MASTERS TOURNAMENT

April 10, 2026

Patrick Reed

Quick Quotes

Q. Back to back 69s. Are you happy with that start even with maybe not a good finish today?

PATRICK REED: Yeah, you know, I mean, the worst part and the thing that frustrated me most is I hit every golf shot how I wanted to. On 18 you're having to get up and down, and then hit the putt where I wanted to and just doesn't go in. Things like that happen around here. In golf in general.

But, yeah, you know, I mean, golf game felt okay. Felt like I gave myself some really good opportunities. Didn't make quite as many putts as I felt like I wanted to.

At the same time, giving yourself chances and also making some crucial putts to keep the momentum and getting balls up and down throughout the round I felt like was huge.

Yeah, I mean, any time I sit there and shoot back-to-back 69s or anything in the 60s on Thursday, Friday in Augusta, you're happy.

Q. Last year you said felt like the putter really kind of kept you from winning. Is it closer that time do you feel?

PATRICK REED: The putter is definitely closer, yeah. I mean, felt like I hit a lot of quality putts the past two days. I mean, obviously made some. I mean, at the same time, as a competitor, as a golfer, you always feel like you left shots out there and missed putts.

The putter feels good. Really I think the biggest thing for me is just get the ball in play off the tee. You know, try to avoid that right magnolia there on 18. Been behind it twice.

Besides that, the golf game feels solid. Just need to go out there and continue giving myself opportunities, allowing myself to let the putter work, and hopefully have a chance late Sunday.

Q. You said going into this week that everything has been quite solid. Over the last two days anything that stuck out from your game that's been a...

PATRICK REED: I would say don't flush an 8-iron or 5-wood on 10 and 15 yesterday. Besides that everything else I felt like has been pretty solid. I've had a couple lose tee shots over the past two days, but really none of them that I felt like cost me any shots.

But definitely made the second shot a little bit more interesting shall I say. No, as a whole the game feels solid. Just need to continue to give myself opportunities. I mean, I would say the only downside today was I probably gave the golf course a little too much credit in certain spots, especially on some putts their thought would've been faster or the speed just wasn't quite -- didn't hit the putt quite hard enough so just dove below the hole.

Besides that, everything else feels pretty good.

Q. Do you think the firm and fast conditions will bring more players into the hunt this weekend?

PATRICK REED: Just all depends. Depends how Rory finishes up at the end. It's one of those golf courses you go out and you post a low number early, just never know.

But the thing about this golf course, when it starts playing firm and fast, yeah, you'll have shorter clubs in some greens, but they get so crusty and bouncy that you have to be so precise on iron shots. Then when you get above the hole you have to putt so defensive.

Just have to wait and see what the weekend entails. At the same time I love the position I put myself in. Hopefully I can go out and have a good day tomorrow and have a good shot going into Sunday.

Q. Last few years have you allowed yourself to think about what it would feel like to win this for a second time?

PATRICK REED: Oh, I mean, after winning in '18, at that point I definitely felt like I have always wanted to put it on a second time. I think the biggest thing really is you always dream as a golfer to go out and try to win the green jacket.

As players and as professional golfer you always have to believe in yourself that you can. Until you do, you always have that just little voice of doubt in the back of your mind.

Now I was able to close out in '18 and give myself some good opportunities since then. Hopefully we can go head and get my second one.