MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 10, 2026

Aaron Rai

Quick Quotes

Q. I'm wondering about your round. Started off hot the first half with two birdies, and then it goes downhill to a little degree, but still relatively in play. Talk about your round today.

AARON RAI: Yeah, I started off really nicely. Played a lot of nice golf on the front nine. Just a couple of mistakes really around the turn. Felt like I hit good shots. Just a little bit off in judgment of wind. Started unfortunately with a couple of bounces, and it's very easy for a couple of shots to get away from you here.

But very pleased with the consistency of play coming in after that. Hit a lot of good shots, and actually had some chances to be at least a couple of shots better.

So, yeah, overall a little bit mixed. Played a lot better than the score, but yeah, still in a good place after two days overall.

Q. You said you played a little bit better than what the score would indicate. That's sort of just the trend sometimes at Augusta National, especially with what the conditions you were given throughout the week so far.

AARON RAI: Yeah, definitely, definitely. I think it's a course that really tests every facet of your game, and if you're just a little bit off, it can penalize you very fast. You can get on some good runs, but you can also get on some bad runs.

So I think trying to minimize those is key, and just trying to keep those rounds going a little bit better is really important around this course.

Q. I feel like a lot of people may have counted you out since Wednesday when you won the par-3, because it's sort of the superstition of the par-3 winner not being able to make it all the way. What do you make of that superstition? I'm assuming it hasn't changed your mindset at all about what you can do here?

AARON RAI: No, no, it hasn't changed the mindset. Obviously the par-3 is just an amazing tournament to be a part of, regardless of if you play well and win or if you don't. It's a beautiful tournament to share with your loved ones, your family, wife, kids.

To play well and to win was just a real bonus and to share that with my wife, who caddied for me. She read a lot of my putts as well, so it was a real team effort out there. So just took a lot of enjoyment the from just that day rather than any kind of significance of the past and someone winning that or not winning the tournament. I haven't really thought too much about that really.

Q. For sure. Last thing from me, are there any shots or holes on this course that sort of require you to take a little bit more time, like with the approach, because of the difficulty, that you need to lock in more mentally for those shots?

AARON RAI: Honestly I think the majority of the course is like that. I pretty much say every approach shot requires precision. There are some holes you have a little less room. I would say number 12 is probably one of those.

I mean, pretty much all the approach shots require precision for decision-making, for distance, and for line.