MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 12, 2024

Nicolai Hojgaard

Quick Quotes

Q. Nicolai, your first Masters. How does it feel to see your name up there on those big leaderboards?

NICOLAI HOJGAARD: It feels good. I'm enjoying the challenge. It's tricky at the moment. Kind of disappointed a little bit with how things ended up from two decent positions, 17, 18, to then end up making a couple 5s.

There's a lot to look forward to on the weekend.

Q. You said it's tricky out there right now. That might be an understatement. Can you describe just what the conditions are like this afternoon?

NICOLAI HOJGAARD: It is really, really tricky. Wind is swirling. It's gusting. There's some tough shots on the back nine. Front nine is tricky as well. But back nine there's more water in play. That's where the really tough shots are.

I felt like I managed my game really well today, even though I didn't strike it properly. I felt like I was a bit all over the place, but kind of putted myself around, which was quite good to see. Yeah, I'm looking forward to the next two days.

Q. What was the toughest shot you had on the back nine in the second round?

NICOLAI HOJGAARD: I feel like 12 is really, really tricky. When we got up there, it felt like no wind, and it's gusting. I think 12 is the trickiest shot on the golf course even though it's not that long. It's 135 meters, whatever, today, but it's just so tricky.

Q. How good of a score is 73 today?

NICOLAI HOJGAARD: Not very good. I hate shooting over par, especially when you're after something good in the end, and you end up making a couple of mistakes in the end.

It feels pretty good in general, the game. Just very disappointed how I made some silly mistakes on the last couple holes.

Q. You're making plenty of birdies.

NICOLAI HOJGAARD: Yeah, there's plenty of chances out there even though it's windy. You've got to play on the fat side all the time. You've got to use the slopes and the greens.

I just managed to make a couple mistakes in the end, which I feel like it's very, very expensive at the moment.

Q. When you're not striking it the way you want to, like you said, and the wind's gusting, what adjustments do you need to make to get your ball around?

NICOLAI HOJGAARD: A really good mind. Just in general, patience. Just be really calm even though you're hitting bad shots that is not necessarily that bad.

I don't feel like I hit a bad shot on the last two holes. Maybe the tee on 17, but the second shot felt decent, and I ended up in a really bad spot.

That's part of it. It's major golf. Like it has to be tricky, and it is really, really tricky out there.

Q. Are you glad to be finished? It doesn't look as if it's going to get any easier?

NICOLAI HOJGAARD: I would love to play 17 and 18 again.