MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 9, 2026

Sergio Garcia

Quick Quotes

Q. Some things that felt better than you expected today, Sergio, from the feelings you had during the practice?

SERGIO GARCIA: Sometimes.

Q. Like what?

SERGIO GARCIA: Sometimes, but I also hit some terrible shots. I hit some really, really good shots. Probably the shot I hit on 17 -- my second shot on 17 was probably the best shot I've ever hit here, even better than the ones I hit coming in when I won in '17.

Then, you know, a little bit of a shame. I guess, you know, I'm not going to lie. I would have taken 72 before I started the round the way I've been playing and the way I feel out there. But, yeah, at the end of the round, and you look at 11. Hit a great drive. It goes in a divot laying down. You know, terrible lie in the middle of the fairway and make bogey. 15 you hit a great second shot. The wind switches, and it's 2 yards too short, and you end up making bogey instead of birdie.

You know, if the wind stays the way it's supposed to, maybe you hit on the green, maybe you hit it just over, maybe you make four, and you are looking at shooting 1- or 2-under par here on a course that is playing really tough. So, you know, it is what it is says, I guess.

Q. That 72 on a Thursday kind of changes a little bit your outlook of the things you can do for the rest of the week?

SERGIO GARCIA: No, no, it doesn't. I still have a big day tomorrow. I haven't done anything yet.

Q. That's good.

SERGIO GARCIA: Yeah. If I play well tomorrow and I make the cut, then you can start looking at other things, but I haven't done anything yet. It's just one day.

Q. It's a good sign that you still can do a lot more.

SERGIO GARCIA: Well, I mean, I have to play well tomorrow to start with if I want to make the cut, obviously. Like I said earlier in the week, if I make the cut, it will already be a really good week, but you know, even after shooting 72 today and could have been a little bit better, it's still going to be a really long and difficult day tomorrow.

Q. How tough is it at the (indiscernible)?

SERGIO GARCIA: It's easy (laughing).

Q. You've played many times --

SERGIO GARCIA: It's tough, but this is the way we want Augusta to play. Don't get me wrong. This the way it's meant to be played. It's not meant to be easy.

You know, obviously Augusta is always difficult with the wind because it just switches constantly, and you have to be so precise with every single shot you hit that it makes it even more difficult. Then when the greens get fast and firm like they are now, it's just a test, but it's the way it's supposed to play.