance to do on the PGA TOUR. So I'm very familiar.

Just whether I was here or watching it on TV, just try to take it all in as much as you can.

Q. How are you feeling? You've obviously gone through hell and back again with some of your health stuff. You obviously found some solutions to some of your issues. I'm curious about your health and how you're feeling.

SCOTT STALLINGS: I feel great. I'm happy where I am. I feel strong. Looking forward to keep doing what I'm doing.

Q. Is there anything like when you came back after nine years, anything you kind of remember that's like a nice memory?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Just more the familiarity, just kind of like I remember you were asking the question, like how would you describe your round? Just game management. There's a lot of things that this golf course tempts you to do because a lot of things are possible.

Sort of the perfect scenario is this is an if/then statement. If I'm in this angle, this is the number, then I do this. If not -- like as soon as I missed my drive on 17, I started working that from back, knowing where the flag was, knowing where the wind was, and trying to give myself the best position I possibly could to make par.

Same with 1. I pulled it a little bit left. A little bit blocked out a tree. Pitched up there middle of the green right, give myself enough of an angle. So all the players that had opportunities, they seem to do that better than anybody.

So just by watching and learning, I try to follow in their footsteps.

Q. Do you feel like you're just a completely different player than you were last time you were here?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Yeah, I don't really remember much of that. Not that you forget where you came from, but I think that that was a time in my life that I was obviously very happy with the way that I was playing. But that was not very lasting.

So I like a little bit more all-encompassing approach. My family's good. The game's kind of rounding into form at the right time. Pretty happy with where I'm at.

Q. How much are you doing in the way of practice rounds this week?

SCOTT STALLINGS: I got here Sunday, and I just played -- I came down Friday night. I have friends that live in Aiken. Played a practice round at Palmetto, good buddies I have that live over here.

Then came over Sunday and played nine holes a day.

Q. Nine holes through yesterday?

SCOTT STALLINGS: Yeah, but I just chipped and putted on the front yesterday.