MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 9, 2023

Viktor Hovland

Quick Quotes

Q. How do you feel about your chances now compared to about four hours ago?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I'd say I'm liking it a lot better. Definitely coming in with some momentum off of that back nine. That was really nice. We've still got a lot of work ahead. I need to post a really good number later this afternoon.

Q. Given your position, does that change your strategy in this final round?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Not really. The strategy is basically the same, but I feel like it maybe helps my mindset a little bit. I have to go out there and get it. So if I can keep the mindset that I had on that back nine versus maybe the guys in the lead, they feel like they have to protect maybe a little bit more. So hopefully I can take advantage of that.

Q. We were talking earlier this week about the short game work you've been doing with Joe. How optimistic are you about your overall game now that that is improving?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Yeah, I've had a big hole that's been leaking, and I'm starting to plug those holes. When I'm just practicing, it looks really, really nice. I would put my short game up against anyone in the practice area, but it's a little bit different doing it out here and trusting it.

I think that's kind of the last piece of the puzzle is just trusting the work instead of trying to control and steer a good shot. It's more just kind of trusting that technique and letting it happen.

Q. What was most pleasing on the back nine?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: I mean, the start was really nice, the 7-iron into 11. That was really nice. Hit that one close and really take advantage of a good break on 12 after I hit a 9-iron in the -- basically in the trees and bounced back and chipped in there. That's kind of when things were starting to roll.

Q. Is it difficult not to get ahead of yourself when you're on a roll like that and staying in the present?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: A little bit. You think, oh, I can birdie this hole. 15, we've got a par-5. Some of these pins, if you hit a good iron shot, you can give yourself a pretty makable putt. But at the same time, you hit a bad shot, now you're staring at bogey.

So it's just one of those places where, yeah, you can be aggressive, but if you miss in the wrong spots, it goes the other way quick.

Q. Given the wind and the softness of the course, you tell me if it's soft or not. The temperature -- how is this course playing right now?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: It's still playing pretty long. It's still a little bit wet in the ground. So the ball spins a lot. It's cold. It's getting a little windy. So some of those holes into the wind are playing really long.

But as you said, the greens are receptive. So if you're hitting good shots, you can take them at the pin, and they're going to stop. So I guess that's the only saving grace around here.

Q. Is there difficulty in adjusting numbers given all those conditions?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: The softness of the greens helps a lot. It is a little bit difficult getting used to how short the ball's going. The first few holes that I played, I hit a good wedge into No. 9 that just spun back. No. 10, I hit a decent 8-iron that wasn't even close to sniffing the green. Yeah, it just took a couple holes for me to kind of get the yardages right.

Q. What's your target this afternoon?

VIKTOR HOVLAND: Don't really have a target. If I play like I did today and I just stay in that good mindset, I can easily go and roll off a few birdies in a row and make a few nice saves. But it looks like the wind is going to be blowing. So it could be -- or it should be a great test.