MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 6, 2026

Johnny Keefer

Quick Quotes

Q. How was the first time here? What was the initial thoughts running through today?

JOHNNY KEEFER: Just kind of cool the nerves a little bit, get out here, get a little bit more comfortable. Easy to do with some great guys. I was out with Jason and Min Woo, and it was a lot of fun. We just enjoyed it, and yeah, this is a special place, so kind of just wanted to take it all in today.

Q. A couple of Aussies; what was the vibe like out there with them?

JOHNNY KEEFER: They're always fun. Jason is great, showing me some -- telling me about his experiences out here. He's played here really well in the past. He's playing really good golf right now. Min Woo has been playing really good too for a little bit. I think this is his fifth Masters, so he's got some experience over me, too. Kind of just picking their brains.

And yeah, the vibe was awesome. They're just really chill guys, crack a few jokes and made me feel a lot more comfortable out here.

Q. Sometimes we have like a welcome to the NFL moment. Do you feel like you've had a welcome to the Masters yet, anything like, holy crap, I'm here?

JOHNNY KEEFER: I hit the ball in the water on 13 and 15, so that was kind of a welcome to the Masters moment.

It's kind of something that you know is probably bound to happen eventually, so you'd rather get it out of the way early in the practice rounds than you would a during the rounds.

I just really enjoyed it, just the entire day. It's a little weird not to think that I was grinding but I was just playing some golf and having fun and really taking it all in.

I would say that the two water balls on the par-5s were welcome to the Masters week.

Q. What's maybe the best piece of advice that you've received that you've leaned on coming through the first day?

JOHNNY KEEFER: Yeah, just being super committed. I had a nice breakfast with Mike Weir, and he was kind enough to give me a little bit of insight into some of his experience that he's had here, and he was just telling me just -- Augusta is just such a special place, but it's also a place where you have to be the most committed to every golf shot more so than a lot of other tournaments we play.

You can't really go into a shot doubting where the wind is or doubting where you want to fly it, land it, yardage, all the different things that you have to think about out here. You've got to be really specific and really committed to every single shot and mostly just enjoy it.

I've heard that a lot, too, just really try and take the experience in, have a lot of fun. It's an incredible place, so just walk around with a smile on.

Q. Did Jason and Min Woo teach you the response to Aussie, Aussie, Aussie?

JOHNNY KEEFER: Oy, oy, oy. I already know it, come on.

Q. Can you tell us about your first memories of the Masters?

JOHNNY KEEFER: You know, I'll tell you, I've never really been nervous over a tee shot in a practice round, and I think I was a little nervous on the first tee shot for me. I think just the coolest part so far has been all the patrons being out here for the practice rounds and just the excitement that I have over every single shot out here. It's truly special. I really want to take it all in.

Q. Can you walk us through to a time from when you received your invitation up until today? How has that been soaking it all in and everything?

JOHNNY KEEFER: Yeah, I'm really glad to be here. I'm trying to soak it in as best as possible. I'm just really excited for that first tee shot. I think -- I'm trying to find ways to get a little bit more comfortable before then.

But I know it's going to have a lot of adrenaline in that tee shot. There's going to be a little bit of nervousness over it.

Just coming out here and enjoying it, having fun, and making sure that that's part of my process every day is kind of the most important part for me.

Q. And your favorite Masters tradition?

JOHNNY KEEFER: Ooh. I haven't gotten to experience it yet, but it's probably going to be the opening tee shots. I think that will be really cool. I'm hoping to get out here a little early and go watch it. I think just getting to see some of the legends of the game tee it up and hit the opening tee shots is really cool, and I think that's something that a lot of tournaments can kind of learn from.

Q. Did you get to skip on 16 yet?

JOHNNY KEEFER: I did, yeah. That's also a really, really good tradition. Yeah, I got it on dry land but it did not go on the green. I'm hoping to save that for Wednesday or something. Yeah, it's a really cool experience, all in all.