MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 7, 2026

Jacob Bridgeman

Quick Quotes

Q. Amen Corner, for those that haven't seen it, definitely haven't played it, does the mystique live up to the actual experience?

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah. I mean, walking around that little area of land is pretty special. It seems like every year the tournament goes through there on Sunday, that's kind of where things happen. That's where mistakes are made or birdies are made to kind of jump the leaderboard.

So, yeah, a lot of history there. It feels cool to be walking around, but trying to get some work done as well because those holes are pretty difficult. 11 is a really hard hole, especially with the length they've added and the green complex.

So, yeah, I feel like I have done a pretty good job of trying to stay focused as I'm walking around this place, but it's hard not to take it in at the same time and just kind of smell the flowers.

Q. What did you focus on today in playing those three holes the most?

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Probably where to leave the second shot. They can be very penalizing. 11, if you hit it in the wrong spot, those chips from right of the green to the front right pins are pretty challenging with the water kind of right behind where the chip is.

12, you gotta be pretty precise on the number. I hit it short in the water today, kind of got the wind wrong and hit a fade into it and ended up way short.

Yeah, I think the second shots are very important, just as any shot is here on the course. But on those holes specifically, you gotta know where to leave it.

Q. You talk about maintaining your focus. What's your excitement level as you get closer and closer to teeing off in the Masters on Thursday?

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah. I was sitting on the couch yesterday thinking like, man, it's already Monday night. I've already been out here for two days. I wish it was going a little slower.

But, yeah, I'm excited to get going on Thursday. I think once competition starts, I'll be in that kind of mode and kind of tune out all the rest of it. But practice days I'm trying to take it easy the best I can. I know over the years people have told me that you can wear yourself out just by being here, wanting to play a lot of golf, wanting to practice a ton, so that's been my main focus.

Q. I just interviewed your wife and your mom and your dad.

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah? No way!

Q. They talk about how you were 10 years old, getting autographs, coming to this course. What does it mean to have them here with you to be your support?

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah. I've got a lot of people here. We've kind of had to plan out when the tickets were going to be sent to different people and how we could get everybody here. So it's been amazing.

My parents came down this morning. My wife's parents came down this morning, and I think they're just as excited as we are, kind of taking it all in.

I was able to play with my dad last week in here, which was probably one of the coolest moments in my life.

Yeah, it's been a blast. First Masters I think is always going to be special to me, and hopefully we can keep having fun as the years progress.

Q. You mentioned coming here 10 years old, getting autographs. So how old were you when it became a goal of yours to actually play in the Masters?

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah. I don't know if I could pinpoint a specific point, but I came here when I was 10 and was able to do the par-3 contest, kind of watch all the people and get a lot of autographs. That was a neat year.

I think I've always wanted to be a professional golfer. If I could pinpoint one point when I knew I was going to be a pro was probably after my freshman year in college. I think that was the decision I said I was going to go all with golf, and I knew I could do it.

But, yeah, I think any kid growing up, that's the dream is to play in a Masters. And, yeah, when I turn pro, I think that's what any pro is trying to go for. You want to win, you want to make TOUR Championship, but I think on top of all of it, you want to play in a Masters.

Q. What does it mean to see people wearing Clemson gear following you around here at Augusta National?

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah, it's cool. We're sort of local. It's only two hours from my house, probably two-and-a-half from Clemson people. So we've got quite a few fans around, and it's good to see Clemson people. We have a pretty tight-knit family.

Q. You're part of the, I guess, the PGA TOUR you generation that has found recent success and immediate success in professional golf. How much did your collegiate and amateur career kind of help you maybe get to where you are right now as quickly as you did?

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah. I think that was paramount to getting here and getting to be a pretty good professional. At Clemson I got a lot better in four years.

I was okay when I got in. I was kind of a late bloomer in junior golf and had some success, but when I got to school, I kind of started over, started at the bottom and had to figure out how to get better, and I had a wonderful coaching staff in Coach Penley and Coach Byrd that helped me get a lot better in four years, mentally and physically, with my golf game.

I think my biggest jump was from age 18 to maybe 22, and they've also been great support system as I've turned pro.

Q. A lot of perks to play in the Masters as a professional, but is there a little bit of envy of those six guys that are doing it as an amateur this week?

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah, I mean, I wish I had had that opportunity, but I'm pretty satisfied with being here. At some point in my life I wanted to play the Masters, and I think at age 26 I would take it. Even though I'm not 22 and an amateur anymore, but I think I'll take it.

Q. In all of your years watching the Masters, is there one year, one tournament that stands out to you or one special moment by a player that really stands out?

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: I think the coolest one for me, I was watching the Masters -- I can't remember what year it was -- when Phil won, hit it from the trees on 13. That's one of the special shots I remember as a kid watching.

And then I was here the year that Sergio won, and I was here with my cousin. We drove down from Clemson, and I was probably 16. And we were on 18th green, kind of just waiting for people to come through, and we got to watch -- to the left pin, we got to watch Justin Rose get in the playoff. It was neat. That was a pretty cool year.

Q. What type of representation do you represent from kids from what your family calls a small town in the Upstate making it to golf's biggest stage? And then, also, your wife is saying you're a believer. So what message would you want to share how your faith is carrying you through this journey?

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah. I had a very good upbringing in Inman, South Carolina. There's not a whole lot going on there, but I have wonderful parents, and my wife has wonderful parents as well. And we've got a very tight-knit family that I think supports us in our marriage, supports me in my golf career.

Everyone around the town is starting to reach out. And I don't feel like anyone is taking advantage of me, and I think that's just a small-town vibe.

It's easy to, I think, share excitement and share joy with people like that that you love and feel like you're supported through.

And being a faithful person, it seems like there's kind of a little bit less pressure on me to perform. It's more of I'm blessed to be here, I'm thankful for the opportunity. I've been blessed tremendously in my life in my young pro career, and I attribute all that to God. I wouldn't be here if He didn't choose me on this path and give me that opportunity.

Q. Congratulations and good luck to you this week. So Inman. Chapman High School?

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah, yeah.

Q. Win a state championship there?

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah, in golf, yeah. And watching my buddies win in football, I think, in '16 or '17 when we were in school. Yeah, we had a great school. We got a lot of good athletes.

Q. Okay. Thank you. Appreciate your time.

JACOB BRIDGEMAN: Yeah, of course.