MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 6, 2026

Patrick Reed

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen. We are pleased to welcome 2018 Masters champion, Patrick Reed.

Patrick, you've had some incredible memories around here over the years, including last year in the final round, you made it from the fairway on 17 for a 2, which helped you to a third-place finish. What is it about Augusta National that suits your game?

PATRICK REED: I think the biggest thing is it's one of those places where you have to stay patient. It's one of those golf courses where I always try to press, and this golf course is exactly what golf is. You have to stay in the present. You have to stay patient and believe in yourself.

I feel like anytime I get here, I get out of being that robot and just kind of be creative, hit golf shots, and play golf and kind of what you see. Because of that, it's one of those places that I love to come every year.

Q. For as long as I've known you, 16 years, you've loved this golf tournament. Do you get emotional coming back?

PATRICK REED: I do. There's just something so special about this place, the traditions behind it, and then on top of it, it's the one major that stays in the same place.

All the way back from when I played my first time ever here, even when we played in November that one year, and any time I've come back and played it, it's always in perfect shape. It's one of those golf courses that you can't hit just one golf shot, you have to play golf kind of old-school way. You have to hit shots, different shapes, different flights and everything.

I feel like it's the best test of golf we play all year round. For a guy that's played just about everywhere in the world, just about, it's one of those places that I say hands down it's the best test of golf and best golf course I've ever played.

Q. Patrick, you're in terrific form right now. Since you won here in 2018, have you ever felt this good returning to Augusta?

PATRICK REED: I always feel really good coming in. It's one of these things that, being the first major, you always try to come in and obviously be in great form, but it's very easy to kind of put too much pressure on yourself being the first major.

The first time I actually kind of decided just to let go and play golf was '18, and that got the job done. That being said, that's what I plan on doing. I try it every time I play majors, I try to treat it like another event. It definitely is a special place. Driving up Magnolia Lane, you always sit there and you always feel really good driving in, especially as a past champion. But hopefully we can make some more memories. The one jacket is getting a little lonely. Might need one more.

Q. You mentioned you need to be creative out here and hit different shots. I'm curious what kind of different chip shots you have in your arsenal that you kind of have to use well this week?

PATRICK REED: You hope to not chip very often. Chipping around here becomes very difficult. It's not -- you're always going to get a great lie. It's not the lie that's the issue. The issue is how firm and fast they get these greens with the slope, so you have to make perfect contact.

For me, I just feel like I just -- I get more into the golf shot on the chips. You really have to pick your landing spots and just hit quality chip shots and miss in the right spots.

I think that's the best thing about this place is that on every flag, there's a spot you can miss that makes a pretty easy up-and-down. But you can miss in some spots here that you don't think are that bad and you get there and you're just like, okay, trying to get within seven or eight feet.

Obviously the more spin you can produce, the better, but it's hard. It's hard chipping around here, and that's why I love it.

Q. You've just said you've played everywhere in the world. Coming in here, I've made a list. Just since 2022 you've played in 27 different countries, and Texas, if you count that, 28. So my question is with all this world travel, how has it -- different cultures, different food, different languages. How has it changed you?

PATRICK REED: First off, you just made me feel really tired telling me how much I've traveled. No, I think the biggest thing is just appreciating the sport, appreciating the different cultures and different places.

I'm the type that, when I travel, everyone kind of gets their creature of habit and wants to eat what they're comfortable and go, but I like checking out all the local places and really experiencing the culture. With having the opportunity to be able to play worldwide and be a worldwide player, to really dive in and experience the cultures, experience the different cuisines, different areas, different places, it's something that's true to me, and it's a reason I love traveling and playing worldwide.

Q. As you think about coming back to the PGA TOUR full-time, how do you think this international experience will shape your future back on the PGA TOUR?

PATRICK REED: I'm really excited obviously to come back to the PGA TOUR. With the opportunities I had playing on LIV and different areas that I've ever played and same thing with all the places I've played in DP, I think what really is going to help me is obviously continue supporting and playing worldwide. I love playing worldwide.

But to be able to come back and see the guys and just really experiencing and kind of growing my game. It's the grasses and just kind of the time changes and everything around the world, I feel like it sharpens your game. Because all these guys at this level, when they're on, they're on. It doesn't matter where you're playing or anything like that.

