MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 8, 2024

Erik Van Rooyen

Quick Quotes

Q. Been kind of a few interesting months?

ERIK van ROOYEN: Yeah, yeah, it's been a few great months.

Q. For sure. Talk a little bit about that. Everything leading up to this third Masters for you. The last months have been emotional and great too at the same time.

ERIK van ROOYEN: Are you saying the win?

Q. The win and everything going on.

ERIK van ROOYEN: Yeah, obviously an emotional win for many reasons, right? Winning for the first time in a few years after feeling like my game was poor and obviously with my friend's situation and him then actually passing away a few weeks later.

So I've played phenomenal golf since then, at least for me. It's probably the best first quarter of the year on the PGA TOUR that I've had.

So, yeah, the game's in really good shape.

Q. Is there something you have (indiscernible) in the last few months?

ERIK van ROOYEN: Look, he's on my mind every day, no doubt about that. I think the biggest thing that that taught me was how precious our time is here and how privileged I am to be able to play a tournament like this.

That was his dream as well, and obviously he wasn't able to fulfill that. That's definitely always motivation.

And at the same time, I've just been working on the right stuff in my game. Working with Sean Foley has been fantastic, and we're just playing better golf. So I'm in a good spot.

Q. You have to compare, 2020 November, 2022, you were here again. If you compare your state of play and your state of mind with those two Masters, what would you say?

ERIK van ROOYEN: Probably playing better leading up to the tournament. State of mind, you know, your first Masters is obviously always a bit wow, like you've never been here before. It was sort of a pity that that was 2020 for me, but it was still amazing.

Then 2022 with all the people was absolutely spectacular.

Now this time it doesn't feel as new anymore, like I'm comfortable. I know the golf course. So I'm in a bit of a different mindset, if that makes sense.

2020 also, I had to withdraw because of my back, and I missed the cut in 2022. So I feel like the place owes me one.

Q. How comfortable can you let yourself feel here?

ERIK van ROOYEN: As comfortable as you want. It's all in here, right? I think everybody that's involved in golf understands that it's a special place. I think everybody that's here really wants to win the tournament, and you don't have to make it bigger than that.