MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 7, 2023

Charl Schwartzel

Quick Quotes

Q. For people who don't understand, tell us what makes this tournament so special.

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: If you turn the camera around, they will see. There's everything about it, just from the time you drive in through the gates, through Magnolia, just standing on the first tee looking down this beautiful fairway, all the people out here, the respect this place has got, it just adds up. We can just keep on going.

It is truly one of the best places to play golf and to be during this time.

Q. The number of champions South Africa has had here, is there something special about it?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Yeah, South Africa has produced a lot of good golfers, and been fortunate enough to have a few guys win here, Gary multiple times. Played with this young kid Eldrich Potgieter today, as an amateur, and it's incredible how far the guy hits the ball. It's scary.

Q. You know, that seems like the future of the game. If you can find a way to control the ball from closer range, those sort of guys get very difficult to beat. That's another good one for South Africa to look forward to.

Q. If you were to sum up today for you, how did it go?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: I felt like I played okay at times, I played good at times and then a few really bad shots. It was a mixture of all of it. When I had good chances, I hit good putts. They didn't go in today. For me it felt like a frustrating 73.

Q. Sitting just under that cut line at the moment --

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Yeah, I don't know. I think if the weather stays like this, it's going to be maybe just one out of it. If the wind picks up a little bit, I'll make it. I don't know.

The course is tough. It's not easy, this golf course when it dries out. Like we got it this morning, it was fairly soft. As the day goes on, it dries out and it gets more difficult. But there is weather expected, so I don't know what the weather is going to do. It's going to be weather dependent whether I make it or not.

Q. Looking back on your win, when you won here, was it a really life-changing thing?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: A hundred percent.

Q. In what way?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: You know, I was standing on No. 8 green today, and I remember sitting on my couch as a 10 year old in South Africa, midnight, and I watched -- at that time it was Rory Sabbatini actually, and he hit a putt to that same pin, and it turned so much, he putted to the fringe and it went all the way down to the hole, and I was like, wow, how is that possible.

And then here you are. You've got that same putt today. Fortunate enough to wear a green jacket. It's a privilege and an honor.

Q. Can you see yourself coming for the rest of your life?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: As long as I get invited, I'm here. I'll be here.

Q. What do you do now to await the -- do you find it frustrating not knowing what's going to happen?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: I tried my best. I really did. I grinded every shot. I just didn't have my "A" game. That's all I can do. We'll see.

Q. How do you feel like on the 18th knowing that you probably need a birdie and then hitting it into the trees?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: I was more nervous in 2011 when I needed birdie to win. Yeah, I just didn't drive the ball well. I needed to put it in the fairway and give myself a good chance. Fortunately I hit a great recovery shot, but it was a long way aways.

Q. This could be the first time since 1986 that no South African makes the cut.

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Wow. You guys can come up with some stats. Yeah, that'll be unfortunate. That'll be unfortunate. Hopefully the wind comes up and I'll make it.

Q. Do you think it's got something to do with the LIV thing because of players losing their World Ranking?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Well, I don't know. Dean didn't make it on World Ranking anyway, Brandon might have made it, and he's in form, so he could have potentially been here. But I don't know. I think there's a new generation also coming. Guys like Eldrich. There's a young group of guys that are coming, and all sports are like that. Rugby guys are like that. You get on top, and I think it's all sports. There's a change of the guard.

Q. Did you and Louis decide together on wearing your shirts or was it just sort of --

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Yeah, it's my surname, Schwartzel.

Q. Have you adopted Louis?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: He's playing under me.

Q. Did you chat to him about it or did you just kind of --

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: No, we just said, look, it's a nice logo, let's wear it.

Q. He told me at the par-3 already that if he slips out he's going to ask you to invite him as a guest next year to just watch. Would you do that?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Whatever he wants, yeah. He's a very good mate of mine.