MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 9, 2023

Charl Schwartzel

Quick Quotes

Q. How difficult is it out there?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: It's so difficult. Yesterday with the rain was extremely difficult. The ball was squirting off the driver face and the ball was going so short. By the scores you could see it was difficult. Then for me this morning, I struggle in the cold. Again, the ball just wasn't going very far. Course is playing long.

At least it was a little bit soft but it was playing long.

Q. Was there a part of you that was watching right at the end when Sungjae Im and Justin Thomas needed to bogey? Was there a part of you that said, no --

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: No. You know, whenever you can play on the weekend at the Masters, it's an achievement. It's an honor. I was happy to get in.

Q. Under conditions like this, does it become more like a job or do you still enjoy playing?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: I mean, it's difficult. But I don't see it as a burden. It's difficult for everybody. I'm fortunate enough to play the course so many times. I've played it in great conditions, warm conditions, wet conditions, cold. So you just get to experience all of it. It's just very difficult.

Q. On the 9th that was for par, wasn't it?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: No, birdie. One of the few birdies I made today.

Q. How important is it to finish on a birdie like that?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: It's nice. For me, obviously I'm contending to win the tournament, but just trying to get back to level par. I was 6-over and I made two birdies coming in, so maybe this afternoon if I can play well I can achieve my own goal.

Q. Which is?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Just to get back to level.

Q. I saw you had a great laugh there on the 9th. What was that about? Right at the end you were standing with your caddie and having --

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: No, I can't remember. I had a lot of laughs out there today. We laughed at the one on 18. We hit driver, really good driver on 18 and I hit 5-wood in. I've never had to hit furniture into the last hole.

Q. Is the atmosphere -- none of you are in contention obviously at this stage for the green jacket. Is the atmosphere different then? Is it a little bit easygoing, a little more interaction between the players?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: You definitely don't have the pressure of what the guys are facing that's contending for the tournament. Like I said, I'm fortunate enough to come back here every year, so it's nice to walk out there on a Sunday afternoon and play around the Masters and hopefully make some birdies and give the people something to cheer about.