MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 9, 2026

Corey Conners

Quick Quotes

Q. Corey, would you mind just summing up your day out there today?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, the course was playing pretty tricky. There were a lot of hole locations that were really tough to get close to and tough to give yourself birdie chances.

Disappointed with the way I drove the ball. You know, I had three of the par-5s hit poor tee shots to not really give myself the best looks to attack those. A couple of other poor tee balls that, you know, were penalizing and wasn't able to kind of give myself chances.

Yeah, a little disappointing start definitely.

I feel like the game was close. Just I wasn't able to get anything going there.

Q. Was that a feel thing off the tee?

COREY CONNERS: Not really sure. I've had lots of freedom, you know, in the prep. Usually pretty confident with the driver, but wasn't quite going where I was looking on some of them out there.

Q. What happened on 13? You dunked it for birdie on 13, or was that 14?

COREY CONNERS: 14, yeah. I had drive leaked to the right. I was on the right side of the fairway. Carved around the tree and overdid it and left myself in an awkward spot, but I was able to flop it in the hole for a birdie. Definitely a bonus.

At that point I thought, well, let's try and, you know, use that as some good momentum and get some good looks the next few holes, and wasn't quite able to do that.

Q. When you were having more volatility than we're maybe used to seeing, is it dangerous to try to push anything around this golf course?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, definitely. The way that it was playing it was quite firm. You really can't push it. It all starts with hitting good tee shots and giving yourself -- from there I feel like you can give yourself chances. I wasn't able to get the ball, you know, where I wanted off the tee.

Q. This level of firmness on a Thursday, have you experienced that before?

COREY CONNERS: No, definitely not. The course -- I was kind of expecting things to play pretty fast. The golf course is in as good a shape as I've ever seen it. Obviously the weather has been cooperating. Not a cloud in the sky and perfect temperature.

So I think the course will continue to firm up and play difficult, but that's the beauty in this place. It can be challenging in all the types of conditions.

Q. With your success, though, in the past, does that give you a bit of insight to know that you can come back tomorrow?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, I definitely got an early tee time tomorrow. Hopefully the conditions are just a little bit, you know, more receptive and can take advantage of some of those holes, but going to have to drive it a lot better. From there try to give myself opportunities.

Definitely I certainly don't feel like I'm out of it. Not exactly the start that I wanted, but, you know, I can claw my way back and get in position hopefully for the weekend.

Q. Your tee shot on 12, was it a swirling wind?

COREY CONNERS: Yeah, the wind always swirls. I hit a poor shot. I wasn't expecting it to end up in the water. I thought it was going to be a few yards short of the number that I was trying to land it and be in the bunker. I was a little bit surprised there.

But yeah, not my best swing. Certainly not what I was trying to do.

Q. Can I ask you a touchy-feely question? This course, Augusta, everyone seems to love it. All the golfers love it. You grew up, I'm sure, watching it on TV. Can you talk about why the golfers -- what is it about this course that just --

COREY CONNERS: There's so much history here. It's, you know, I don't know, one of the most beautiful golf courses in the world. It's always fun to come here and play. Always puts a smile on your face walking on the grounds here at Augusta National.

I think there's so much variety in the holes, the design. You have to do everything really well. You get in awkward spots, and it's a blast to play out here and I think one of the best golf courses in the world.