MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 8, 2024

Jose Maria Olazabal

Quick Quotes

Q. So it's only 30 years.

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL: Only 30 years, correct.

Q. Tell us a little bit about the emotions, the feelings.

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL: Yeah. It's always nice to be back at Augusta to play the Masters. Obviously this year is the 30th and the 25th anniversaries of my victories, and, well, it's a little special in that regard.

But I have always said this place is very special to me regardless of the anniversaries or not.

Q. One memory of your first Masters and maybe one memory from your last win.

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL: Well, I remember coming here in '85 as an amateur champion. Walked on to the driving range which was the old driving range, and I had never seen grass so perfect before in my life.

So I started to warm up, hit some wedges, and you know what? I thinned them all. I couldn't hit a divot. I was so scared of spoiling such perfect turf.

Apart from that, the first day I was paired with Arnold Palmer and that was a treat. You know, we didn't play good golf. Actually we played poorly, but I was really impressed on how the patrons showed their love and appreciation to Arnold.

Every time we got on to a green everybody stood up and clap, and this is something that stick to my mind.

Q. In '94 probably a lot of them, but maybe one that sticks out?

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL: Well, there is a bunch of them. In '94 I remember I was very nervous. I couldn't eat in the morning on Sunday.

We were sitting just outside the locker room and, you know, I sat down there for I would say 30, 40 minutes without saying a word.

I remember Tom Watson walking on to the first tee and I said to Sergio Gomez who was with me then how special it was to be just sitting there waiting for your tee time and watching Tom Watson hit the tee shot on 1.

Obviously I think the key moment on Sunday that was putt on 15, playing with Tom Lehman. I think that was the one that really, you know, opened my chances to win the tournament.

Q. You have to compare your menu, champion's menu and Jon's menu.

JOSE MARIA OLAZABAL: I tell you what, Jon's menu is going to be fantastic. I could spend the rest of my life eating that food. Let's put it that way.