MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 6, 2023

Scottie Scheffler

Quick Quotes

Q. What did it feel like to step on the first tee as the defending Masters champion?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, it was cool. I was just trying to get settled into the round. There wasn't too much going on on the first tee. It was just a 3-wood. But I got settled into the round pretty quick and I hit a lot of good shots out there today.

Q. What was working so well for you?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I hit it really nice, a lot of fairways, a lot of greens. Got a lot of good looks and I thought I was hitting a lot of good putts, just hitting a lot of edges, which happens. These greens are not easy to putt and you can't expect to make everything. I was controlling -- doing a good job of controlling my emotions today and staying in check, and I didn't get too frustrated on the greens. I hit a lot of good putts, it's just sometimes they go in, sometimes they don't.

Q. Sam said people were pressing a little bit to post some scores today before the weather changes.

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: What was that?

Q. Did you sense that people were pressing a little bit to post scores today before the weather changes?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I mean, I have no idea.

Q. Were you thinking about that at all?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: No. I mean, just trying to shoot the lowest score possible. I mean, it's what it is. That's how go out there and compete, hitting high-percentage shots and getting a lot of looks. I wasn't paying too much attention to what everybody else was doing today. I know a few guys shot some good scores. But pressing around this place is not a great idea. You can get in a -- get in trouble in a hurry out here, so just staying patient and just kind of plodding your way along is how I like to approach it.

Q. Playing with the amateur, how was that?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: It was a lot of fun. See, people think he's nice. He's not nice. That's Sam. (Laughing.)

No, it was a lot of fun. Sam's a tremendous player, obviously. U.S. Amateur champion. Watching him get started in his round today was pretty fun. He birdies the first, making like a 30-footer, and then he chips in. So that's always fun to watch. I know how nervous he must have felt out there on first tee being an amateur. It's just a different feeling, and then playing in your first Masters is a lot different too. So I'm really happy for him. He showed up and played a great round of golf. It was pretty fun to watch.

Q. Did you feel like the course was kind of there for the taking today a little bit, not a lot of wind and everything?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I mean, I've never been around this place for so long where there's been almost no conditions. It was like that on Sunday. It was like that the first three days we were here, which was unusual. I feel like the greens are maybe a touch slower than they usually, and so guys definitely got in, I'm sure, the bulk of the scoring today, and we'll see what happens as the week goes on. Weather can be interesting, especially when you get storms coming in. So we'll see what happens.

Q. What did you think about number 13?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: It's long.

Q. Do you like it?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I birdied it today, so I can't -- I didn't not like it today. I'm interested -- I don't know exactly what it's going to play like. For me, right now, I feel like it takes a little bit of the decision-making out just because before, the difference between an okay drive and a good drive wasn't too drastic. Now if I hit an okay drive, I'm probably laying up, and if I hit a great drive, I'm probably going for it, and so that makes the decision a little bit easier.

There's actually a few pins on that green where it's arguably easier to lay up because you don't have any risk and there's a lot of bowl areas on that green. So I'm interested to see how it plays, just because it's really hard to sit there in the fairway with a 4-iron and not go for the green. You know what I mean? So we'll see.

Q. How about No. 5?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: What about it?

Q. Changes to No. 5. Is it affecting the way you play the hole or is it the same hole, tough hole?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Well I always found it very difficult. I don't know if they have made many changes there. To me it just seems like it's really hard still.

Q. You teed off in events where you were defending champion before but does today feel any differently?

SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I didn't really think much about it today. I got asked that question a little bit earlier when I was inside and I didn't feel much different. I'm playing -- the only reason I would think of being the defending champion is because I was playing with Sam. I didn't think about it really at all today. Just because I'm defending doesn't mean I start any more under par. And so starting at even, just going out there getting settled into the round, which I did a good job of. Got a lot of looks early made some nice par putts there on 6 and 7 that kind of really got me settled into the round. Didn't see much go in the rest of the day. But 4-under is a solid start to the week.