MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 8, 2024

Cameron Davis

Quick Quotes

Q. You had a chance to get out today; this is your second time here. How is it different to your debut here?

CAMERON DAVIS: Well, 2022 I came out a couple of weeks in advance, and the course was kind of softer, they'd had a bit of rain, and the greens were a little bit slower.

Then I came back for the tournament, and it was cold, it was windy, it was firm, and it was a completely different golf course. So it was very difficult.

Obviously getting to play on a day like this with no wind, the conditions are pretty much as perfect as they can be out here in terms of if you want to score well, in terms of if you want to see a bit of roll in the fairways but still see the greens stick a little bit.

It's awesome to play a golf course like this in weather like this and get the true -- this is exactly how this place plays.

Q. In terms of both your swing, your play and your mindset, as well, how are you feeling?

CAMERON DAVIS: I'm going to need to ramp up the game a little bit. I think today was more getting used to being here again, making sure I take in all the sights and acknowledge that yes, they're amazing, and it is like a childhood dream coming back here and playing against --

Q. It's a dream come true?

CAMERON DAVIS: It is, so you need a day to appreciate that and not be too worried where the ball is going and kind of enjoy the surroundings.

But it's not too far off. There is a way I can play out here and play very well. I still need to find it and bring it out when it matters. The next few days it's what we'll be looking for, and hopefully by Thursday we're feeling pretty ready.

Q. You also get a chance to play with another Australian who hasn't played here before. Did you offer any advice as you stood on the first tee?

CAMERON DAVIS: I mean, he watched me play, so if he was trying to see me doing something that was interesting, he probably wouldn't have been able to see because the ball wasn't exactly going straight.

I mean, there's a couple of little things. There's a few quirky shots out there that are difficult to plan for. There's no easy shot into the third green, and he was trying to ask me questions about that. I'm like, honestly, I don't know. Wind dependent. You can do one thing and completely different the next day.

Honestly my first time around here I was just kind of wide-eyed the entire way around and tried to play my best but didn't actually bring that much game, so I'm still learning this place myself.

Q. With that in mind, when you come back for a practice round the second time around, how much of it is trying to soak back in the sights, whether it's the 10th, the 1st, the 11th, the 12th, whether it's the 3rd? How much are you trying to soak in that but also get your game ready for Thursday?

CAMERON DAVIS: The first time you're here, you're just so happy to be here. The second time you're so happy to be here, but now you know what it's about, now you can spend a little bit more time prepping yourself for the golf you need to play rather than just being in awe of the place the entire time.

Definitely this year I feel a little calmer out here, a little more at ease with the environment, with some of the shots you've got to play. In that regard it does feel like I'm a little more getting to business this week rather than just here to enjoy the ride.

I mean, I would love to win this tournament. It's a childhood dream to be here. It's a childhood dream also to come up that last hole with a lead and finish it up. That's the sort of dream we're chasing now, so now we're trying to start preparing myself to do that rather than just happy to be here.

Q. Wednesday when you put your head on the pillow, have your last meal before tournament day, have you got yourself into a routine?

CAMERON DAVIS: I think for me to play my best, I need to treat it that way. I think when I have played my best it's not because I overprepared, it's not because I spent every night thinking about every shot I'm about to play. I just did my job, went home, came back, did my job again.

I think today was that day to try and overthink everything and see the shots that everyone else has played and really get too deep into it almost, but starting tomorrow it needs to almost just be, what's my game plan, how am I playing this place. I don't need to copy someone else. I need to figure out how this works best for me and go from there.

I feel like I've enjoyed my day soaking it all up --

Q. Do you have family and friends traveling with you this week?

CAMERON DAVIS: I do, yeah, I've got plenty of family here. Got some friends here, as well.

Q. How important is that support?

CAMERON DAVIS: It's great. Honestly, the more things you add on top of a regular week, the more demanding it can be on you. But it is awesome to share this with them because they grew up and have been watching it alongside me for my whole childhood up until now.

For a few of them, it's their first time. For a few of them, it's their second time. I think my goal is to be more calm than they are for sure.