MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 10, 2026

Brooks Koepka

Quick Quotes

Q. Big difference between yesterday and today?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, just drove it better. Some of my setting on the driver switched if A1 to B1. No one noticed it. Switching back to A1, which is what we usually had it and just driving it better.

Q. Noticed that on the front nine yesterday when you looked down? When was the moment?

BROOKS KOEPKA: On the driving range yesterday.

Q. After your round?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, after the round, yeah.

Q. You obviously have a lot of experience winning major championships. How much does that experience help coming into this weekend?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, it helps a little bit. Just playing nicely, man. That's been the big thing. Like the way I'm playing. Yeah, you go back to all the good experiences and even the bad ones around here, it kind of helps you.

Q. What did you do that you are really happy about today and what are some things you might go work on or look to do better tomorrow?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Ball striking has been really good this week. Putted better today. Short game has been kind of iffy.

But, yeah, I like the way I'm playing right now. Just need to be a little bit more aggressive.

Q. Brooks, how important were those couple par saves coming down the stretch?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I thought 17 was nice. Just a terrible chip. Yeah, it was a good kind of momentum builder I guess going into tomorrow.

Makes you feel good. Hate to give one back there.

Q. How do you feel? Your season has been a lot to it and a little bit of consistency and less time out. How do you feel coming in, and especially with the putter? That's been the thing that's been up and down a little.

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I felt good. Even after the missed cut I was hitting it really good. Just got overly aggressive. Kind of was hitting it too good and then you think you can take on everything and you can't.

Bit of a learning lesson. It kind of helps coming into this too because you realize where -- you can't just fire at ever flag, and out here you definitely can't. I think it's been pretty good.

Q. To be more aggressive you still need to have patience. How do you find that balance of like what's out there and what is available and going and getting it, but not going across the line?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Just got hit it in the right spots, try to leave yourself an uphill putt. Every time I had an uphill putt felt like I had a good chance at it.

Certain spots you just can't hit it to certain pins, and if you can you avoid those you'll be all right. You kind of plan the hole backwards. You got to know the pin location is from the tee I think is huge out here.

Q. How big is strokes gained on a week like this at the Masters and how much have you displayed these first two days, strokes gained toughness?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I don't know. You just always -- I mean, it's a major. If anything happens you just got to let it roll off your back and go with it and keep fighting.

I feel like I've done a good job of that. Three-putted the first hole twice, so proud of that; proud of the way I bounce back every day.

Q. Is this as difficult as you've seen this golf course and what do you think it might look like this weekend?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, it's definitely firmer than I've seen it. They can kind of do what they want with it. Even though the winds yesterday, it was either zero or 15, it was very odd. And it would just pop up. I felt like last night was quite difficult. Today the wind was pretty consistent throughout the day so I feel like you knew where it was. Even though it's only five, ten. But it wasn't switching too much.

Q. (Regarding this weekend on the course.)

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I think this golf course is going to get firm, fast. They can do what they want with it.

Q. Yesterday Tom Watson said this about you. He doesn't believe you should be on PGA TOUR this year. (Regarding stiffer penalties or not being allowed back.) What's your reaction?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I mean, I would have to look at exactly what he said. Just going off your summary, everybody is entitled to their own opinion.

That's fine if he thinks that. He's not the first person that's thought that. So yeah, it is what it is. I'm just grateful to be out here.

The people that make those decisions let me out here. If you're going to get the opportunity to come back out you're going to take it.

Q. How was the reaction this year compared to the last four? Is it kind of the same from the patrons, just peers and everything? Does it feel any different than it was the last four years?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Not with the peers. I've been close with everybody for a while. I stayed close. Yeah, everything has always been fine with the players, caddies. Everybody has treated me the same. It's absolutely fine.

Q. You mentioned fall back in love with the game moving back to the PGA TOUR. So with that said, what, if any different emotion do you have coming here this year with a newfound gratitude for the game?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Yeah, I'm just enjoying it a whole lot more. I think there is a huge difference of I'm excited to come out and play every week. It is just overall if your happiness is through the roof off the golf course and on the golf course, it's really tough to beat it. You're going enjoy every day, everything you're doing.

I think that's been a huge thing.

Q. Have you found new balance?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I don't know if it's new balance. My son had given me new balance, that's for sure. Even on the way here this morning he just kept say, Crew golf, Crew golf today. I have a funny feeling he'll be chasing golf balls at the house later today.

Q. Do you feel with the way the golf course could get tougher that you have the execution to be able to handle whatever it is?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I hope so. I've played well here in the past. I think two second place finishes. I don't know how many -- maybe one more Top 5 in that whole thing. I feel like I've played good enough around here.

I know what it takes to win. I've watched Jon do it right in front of me. Felt like I kind of gave that one away. Then the one in -- learned probably more in '19 when I lost being three back standing on 12 tee not to be so aggressive and just take it, take the punches as they come.

Q. Have you had a chance to talk to any of the players that you used to play with on LIV this week, and what has the reaction been like with them?

BROOKS KOEPKA: Everything is fine. Jon texted me as soon as I left, said hi to him. Saw Tyrrell. See them quite a bit. Saw him in Orlando Saturday I believe. Drove up there. So everything is fine. I think no relationship has changed.

Q. You said you wanted to get into the mix on Sunday on the back nine. That kind of didn't happen so far this year. What is your confidence level should you find yourself in that situation?

BROOKS KOEPKA: I feel fine. I feel like I'm striking it exactly the way I wanted to. Obviously driver, we clicked that into the right settings so I know where the misses are. Everything is solid. Just the putter. I don't know, I've been caught out -- sometimes I feel like if I just would hit a few putts a little bit harder they would have been in and I could have really shot 5-, 6-under today.

It is what it is.

Q. Can you talk a little bit about your pairing first two days and how did that contribute, if it did, to the good play?

BROOKS KOEPKA: It's good. Always had a good relationship with Jordan. Had a lot of fun over the years from either junior golf, amateur golf, to Ryder Cups.

And Rosey, yeah, known Rosey for a long time. It's been fun. I was with him in December in a Bahamas. Great group when something someone playing well it makes it a whole lot easier.