MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 12, 2024

Sahith Theegala

Quick Quotes

Q. For the last two days, this course has demanded a lot out of you.

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, it was such a bummer because I've been playing really well coming into this, and even the last two rounds I feel like it was all there. I just wasn't really myself on the greens, and that's usually what I feel like kind of keeps me where I am, and I just didn't have it. It put a lot more pressure on my ball-striking.

For the most part I did hit it all right, just didn't have a lot of birdie looks and just made a mental error on 3. I don't think I'm ever going to try and fly it on the green again from down there. I've hit a bump every single time from down there, but I had a perfect lie and the wind was a little into off the right, and I was like, this is perfect.

Learned my lesson there.

After that, I just told myself I still have 15 holes at Augusta National and just embraced the challenges because I've played it when it's windy but I've never played it when it's windy and firm. It was just a lot of fun. Definitely proud of how I played the back nine, and without my -- I guess I did make some putts, but they were all for par, so it didn't feel like I gave myself a lot of chances. It's playing hard out there. It's just hard.

Q. How much were you thinking about the cut while you were out there?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Quite a bit, honestly. After the third hole today, I was 5-over. It was still too early to really think about it, because all I was thinking was I've got three par-5s and a decent amount of holes that are playing easier because of the wind, just downwind holes that makes tee shots straighter or whatever. I was just focused on trying to play good after that.

Yeah, I definitely thought about the cut starting probably on 15. On 15 there's the two big boards with the projected cut, and I figured it was so windy that it was going to go to 4-over, which I think it might even go to 5. But yeah, definitely think about you want to play four rounds, especially out here, being a major championship and a small field. It's just a little extra punch in the gut if you miss the cut here because it's only cutting 35, 40 guys.

But definitely thought about it the last few holes and had some really nice up-and-downs, considering the situation.

Q. Could you see like a 66 out here tomorrow or Sunday?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yes. Yes. The weather looks better. It's going to be warm. No matter how baked the greens get, no matter how tucked the pins get, when you give guys as good as this good weather and not a lot of wind, someone is going to find a way to shoot 4-, 5-, 6-under no problem. I shouldn't say no problem because this course is a beast.

But I didn't see a 7-under out there yesterday, and sure enough, it was shot.

That's the nice thing about making the cut, and even though I'm not even close to the leaders, a good round tomorrow and I could be kind of in the hunt for a good finish at least, at the very least, and you never know. That's the fun part about it. As a player you don't even really know how it's going to play out.

I'm just excited I have two more rounds.

Q. Is Augusta somewhere where you can get super aggressive if you want to shoot a low number? What does that look like?

SAHITH THEEGALA: You know, I think so if you have a little more ball control than I do. It felt like there was sections that you could hit it into today. But it just felt like sometimes I was spinning the ball too much, sometimes it was too little. Once I hit a couple shots out of whack, I was just like, all right, I'm going to play pretty non-aggressive, and it actually worked out a lot of the days today. I had really either pretty easy up-and-downs or just pretty basic two-putts, and I feel like lag putting is something I do really well.

But yes, I think you can be aggressive. Again, all four par-5s regardless of the wind are birdie to eagle holes, and there's two or three holes that I feel like maybe statistically they don't play under par, but it feels like a birdie hole. I think of 7 and 14. I know you can make a big number if you mess around, but both those holes being downwind, it's just a lob wedge into both those greens today.

It's hard to say. Numbers have been shot out here, but I think the greens are going to get too firm to see anything crazy low.

Q. Is there a particular mindset that is helping you grind it out?

SAHITH THEEGALA: I think I've played so many rounds here now, and Carl has been really good for me because I want to get aggressive, and he's just like, dude, there's no chance here. You're hitting it there. I think I need a little bit of that.

It was good for me to have that discipline because I'm trying to play to the strengths of my game, and I feel like the strength of my game is my putting and short game. I've just got to keep leaving myself putts, and eventually one or two of them hopefully drop in. Just can't force the issue too much.

I tried to force the issue a few times yesterday, on hole 2 and then 3 today. Just not the way to go, at least with these conditions.

But yeah, I'm definitely really proud of not making a bogey after that triple bogey. There's a lot of hard holes that I left myself in the right spot or made a really nice putt. I'm very happy with those last 15.

Q. You're building a nice following, but some people discovered you when you made that chip on 16 last year. Are you feeling some of that this year when you walk?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, definitely. I feel like there's so many new fans, and it's just so cool that people cheer for me and yell my name and wish the best for me, especially out here. It's a different feeling. You really can't describe it. It just feels so much more special than a normal event, and rightfully so. Kind of fires me up more.

Historically I always feel like I play my best golf when I feel the nerves or feel the pressure. I do feel it this particular week just from last year. It's one of the most nervous I've ever been for a golf tournament, compared to Korn Ferry finals when you're fighting for your job. It's a lot of pressure, and knowing that I can play well -- last year I played great and came in ninth with that pressure is great, knowing that I can do it, regardless of how I'm feeling.

Q. The wind has been rough today, but you said some holes actually play easier?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, I think 17 and 18 become a lot easier. That tee shot on 18 is down off the left. Well, it's kind of swirly, but down off the left so that tee shot becomes a lot wider so it brings in more of the fairway on the right. 17 is usually driver, 8-iron, and it's driver, lob wedge right now, or sand wedge at worst if you hit the fairway.

Even 9, I know the pin was tough on the right on 9, but that's another hole you drive it down there downwind and you have a little flip wedge again.

15 is playing tough, but the pin is easy. It's the easiest pin on the green, but it's the hardest wedge shot maybe you ever hit in your whole life because you're off a downslope and trying to control the spin, but you're more worried about the contact than anything else. It's just a brutal hole. You've got to hit the fairway, and I think you've got to go for it whenever you have the chance.