But it's the days when you're not having the best of days, being able to get that round still par or under-par. When you're traveling around the world, some days you feel great, some days you don't because it's whatever, different beds, different time zones, anything. I think that's just going to help me when I come back and play against these guys.

Q. Just curious, I've talked to a few guys, and this feels like a year that's pretty wide open. There are not a few favorites, but there are a lot of favorites and a lot of guys. Would you agree with that assessment? You've been around long enough playing this event. Does it feel like that every year?

PATRICK REED: I just feel like with how deep golf has been, especially this past year to two years, that the fields are obviously getting a lot stronger. I feel like the field this week is really strong like always. I feel like it used to be five or six, maybe seven guys. No, I definitely feel like this year you have 10 to 12 guys who have a really legitimate opportunity to win the green jacket.

It just makes this event a little bit more special and even more fun going out there and playing against the best.

Q. You've had a few weeks off coming into this tournament. When's the last time you've taken this big of a break at this point in the season? What did you do at home game-wise, and what did the time off allow you to do maybe off the course getting stuff done around the house or something like that?

PATRICK REED: I have no idea when the last time was I took three or four weeks off before Augusta. It's been an unbelievable break. I've been out there obviously grinding, working on the game, but having the opportunity to take little man over to some golf lessons and then go to St. Louis with my daughter for volleyball tournaments.

It's awesome to just be a dad. Go out and do my work early in the morning and come back and pick my kids up from school and have a great time. That's something that I definitely missed, I felt like, through not just last year, but also early in my career because I was always go, go, go, and focusing on golf 24/7.

This chapter of my life, to have that balance to be at home and spend time with the kids and the family and have a great time, and leave work at work, and when I'm at home, drive Justine a little crazy by being a dad and running around the house with the kids.

Q. So you're not your son's main golf instructor then?

PATRICK REED: No. I help him, but he has a coach and everything. We'll go out and play, and I'll build on the things he's working on and just, you know, show him the game, show him the game that I love and just have fun with it.

With him being eight, it's just go out and have a good time, have fun. The more they have fun, the more they're going to want to be out there playing. So just go out there and just have fun and let the coach do his job and let dad be dad.

Q. You've had a pretty good run recently. I'm just wondering if you could put your finger on what might be the difference specifically in your game? That's the first question, and I've got a follow-up also.

PATRICK REED: I think the biggest thing was just kind of consistency of ball striking. I've worked a lot on it obviously throughout my whole career. Some days are really good, and some days I feel like it could be a little better. I feel like the hard work that we put in and worked on with my full swing, I've got that in a really good place and feel really confident with it.

Because of that, it just allows me to attack more. Rather than leaning on the short game to save me, now I use it as a weapon because I hit the ball better. I can attack more flags, get a little closer proximity; and then if I miss, I feel comfortable to go get up-and-down.

Q. At the risk of being personal here, did you lose some weight?

PATRICK REED: Must be all that traveling.

Q. Did you?

PATRICK REED: I don't really hop on the scale or anything. No, I mean, I feel good. Obviously been working a little bit harder in the gym since I've had some time. Just been grinding on and off the golf course, but I haven't been really trying to do anything differently.

Q. You said earlier this year that the PGA TOUR is the best tour in the world. Is that something that you've always known, or is that something you realized when you were playing LIV?

PATRICK REED: No, I've always known. When you look at it, the best players in the world and the deepest fields from top to bottom are on the PGA TOUR. I've played now every tour. I've played on every single one of them.

It's one of those that from top to bottom that's the place that I feel like is best for us to go and compete against the top guys year in and year out, week in and week out; but at the same time, to be able to spend more time closer to home makes it a lot easier to spend time with the kids. My daughter is now eleven; little man's eight. It seems like time has flown. I definitely want to watch them grow up and be home a little bit more; yet still at the same time to play against the best guys.

Q. When you went to Dubai to start the year, it seems from your comments that you had every intention or were expecting to resume with LIV this season. When did that change? Did Brooks' decision open up your eyes to the possibilities? Can you take us through like maybe how that all came about? It seemed like it happened very quickly.

PATRICK REED: Yeah, it definitely happened quickly, but it was one of those that, when I was over there in Dubai and playing, I really just kind of was sitting back and realizing that I wanted to get back and not only join -- have an opportunity back on the PGA TOUR, but get back to the traditional way of golf and playing.

