MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 13, 2024

Luke List

Quick Quotes

Q. Talk about your round.

LUKE LIST: I played really nice. It stinks to not finish it off on 15 and 18. I got off to a great start. It's a lot of fun to even be here today.

Q. When you left yesterday, 6-over, what did you think?

LUKE LIST: I packed up my whole locker. I was planning on missing the cut. Obviously the conditions were tough. I thought it was going to stay at 5.

For that to happen, it was a bonus. It happens in golf with those conditions, so I was very fortunate.

Q. Did you wait it out here?

LUKE LIST: No, I was at home.

Q. Were you surrounded by family and friends?

LUKE LIST: Yeah, it's tough, and I had a bunch of friends and family. Your kids don't care what you shoot, so they were acting normal. It's tough. It really was.

I feel like I played really well yesterday. I feel like I was really patient with the way I hung in yesterday and just didn't get anything out of it. To miss like that, I felt it was stinging a little bit.

Then to the full mix of emotions to be able to turn around and be able to play today was very special.

Q. Were you just really nervous?

LUKE LIST: No. I've been around a long time, so I've been watching the cut too many times to count, unfortunately.

Yeah, it's a mix of -- you kind of go pessimistic a little bit and you're optimistic, and it's just a big seesaw. Internally, you're rooting for people to make some mistakes, but fortunately, like the golf course did that for me. I was very happy.

All the 6-overs were very happy it turned out in our favor.

Q. With the wind whipping yesterday, it had to be like night and day coming out this morning.

LUKE LIST: Yeah, it's still up. The golf course has some spice to it. There's birdies out there for sure, but there's also some trouble. As you see, some of the exposed greens are really challenging, and there's some good pin placements.

You've just got to be in complete control of your golf ball, and if you're not you're going to pay.

Q. Talk about the eagle on 2.

LUKE LIST: Luckily it carried on the left side there. I think it landed in the fringe; had to have. Had a good read on the putt and just poured it in.

Q. What was that from?

LUKE LIST: Had to be around 200. I think it was 199 with a 7-iron.

Q. Does it feel like 2005 at all here?

LUKE LIST: That's too long ago. I've got a lot of good memories from that, but kind of different a little bit. The golf course is much harder than in 2005. We had a lot of rain that year. The conditions were a little easier. I think with the weather a little more wind this afternoon, it's going to be very challenging today.

Tomorrow the forecast is hot. When this place bakes out like it can, it's really fun, I think. Like I said, you can make a lot of birdies, but you can also make some big numbers.

Q. You've played a lot of Saturdays since then. What have you really learned about your game since then?

LUKE LIST: I had nothing to lose today, and I tried to take that mindset into it because I didn't expect to be playing. It was a nice bonus, and today I tried to freewheel it. I did for the most part.

I hit some really good shots and some good putts. It stung a little bit at the end to finish with a double, but that's part of it. Hopefully I can go out and have a good round tomorrow.

Q. This is home for you, so how does your demeanor really change knowing (indiscernible) Augusta National Golf club?

LUKE LIST: Yeah, this is the most special tournament in the world. I thought that way even before I moved here. It's just kind of extra incentive to be first in the field, then to be around for the weekend. Hopefully someday I'll compete. I've got a little more maturing to do to this day.

I think, if I can kind of get more reps on this golf course, you learn a lot each time you play it. It's an understatement to say how much I love this tournament and this golf course.

Q. Is it fun to host your friends and family when they come to town, are you able to focus in, or are you still struggling on that one?

LUKE LIST: My wife, kudos to her. She's done all the planning, all the navigating the tickets and entertaining. I really haven't had to do a whole lot. We have one of our really good friends here helping with the kids.

It's been really special to see a lot of familiar faces in the crowd. My job is easy playing golf. She's had it much tougher.

Q. When did you move here?

LUKE LIST: It's been almost six years now, 2018.

Q. Did you (indiscernible) all those years when you were here?

LUKE LIST: No, that's part of it. You never know. I wouldn't trade it for the world, me and my wife. Being able to raise our kids here and be here for probably extended future. I don't see us leaving any time soon.

Q. Can you go back to a time when you were going to walk away from this and maybe give this up?

LUKE LIST: When I first met my wife, I was struggling a little bit and almost lost my card. This game takes a lot out of you. If you have the fortitude to stick it out, you can reap the benefits. It's definitely not for the faint of heart.

It's easy when people see on TV Scheffler and those guys playing great and success stories, but the middle of the road guys, it's tough. That makes it even sweeter to be here and have this experience.

Q. The second shot off the 18th tee, hit the...

LUKE LIST: It was further right. Now -- it used to be a little more open there. From the back tee, it's the big magnolia there. Had to pitch out. Thought I hit a good third shot. That green's baking out. It's going to be tough to see. I don't know how many birdies there will be on 18 today.