WORDS WITH … CO-LEADER JORDAN SPIETH
Q: How did your prepare for your first Masters?
A: It's just such an honor just to be able to play this golf course. … This whole year's been about prepping to peak at certain places, this being really the first one, and I'm in a great position going into tomorrow, a position I haven't been in before, but I'm excited about.
Q: How do you feel about being in the final group on Sunday?
A: I'm very excited about it. … That's a dream come true is to just kind of see what it's like. I don't think I've ever had a round where I've been nervous on every single swing, shot and putt. I'm sure that will happen tomorrow, but hopefully I can channel it positively and stay grounded, stay cool, and see what happens.
Q: How do you look at your play at Amen Corner (11, 12, 13)?
A: I played Amen Corner over par today. I played it under par the first day. I think I'm probably even-total on it. The wind was died down, and I had a pretty good number into 11 and played the wrong shot. I took an extra club to try and hit it perfect. I left myself in too difficult of a spot, but played the smart shot and got out with bogey. On that hole you can make a lot worse. I gave myself a good look on 12 and 13. Didn't quite make it. I don't look at it as Amen Corner, I stand on the tee box and look at it as each individual hole. When you get through and look back, that's when you realize that you played maybe the most famous three holes in golf. It's fun, I enjoy it. It's really peaceful on 12 and 13 green when there aren't people there.
Q: What will you do on Sunday before your tee time?
A: I've been in a position where I've been off late. I'm not sure. … I'm going to try and forget about it, just stay away from it, just hang with my friends and family that are here and play a little ping pong, a little pool, and whatever else is at the house and try and sleep in a little, work out, go through the same routine. We'll see, but, ultimately, I guarantee you, I'll have enough energy tomorrow.
WORDS WITH … OLIVER GOSS, LOW AMATEUR
Q: What does it mean to be the low amateur to you?
A: It means a lot. … To know that I'm going to be in Butler Cabin on Sunday is huge. And I honestly don't think it's quite hit me yet, just trying to focus on my round ahead. I'm really proud to make the weekend and be low amateur.
Q: How much did the crowd recognize that it was your 20th birthday?
A: I got a couple hundred happy birthdays from the crowd. And then after the last hole the crowd got a happy birthday song going, which was great.
Q: Can an amateur win this event?
A: You know, I'm not too sure. It really depends on the player. If they're good enough then maybe, who knows. But I think it's going to take a lot of experience around here to really get to know the course.
Q: How exhausting was this week?
A: I'm really exhausted. I've been here since Friday afternoon. So I've been here eight days now. And just focusing on the one event, it's really tiring. I think I can take that away into my next tournaments.
WORDS WITH … U.S. OPEN CHAMP JUSTIN ROSE
Q: How was your round of 69?
A: I four-putted the second, giving at least a shot and a half there. But my ball stayed dry at 15, probably gained a shot and a half there. So all in all I got to be happy. I think if I just boil it down to maybe the last couple holes. I would love to have snuck a couple or been a couple better going into tomorrow, but at the same time, Bubba at this point is keeping me in it. There's a lot of players I think going to be in with a chance tomorrow. Anybody under par going into tomorrow has a good shot.
Q: Any frustration about the 76 in Round 1?
A: I haven't really thought about it because it is what it is, so you can't do much about it. Maybe scheduling going into next year, maybe coming off the back of two weeks is something I'll look at because of that. But like I said, two weeks off might suit me tomorrow. I might be fresher. If I go and post a great round of golf, it will look like the best two weeks off of golf I've ever had. So I'll have to see what tomorrow brings, but, yeah, it's something I'll definitely evaluate.
WORDS WITH … IAN POULTER
Q: How disappointed are you with the round of 70 and shooting 2 over the final eight holes?
A: Four-under for the day and cruising. And 4 under for the day should have been a couple more, as well. Made a couple of mistakes. I didn't take advantage of the par 5s on the back nine from perfect position. So I'm disgusted with my round of golf. 70, the way I played yesterday was really disappointing. And I think I'm even more disappointed today. As good as it is on the leaderboard and I've got a chance tomorrow, I'm not very happy.
Q: You tweeted about Thursday’s round, how disappointed you were with that, hoping to come back and play better on Friday, which obviously you did to make the cut. When you came in this morning what were you thinking that you could do?
A: Depending on pin locations today, before going out, there were birdie opportunities. They gave us the opportunity today. They definitely put a ton of water on the greens, which, I think, was needed. So the guys that were going to go out there in the morning definitely had the chance to make inroads into Bubba. And that's why I'm so angry. Looking where they put those pin positions, they wanted guys to move forward. And guys certainly are going to move forward today from the back of the pack. There's only a few guys that have done that because the greens dry out very quickly and they get really, really fast. So it's easy to make mistakes. And it's just really disappointing when you've played so well as you have to walk off 2 under par. It's just not right.
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