When I stood there in Dubai, that Saturday the entire range is full, and then guys just start disappearing, and you're the last man on that tee box. Then you're walking to the tee, you're the last name announced, and you've lost the lead because someone is 5-under through 8. All those just rushes and those scenarios, kind of going back into playing golf that way, where you're going out there and you're having the battles between not just yourself, but the other guys on the leaderboard.

For me, I wanted that back, I wanted that adrenaline back, and those feelings, especially with the way I played those last three weeks. But really there in Dubai.

When I got done, I knew this would be a perfect time for me since I didn't have a contract signed with LIV at the time, so I knew it would be kind of an easier transition. To be honest with you, it was one of those decisions that I felt like was the best, not just for the golf game, but also for my family to spend more time with them. I've enjoyed every minute of it obviously being at home and spending time with the kiddos and my wife.

It's one of those that was a family decision, and really at the end of the day, I really enjoyed all my time over there at LIV. It was a blast. Those guys are fun to be around, fun to play with. Especially there on the 4Aces. I still pull for them. I saw D.J. the other way. We're always making sure that those guys are doing what they're supposed to do because really you want the best of golf all around the world no matter what.

For me, I felt like this was the best place for me.

Q. Is it true, fair that you did have an offer from them and you were happy with it, it wasn't about what they didn't come back with to you?

PATRICK REED: No, we had an offer, but at the end of the day, it was kind of one of those that, when I sat down at the end of the day and talked with my wife and my team, I just felt like the best decision for us was to come back and join the PGA TOUR so I could be closer to home and with the family.

Yeah, there's nothing that I felt like was going on between LIV and us or anything like that. Like I said, we had a contract, had a deal, but at the end of the day, I felt like the best thing for us was to come to the PGA TOUR again.

Q. I see you are repping a few new logos this week on your shirt and your hat and still wearing Under Armour. What's it been like being an apparel free agent since leaving the LIV?

PATRICK REED: It's been fun. It's been fun for me. It's one of those things that it definitely is, when we made the decision, going back and trying to find sponsors and doing all that again was definitely a lot harder to figure out.

For me, I just go out and play golf, but for my team and everybody, they've been obviously having to deal with phones and all that. It's been a lot of fun. I've really enjoyed wearing the Under Armour stuff, especially putting it on for the first time and going and getting a win and then winning the second of three.

No, I've enjoyed it. It's been a lot of fun. The biggest thing is now trying to figure out what I'm going to wear each and every day because normally everything's scripted.

Q. Thinking long term, do you think about your legacy, and what would you like your legacy to be?

PATRICK REED: I think we're always thinking about our legacy. We always go out there and try to improve, not just on the golf course, but as a person and outside the golf course.

I obviously want to be known as a player that's just not a guy that plays at one spot. I've always wanted to be a worldwide player, play around the world, play on all the tours. To have that opportunity to come back and spend time with the family, at this point of my career I obviously want to go out and play as many golf tournaments as I can and hopefully still shoot to win all the majors.

Really I want to be known more for what I do off the course, for the stuff at home, the father that I am, the husband I am, rather than just the golfer. Everybody knows I can play golf.

Q. When we were in Dubai, you seemed to be almost re-animated by the thought of what you were doing next. Do you think that was reflected in your result that week and the subsequent weeks, and do you still feel like you've got that burst coming here?

PATRICK REED: Obviously it helps playing that type of golf when you're making a decision like that. Really I just feel that it was time coming to win the golf game. It was going to all kind of come together, where we're going to have chances to win some golf tournaments and close them out. Just happened to happen at that right time.

The golf game feels solid. I feel like every tool in my golf bag right now is sharp and ready to go. Now it's just kind of go out and play golf and just have clear pictures while I'm out there and just go out and have some fun.

Q. Patrick, it's been seven years since you last came into this room as the defending champion. You finished top 10 four times since then. Have you felt a little bit overlooked here? Is that any kind of motivation for you?

PATRICK REED: I never feel overlooked when I come back to being a past champion at Augusta. Obviously, love being in this room. It means you're doing something well.

No, anytime I come out here, it's just kind of one of those things that you put your head down. The stresses over every single golf shot you have here at Augusta, it's one of those places that you're not really thinking about what's going on outside and everything else. You're trying to grind every little moment that you are inside the ropes when you're out there on the golf course playing. Hopefully we'll be in here Thursday through Sunday.

