MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 10, 2026

Charl Schwartzel

Quick Quotes

Q. What did you think of the round?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: A lot of up and down. Made five birdies today. But, yeah, gave away too many shots. Yeah, more than yesterday. Today was poor mistakes and can't really afford to do that around here.

Q. How do you react now like kind of hoping that the cut stays at four? Nothing you can do I suppose.

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Yeah, self-inflicted that, isn't it? Yeah, let's hope. I mean, you know, yesterday was just tough, but today was playing a bit easier than yesterday.

Not sure. You know, if you -- odds that you should make it but the guys are extremely good players out here, so you never know.

Q. Why is it like you as one the older players, if I may say so, we have a lot of South Africans. Like you have to keep the tradition going of making the cut. Young guys are just not getting it. What's going on there?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: I don't know. That's a good tradition of making cuts. We need to be competing. Yeah, look, the guys that are coming out, guys that are not -- they don't have a lot experience out here. Need to play this course a few times to learn how to play it.

You know, for Casey, like I said in the beginning of the week, told him to always enjoy it. It's your first time. Hopefully one of many.

So yeah, look, it's not easy. There is no other place that you play that's anything like this.

Q. I accept that. There used to be times when it was you, Tim Clark -- not at the same -- Brandon. Do you know when the last time a South African...

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Yeah, we had a lot of the guys at one of stage play here. There was a big -- you know, a lot of South Africans, but...

Q. Why is that no more?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: I don't know. Guys are playing badly.

Q. Do you know when the last time South Africans failed to make the cut? 1986?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: All.

Q. Since 1986 a South African has made the cut every year. There is a lot of pressure on you this year.

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Yes. Well, hopefully I make it.

Q. Do you think -- is there anything you can do to change it or is it a natural progression of the guys to come through on the PGA, European Tours?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Yeah, you look -- back in the day you had more world ranking points when you played in Europe. So guys played around a lot, and I think it was a bit easier to stay in the top 50 and then qualify.

Now there is a lot of South African on the European Tour but the points are not a lot. Obviously you got Louis, Dean, and Brandon on the LIV Tour where we don't make really much points there, so they can't get in here.

So all those guys are good enough to play here. It's just that it's much harder to qualify now to get in.

Q. Are you still on a high from your event in South Africa?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Yeah, look, it was magnificent. Honestly one of the most supported I've ever felt on a golf course, and turned out better than I think was expected. Yeah, not much bad things I can say about it.

Q. Ready for round two next year?

CHARL SCHWARTZEL: Yes, no, I'm sure. Obviously mistakes made but I think it'll be even better.