MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 10, 2025

Sahith Theegala

Quick Quotes

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Q. Can we start with the back nine. Are you impressed with what you achieved on the back nine today?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, it was good. Really been struggling with my irons, so I hit a lot of nice iron shots today. It took me a while to get the speed on the greens. I had a couple -- it felt like three three-putts because I was putting on 2.

But back nine was great. Really got the speed dialed. Really struggling with the draws with my irons. I tried to hit one on 16 and just missed it. It was probably just a bad choice.

But other than that, very happy with the back nine.

Q. You made birdied on three of the par-5s and 10 and 15 were playing particularly hard today.

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, they're two just scary pins. I think if you take it on and hit it where you're supposed to, you have a good chance for birdie.

But I had a good chance to go for it on 13 out of the pine straw, perfect number, perfect lie, but I just wanted to stay disciplined to that pin because if you hit it in the water, that up-and-down is so, so hard today.

It was a bonus definitely for that putt to drop, and then 15 I felt like I played the hole perfect. That greens is so firm. I hit the highest, softest fade in the middle of the green and it still went 10 yards over the green. I was very happy to get a couple of 4s there for sure. Those are some of the best par-5s in the world, if not the best par-5s in the world.

Q. This is your third year here. Which are your favorite holes and which are the ones that you're very wary of?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, I think my course history speaks for itself on holes 2 and 3. I think for some reason I just played so poorly on those two holes.

I don't think I need to switch anything up. Short game is my strength so I like getting it close on 3. On that green it's been brutal for me. I've had so many three-putts on there.

Hole 2, I don't think I've ever hit the green in two there. Those two holes -- I think my favorite hole is probably 15. It's just an unbelievable hole. As a fan, it's the hole I love watching the most.

Every hole on the back nine is incredible, but I think 15 might be my favorite hole, regardless of what I do on there. I've definitely hit it in the water. But that's probably my favorite -- 6 is underrated, too.

6 is a great hole. But I need to figure out how to play 2 and 3.

Q. I know you're pretty okay with even par, but do you think 2-under would have been a fair score for you today?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, yeah. I think I played well enough to shoot that even after being 2-over through 3. I hit it into a lot of good places. I drove it really well. If I keep playing like this, I feel good about tomorrow.

Q. Can you look ahead to the second round and the tee times shifting?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, I watched coverage all morning and I saw balls pretty soft, landing soft, and then the first couple holes it hit me, like this place is playing so firm right now.

I think this place, it gets exacerbated how much more firmer it gets as the day goes on, so I'm very happy to be -- it almost is like another afternoon tee time, but at least middle of the tee times.

But yeah, I've never been close to the end. I think the last couple years I've been really early almost, so I got a taste of this, and it was firm out there. It was tough. So I'm looking forward to tomorrow morning.

Q. How do you plan your evening and recover well when you have an early start?

SAHITH THEEGALA: Yeah, early start, I'm lucky someone on my team has probably already got dinner ready at the house, so just go straight back and relax as fast as possible. I don't work out after a round like this because you're already expending so much energy. So save that for the afternoons after the morning rounds.

But yeah, I'm getting drug tested right now, so add that into the routine. But yeah, just try and get as much sleep as possible. If I can get seven hours or more, that's great.