MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 13, 2025

Justin Thomas

Quick Quotes

Q. Tell me about the finish to your round. How did you feel?

JUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah, obviously felt like I was just starting to hit my stride, unfortunately, as the tournament week is over. But I played really nicely today. I didn't have anything feel like to show for it, which is a bummer, so it was nice.

It always kind of sucks when this week is over and you don't -- you're nowhere near contention. But I till have a big golf tournament next week and plenty more so I was trying to build for that and feel like I did. I played nicely, just didn't have anything to show.

It's good to leave with a little better taste in my mouth.

Q. How do you adjust your game to go to Harbour Town and second of all, your mind. It's a different vibe.

JUSTIN THOMAS: Very different, but it's very, very similar in a different way in the golf course sense you have to be extremely patient. I don't think you can really force the issue there.

Just very similar to here. You kind of hit your tee shot and see what you got, and if it's an opportunity to attack or not, you go from there. But it's very similar to here to where I feel like if you try to make birdies when you're not in a position to make birdie you can get things going the wrong way. Just try to do a little better of job of that next week and just be a little sharper and we'll be good.

Q. Will you go straight from here to there?

JUSTIN THOMAS: Tomorrow, yeah.

Q. How has that course changed, Harbour Town, over the years, since you've been?

JUSTIN THOMAS: Not much. I think it's one of the best courses we play. I think it's -- every architect or person that thinks that the golf ball should be changed and golf courses should be longer should just go there, and you can pretty clearly see that length isn't the answer.

It's just a better design. Designing it properly with having to hit the ball in certain places and angles, I think it's definitely one of the coolest courses in the world, one of the best ones we play, and hopefully we get weather like this and they can get it a little firm and fast because it's every bit as difficult as we'd want.

Q. You've had a very solid start to the season. How happy are you with the way your game is trending coming up to the rest of the big events this year?

JUSTIN THOMAS: Yeah, I'm pleased. Obviously bummed to not play better this week at a place that I love and really, really feel like is good for my game. But it's just one week. I think it's easy to get wrapped up or to be frustrated that I didn't play better at the Masters, the first major.

But it's a long career, and it's also a long season. It's big picture, not just -- this entire year isn't based off of this event. So I'm just trying to keep building and building and trying to improve and just get better and better.

Q. Talk about the Ryder Cup; you're just outside the ranking of the top 6 at the moment. How big a priority is that this year?

JUSTIN THOMAS: Extremely. I've not really enjoyed the last two team events having to rely on a pick. It doesn't put -- it's a tough spot to be in, but it's also self-inflicted.

If I don't want to be there, just play better and qualify automatically. It's a huge goal of mine, but I feel like if I keep doing what I'm doing and get in contention to win some tournaments and start winning some tournaments and majors, then it'll all take care of itself.

Q. You missed the 2019 PGA at Bethpage. Have you experienced the course?

JUSTIN THOMAS: I have. We had a playoff event there in '16, '17, something like that, so I played there and have before. It's a brutal golf course.

Q. The atmosphere I assume is one you're not going to miss, either. It looks like it's going to be some event.

JUSTIN THOMAS: It is. The northeast has some very, very passionate sports fans. The Ryder Cup always brings it out no matter where it is in the world.

Yeah, I'm obviously very, very hopefully or really want to make that team and get to experience those fans in hopefully a home course advantage of my own.

Q. Luke Donald reckons you need experience, and he's looking at that more than anything. Do you think the American team needs experience to handle that atmosphere, as well? Do you think it's slightly different than home?

JUSTIN THOMAS: I think experience is important in any home or away. It's definitely important away. I think it's just totally different. Even if you've had a chance to win tournaments and even major championships, it's just -- at least to me it's a totally different feel at a Ryder Cup.

The nerves I've felt at that event are unlike anything I've ever experienced in my career, but it's good and fun nerves. But there's two great captains on both sides, and that's why they are who they are. They'll be able to make those decisions themselves.

Q. Are you ready to be the heart and soul of the American team again?

JUSTIN THOMAS: Whatever, as long as we bring the Cup home, that's all that matters.