MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 9, 2023

Mackenzie Hughes

Quick Quotes

Q. You look a little worn out. Can you tell us a bit about how the week went and how hard it is to do in a week like this?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: I look worn out, huh? Thanks. No, I'm just kidding.

Honestly, a Sunday show around Augusta. The weather was nice. I feel pretty pleased, pretty happy. I don't think there are many bad days on a Sunday with this kind of weather around this place.

Yeah, lots of good things in my game too that I'm encouraged about. Saw some things around this place that give me hope that one day I can slip on one of those jackets maybe.

It's a fun week. Obviously it was a long one with the weather, but we're standing here in the sunshine. So all is good.

Q. Mac, I think you played with three green jacket winners this week. Mike in the practice round, Freddie yesterday and Zach Johnson today. Did you take anything away from seeing all those fellas this week?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: Those guys actually all kind of play very similar. Neither one of those guys hits it long. I guess when Freddie won, he would have been considered long. The other two obviously play the course a much different way than I'm sure Rahm's playing it or Tiger played it.

Yeah, those guys, like Mike and Zach, you could just tell when they got around the greens and when they had a wedge in their hands, that was their weapon. That was what they did most of their damage with. It was pretty cool to watch those guys go about it, go about their business.

It also kind of gives me some hope if -- and nothing against those guys, but I feel like, if those guys can do it, then I also believe that I can as well.

Q. You had some pretty sweet stretches, like before the weather yesterday and your second nine today. What did you learn about your own game when you're having those good stretches, and what do you learn about this golf course?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: I think you just kind of learn those things and those runs can come at any point. I think that my caddie Jace and I talk about that a lot. Eventually when things don't seem to be going your way, you might find a run, and you just never know when that's going to be.

If you're frustrated and kind of ticked at yourself for something else prior in the round, then those runs probably don't happen. But if you stick with it and you're patient and you kind of have a bit more of a glass half full approach, sometimes you get on those little runs like I did. It's a lot of fun when you get those runs and they come.

But, yeah, I just think that seeing those kind of scores, I felt like today was close to 66. I spun one off the green on 15, hit a pretty good shot. I think a bit unlucky, made 7 there. I just felt there was a lot of good there and potentially a low one, which is always good to see, again, around this place.

I've never really had those like low rounds, a lot of par, 1-over rounds, and a lot of that is testament to the conditions we've played the last couple years. It's been cold. It's been firm, windy. But a lot of good things I saw this week in my game.

Q. The approach on 2, what club did you use?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: I hit a 5-iron. I think 200, 216. It was kind of one of those things where in the past you would probably play that one differently. You'd probably play it a little more up the gut of the green with the greens being firm, and you'd try to run around the bank there.

With the greens being a little softer and more receptive, it was kind of trying to fly it hole high left and use that slope. It came off perfect. I told Jace walking down there, I don't have any eagle crystal yet, so I was hunting for some of that. So got some crystal.

Q. You just said like you saw some things. What was kind of clicking for you? Was it recognition of how to play the course better? How would you describe it?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: I think every time I go around this place I learn something different. You see a pin that is new or different or you see a different way to go about the end of the green, and I just think that, yeah, the more I go around, the more comfortable I am.

I think that there are certain shots that sometimes have given me trouble that I felt like this week I kind of conquered them a little bit. Yeah, I just feel like going forward this is a place that I could win at.

Obviously it requires four great days. I only had two this week, but I also was on a bit of a tough wave as well. Friday I felt like I was on a pretty good run there, and I got a bit halted there. Yeah, so, again, I just feel good about the things I learned this week, what I saw in my game, and look forward to coming back here hopefully next year.

Q. Tee ball on 4 also sick. Did you know how close it was?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: Zach and I were kind of joking that it became quite apparent we were on the wrong side of the golf course. Around like 3 and 4, especially 4, because I hit this shot and my family was all right there next to the tee. I hit it, and I'm like, oh, man, it's going to be really good, and it lands like a foot away, and like three people clapped.

That's probably the best shot of the day. If it's not --

Q. Was it a foot basically?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: It was this, 18 inches maybe. I thought it could have gone in, and a couple little small claps. I'm like I just did a 5-iron from 222 to like a foot and a half. That one was pretty sweet.

It was weird being on that side of the course. Obviously it was still fun, but it's kind of -- it takes a bit away from the Sunday because on 16, even if you're not in contention and you hit a great shot in there, like the crowd's going crazy. It was a bit bitter sweet being on the front nine. But that's how we rolled this week.

Q. Last night you played four rounds, 13th hole. Just your overall impressions?

MACKENZIE HUGHES: I think the changes are good. I was skeptical at first. I didn't think it was necessary, and I kind of thought it would make it a bit too long.

But I had a couple chances to go for the green this week. Obviously when it was warmer, I thought it played perfect. In the cooler weather, the last round 2 and 3, when we were playing the rain and the cold, it wasn't great because I think most guys were probably just laying up, but I think it's great.

I think it's a good change, and it does bring back that decision to play. Today I had a decision whether to go for it or not, and I did end up going for it, and I definitely thought about it for a little bit.