MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 14, 2024

Ted Scott

Quick Quotes

Q. Take us through 11 and 12 when it seems like it was sort of chaotic. What was the mindset for you guys going through those two holes there.

TED SCOTT: Any time you're on 11 and 12 and it's wind at all, you know there's potential for carnage, for your guy, for anyone. The game can certainly be flipped there. Scottie was just real focused on hitting it to the right spot, which he did. Little short right on 11, didn't get it up-and-down, but that's the best place to miss it. Then on 12, hit it exactly where we were aiming.

That's just probably experience. Don't shoot for anything. Don't try to get too aggressive. Just hit it where you can play from. Hang around through those two holes, and then after that you can start attacking. You know the back nine on Sunday at Augusta they're going to make some accessible pins and make it exciting, and he certainly took advantage of those.

Q. Obviously Scottie had his head down there, but did you know what was going on around you with the guys around 11 with the water and whatnot?

TED SCOTT: He wasn't looking at the board. I was certainly looking at the board in case he asked me. He just seemed focused on doing Scottie Scheffler things. That's what he said on 13. He goes, should we go for it? I said, absolutely. Why don't we do what we do and what we're good at. He's the best ball striker in the world.

He hit an unbelievable 4-iron, which is just incredible to that small target. Those targets seem big when you're caddieing for Scottie Scheffler. That's how good he is.

Q. How would you describe what you think his super power is?

TED SCOTT: What is he not good at? I don't know. I think his super power is people that are super powerful are good at everything, and he seems to be good at everything. He doesn't really have a weakness.

I think people created a weakness in his putting. He's not a weak putter. He's a good putter. He's a very good putter.

Q. We saw yesterday and today when bad things happened, he turned around quickly. What kicked in at 8, and what allows him to bounce back in those situations?

TED SCOTT: I think you have to recognize in 72 holes, especially around here, you're going to get wind shifts. He overcame my bad caddieing. In the first four holes, I couldn't get him on the green. On 5 finally hit the green, and JJ, Collin's caddie goes, good job, man. You finally got him on the green. I was like, thanks man.

You just kind of know it's going to happen, and he's mature enough to recognize, when it does happen, it's golf. It's nothing you can control. You can whine and pout or say let me keep hitting great shots. Maybe that's his super power to be able to do that after carnage, so to speak.

Q. Can you describe what you're seeing right now out of Scottie?

TED SCOTT: Man, I don't know. I'm just pinching myself honestly. I don't really know what I'm seeing. The guy is special. He's a different kind of special. I think we're all seeing it, and we're all questioning where did this come from?

When he called me, I had no idea he was that good. We were his partner in New Orleans. I was like, yeah, he's a good player, and he's a great guy. I'd love to hang out with him. After two weeks, I was like, this guy is really good. Now it's like, wow, is he really good. I'm surprised too.

Q. Ted, you've been out here a long time. You've played with and caddied for a lot of great players. What is it that separates Scottie from everybody else?

TED SCOTT: I think discipline is a word that comes to mind. I've heard stories, when he was 7 years old, he would show up at the golf course wearing pants, talking about he's going to be on the PGA TOUR. And he just does all the little things well, and he does them consistently. He doesn't skip. He doesn't miss a day.

I think with that mentality of like I'm going somewhere with all this. I'm not just doing it in place. I'm actually doing it for a reason. Then when he gets in a moment, he's got all the tools.

That's why I can put him over greens, and he can get up-and-down. And bad things can happen, and he can make a comeback, and he can hit great iron shots and woods and driving and putt and chip. How is he so good at everything? He's been working at it since he was 7. It's not a surprise. When you find out the background, it's really not that surprising.

Q. When you guys are talking in the cauldron of this pressure and whatnot, do you ever feel he's nervous at all? Do you guys talk about it?

TED SCOTT: Of course everybody is nervous. You just have to recognize you're prepared. It's like studying for a math test. If I don't pass this, I've got to repeat the 5th grade. But you studied, so it's like, hey, I know this material. That's the key. He studies, and he's really good at executing when the time comes.

Q. What was this morning like for him?

TED SCOTT: I didn't see him until an hour and a half before. So I have no idea. He's got some friends he's hanging out with. They're all hilarious and cut up and have fun. I'm sure it's just a bunch of goofballs out there having fun.

Q. What does this mean for you, number four?

TED SCOTT: Honestly, I'm just pinching myself. I don't know how I get to do this. When I was 19 years old, a guy by the name of Ryan Smith told me, if you want to get better at something, find people who are better at you and spend time with them. That's kind of been my motto in life.

I've just been very fortunate that great people will take me on as their caddie as other parts of my life. I've worked for some incredible golfers. Scottie is just added to the list, and now it's just incredible to be a part of it. I'm just very fortunate.