Q. The 13th tee is so secluded from the patrons, the cameras, and just overall tournament buzz. For those who won't ever experience that, can you take us to that Masters tee -- your emotions, your feelings, what you're seeing at that stage of the course?

PATRICK REED: We get to 13 tee, you're either really happy or really upset because of whatever happened on 11 and 12. It's one of those that, when you get to 13, obviously that par-5, now they've actually -- they've helped me out. With lengthening that hole, I don't have to worry about hitting it through. I just kind of hit it down the left side of the fairway there and don't have to really worry about going through too far.

It used to be, I would say, before they lengthened it, probably a really gettable and easy par-5. Now you have to hit two quality shots in order to get the ball on the green there. When you get back to that tee box, it's a 30-second sigh of relief that you got through 12.

Then once you get to 13, you have to step up and hit a quality tee shot now. Even with that hit longer, now you have that chute you're hitting through. You just hope that you're hitting a quality tee shot and you can set yourself up for either an eagle or a birdie there on 13 and get to the house.

Q. As one of the most widely traveled golfers in the world last year and even this year, what do you think of Augusta National and R&A's plans or decision of having the national Open winners getting into the two tournaments? Many of the tournaments you have played yourself.

PATRICK REED: I think it's amazing. For what Augusta National has done to allow the national Opens to experience and play in the Masters, I think is huge not only for those events, but also for golf in general.

To take a step in recognizing that the national Opens are important events, not only to each Tour, but also to those countries. To be able to play -- obviously I've played some of them the last two years. Just to see the elevated, the amount of players that come play and how much that elevates those events, I think is amazing. You're growing the game, not just here at Augusta National, but they're helping grow the game now worldwide, which is very important.

When you drive down -- I'll never forget driving down Magnolia Lane the first time, the goosebumps you have just driving in. As a player, as a competitor, that's what all of us have dreamed about. How many times all these kids, and even myself growing up, and you're sitting there on the putting green, oh, I have to get this up-and-down to win my green jacket. I have to make this putt in order to win.

To have a chance, an opportunity to come play, I think it's absolutely amazing for what Augusta National has done to allow those national Opens into the event.

Q. Patrick, do you have many -- speaking of what you just said, do you have many memories playing at The Patch growing up?

PATRICK REED: I don't. I lived here for three years. I basically spent my time at Forest Hills and Jones Creek. Those are really the only places I was playing.

Then obviously when we were in college, we played every Monday at Augusta Country Club, which was the biggest tease ever because you're always walking down there and having to look always walking down and you're seeing down 13. But, no, I've never actually went over there and never had the opportunity to go play The Patch.

Q. What do you think having that course renovated and made up to a much higher level going to do for this community?

PATRICK REED: I think it's going to be huge for the community. Just what golf teaches you with self-discipline, motivation, determination, and also patience. I think it's huge for anywhere to grow the game of golf and have an opportunity to elevate, whether it's facilities, golf courses, just more golf courses, more accessibility the better.

Q. Tomorrow night's dinner, it's going to have two notable absentees. It must feel quite surreal for neither of those guys to be there. Also just didn't know if you wanted to comment on what happened with Tiger.

PATRICK REED: With Tiger, I think everyone is probably in the same boat, that they're just very grateful that he's okay and that everyone else that was involved is okay. Hopefully he's able to kind of get a speedy recovery and get back here to golf as fast as he can.

Let's be honest, without Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson in the events, in golf, when they both step away, honestly I feel it hurts the game of golf, but at the same time, we want them to come back and be healthy and ready to go.

Q. How do you plan on handling the next few months? You spoke a couple of times about wanting to be at home more, but obviously you're currently playing on a Tour that's far away from home.

PATRICK REED: We've been looking at the schedule and obviously figuring out when and where my runs are going to be and kind of going overseas.

Yeah, this year is obviously going to be an exception. This year, because playing on DP, I'll be over there the whole time supporting their Tour throughout the year. I'm excited. I can't wait to get back to playing with those guys and everything like that.

At the same time, it's one of those things that, when I am home, you obviously cherish those moments because, when you have these three-week runs, those are obviously special and fun. You not only sharpen your game, but you get a lot of family time and spend time with them.

Those travels overseas, it's going to be a lot this year, but at the same time, I can't wait to obviously go out there and compete, but at the same time, come home and see the family.