MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 7, 2026

Corey Conners

Quick Quotes

Q. Back here at Augusta. Do you have a favorite place on the golf course every year that you sort of feel the most happy when you're there?

COREY CONNERS: I feel like when standing in the 11th fairway, start of Amen Corner, you know, the beauty there. You know, seeing it again definitely puts a smile on your face.

So many picturesque places on this golf course and lots of good memories here, so excited to be back.

Q. What about some of the spots on Amen Corner that you really can't get to unless you're a playing, like getting back to the other side of 12 and the tee there on 13?

COREY CONNERS: Honestly, starting in the fairway on the 11th, you know, the peacefulness starts. It's pretty serene around that green. The 12th green back on the 13 tee. Some really peaceful and beautiful places and spots on the course.

Q. And that stretch as a stretch, all the other famous stretches in golf are sort of known for just being complete brutes. Amen Corner can go your way or go the other way.

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I don't want to say it's easy. It certainly can be a brute. But it gives you opportunities to hit great golf shots and get rewarded. That's the fun in it.

Q. Coming into this week after a break, how are you feeling right now and how is your game?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I feel good. I certainly missed playing the Valero Texas Open in San Antonio. Excited to be here. Body, mind are feeling good and the golf game is feeling good. Got in some good work at home last week.

Yeah, definitely excited to be here and feel like my game is in a good spot.

Q. You've had so many good results here over the last half dozen years or so. Why is that?

COREY CONNERS: I think love the golf course, love how it sets up. I feel like my iron play has been on a number of those years and that's an important aspect of the game.

You need everything to be working to contend here, but the iron play has been sharp and that's definitely helped me.

Q. How was the game this morning?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, game felt good. Nice to be out there again with Mike. Really close with Nick, and Gary joined us. Fun morning. Game felt good. A little cooler this morning starting off, but perfect day now and the course was playing great.

Q. Any perceptible changes to your eye?

COREY CONNERS: No. I think couple of the greens have maybe been resurfaced, but the topography seems the same. The way the golf course is playing it's going to be a treat to be playing this weekend.

It's in really good shape and it's going to be a good test.

Q. In the group ahead of you Jason Day was playing. I was watching him hit some flop shots on the 9th green there. Obviously very tough around a lot of these greens. Do you ever as a pro channel someone from your past or a player out there around these greens?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, honestly Jason Day is a great example. His short game and putting is as good as it gets. Had the opportunity to play with him at The PLAYERS Championship and have played with him a number of times over the years.

Just watching him go about his business on and around the greens is amazing. I definitely -- hopefully some of that rubs off into your game. I definitely am watching how he's going about hitting shots or his process and trying to channel a little bit of that because he is so good in those areas.

Q. Corey, the amateurs had a really nice dinner last night. Can you compare and contrast your anticipation as a amateur versus a professional?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, having a lot of experience now, I'm excited to come here. The first time was truly special. Was trying to soak everything in it. Again, remember that dinner very fondly that I had as an amateur back in 2015. I think my expectations have grown a little bit as I've got more experience around here.

Still want to certainly enjoy the week, but I feel like really want to get focused on playing some good golf. Every year really excited to get back here.

Q. Best words of advice for amateurs trying to make that low amateur or make the cut this week?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I think just trust in your game. Sticking to what got you here. Have a smile on your face. Have some fun. Enjoy the experience.

Q. When you rolled in this year and saw the big construction behind the practice tee there what was your reaction?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I was blown away. It's incredible what they're able to do here at Augusta National. The player hospitality facility at the locker room over there, it's unbelievable. You wouldn't know it was just constructed.

It's really well done and it's got everything that we need to prepare for the round. Great gym, physio area, locker room. Nice area -- my wife was excited. There is a nice area for family for her to get some food and just it's just awesome.

Yeah, really blown away the last few days walking in there. They did a wonderful job and definitely going to add to the experience this year.

Q. This is your ninth Masters I believe. Played a practice round with Mike. Is there still something you can learn from him?

COREY CONNERS: You know, can always learn things around here. Feel like I've learned a lot over the years and picked his brain a lot.

But, yeah, just some friendly reminders. Some of the angles, if you get out of position on a few the holes, where might be the best place to try and get up and down from.

But, yeah, just fun being out there with him. He's been great to me and all the other Canadians and encouraging us and instilling confidence in us.

Q. On that point, does he playfully say hey, be nice to have you guys in the locker room one day?

COREY CONNERS: He's cheering for us. We know that. We'll see. It's easier said than done.

Q. On the player services area, in terms of the performance side, what's the biggest benefit they put in there?

COREY CONNERS: Just consolidating everything with the physio area; gym is incredible. They had those things in the past just in different locations. So just the ease of everything. Right from the locker room can get into the gym and physio and recovery area after you're finished.

Just the convenience is awesome. They have got everything there we could ever need.

Q. Corey, you talked about playing Amen Corner. How is the experience that you spoke about changed the way you approach those holes, or has it?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I think there are certain shots, certain pins that feel a little bit more comfortable with taking on and trying to be a little bit more aggressive. Otherwise kind of have a conservative strategy to still picking good targets and being aggressive there but not trying to overdo it on some of the shots.

Just trying to simplify it as much as possible.

Q. Masters is one of the only tournaments that tracks all the shots on the range. Wondering how -- if do you use that data or if you look at what people are doing throughout the week to see what kind of shots they're hitting?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, not really. It's kind of -- there is no flat lies on the golf course. You're hitting from a flat lie on the range so you got to use your feel and instinct on the on the golf course.

I'm just looking at typically hit balls with the TrackMan, see how far it's flying. Carry distance is big in my practice and preparation. I think that's an important skill playing the golf course here at Augusta National.

Not looking into that too much.

Q. There are iconic par-3s. 12 and 16 are pretty fun out here. What do you like about those two holes? (No microphone.)

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, you know, both tee shots on paper maybe look simple, but they can be daunting, particularly on 12 with the swirling winds.

They give you the opportunity to hit some great shots. There is some really fun pins on the 16th where you can feed the ball in, and in over the years seen a number of hole-in-ones. You're hoping to hit good shots. Gives you a little bit of room it feed it into the pin couple of those locations.

When they got the pin on the right side on 16 is really tough to get it on the right section. You really got to hit quality shots. Both iconic par-3s like you said and fun to play.

You just got to step up there and hit it in the middle of the face and take what you get.