MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 11, 2024

Gary Woodland

Quick Quotes

Q. Gary, talk about hanging in there pretty good today.

GARY WOODLAND: I did. I had an amazing warmup and was feeling good about everything and just didn't have it. I drove the ball so poorly. Obviously it was windy and tough. Drive the ball and play like Bryson did, you can make some scores. But I got behind the 8-ball early and was grinding all day.

Q. You were kind of high-fiving fans walking down 13, 14, 15.

GARY WOODLAND: Yeah, the fans were great. The golf course was great. The wind is starting to pick up a little bit more right now. But it's nice to be back out here. I'm frustrated with the way I played, but it was nice to be back out.

Q. What did you see out of Bryson?

GARY WOODLAND: The thing about Bryson, people don't talk about it, he's always been one of the best putters in the world. When he drives it like he did today, I mean, he drove it really good, and he makes putts, he's obviously very good.

It was a clinic. It was impressive. He didn't get out of position hardly at all, and he rolled it very, very nice.

Q. Are you surprised at all? He's struggled here.

GARY WOODLAND: I know his record hasn't been great, but when he drives it like he did today -- obviously I haven't played with him in a long time. He hits it a long way.

But like I said, he's always been one of the best putters in the world, and he showed that today. He makes a lot of putts. But when he drives it like that, he makes this golf course a little bit different.

Q. When was the last time you played with him?

GARY WOODLAND: I don't know if we got paired together last year. Maybe U.S. Open. I don't remember. But yeah, it's been at least -- within the last two years.

Q. Did he seem different?

GARY WOODLAND: He was under control. He drove it beautifully. It was impressive. But he's always putted like that. He rolled it nice.

Q. Can anyone shoot that round this afternoon?

GARY WOODLAND: I mean, you do have four par-5s, but I think that one, 7-under today is pretty special with the conditions. I don't think they're getting any easier. I think that one will be pretty special out here today.

Q. Was it soft at all?

GARY WOODLAND: It was a little firmer than I expected, to be honest with you. I think a lot of the weather missed us a little south, which we got lucky, but the golf course going into the rain was absolutely perfect. It was a little firmer than I expected with the rain. It was perfect.

Q. Does that mean it'll be really firm by the weekend?

GARY WOODLAND: I think it'll be right where we all want it. We all want it firm and fast. This golf course, like I said, going into today, it was as good as I'd ever seen it, and I think by this weekend it'll be perfect.