Q. Statistically it seems like it's one of the more difficult weeks. Is it conditions, or is there something more to that?
RICKIE FOWLER: Conditions today, it was definitely a bit more receptive and softer than yesterday. Yeah, the first two days and then yesterday was still tricky.
It's such a fine line in where -- the difference in you land it one yard here or there in certain spots when you're trying to get it close or in the right section. It can make things look a lot worse than missing your spot by a couple of yards, and all of a sudden you're 20 yards apart.
Q. Secondly we talk a lot about a first timer hasn't won here since Fuzzy way back in the '70s. Why is that? When you see a player like Ludvig playing his first, tied for the lead, are you surprised at all?
RICKIE FOWLER: No. One, he's proven himself. He's a quality player, good ball striker. He drives the ball well, which is first and foremost what you have to do to get around this place to set yourself up to where you can at least play from the right spots and go from there.
I'd have to say he has a decent caddie on the bag, so he's got that going for him. Joe has been around here a handful of times with me, and we've had success. Hopefully he's helping him navigate his way around because there's definitely knowledge that you gain over the years. Not saying he doesn't know the course well enough to play well, but I think having Joe there, like I said, who knows the place pretty well himself, can just help him a little bit.
They've been a good pairing, but yeah, Ludvig is a helluva player too.
Q. Why is it so hard for a first-timer to win here?
RICKIE FOWLER: I think part of the knowledge side of it, having a good understanding of kind of what you can do, when you can kind of try to be aggressive or where you have to play away from certain areas. It takes a little time to get used to it.
Especially when you're going back nine in contention, it doesn't really allow for many mistakes, especially when there's multiple guys up there. Not saying you need to play perfectly, but a mistake at the wrong time will cost you the tournament.
Q. You've got the Masters in the books now. What are you hoping for in the other three majors this season?
RICKIE FOWLER: I'm at least starting to head the right way. I saw some good progress this week.
It was a slow start to the year, but I feel like everything is, like I said, starting to go the right direction. Starting to see some positive signs. Starting to get my iron play back. Just need to kind of get the tee ball, the driver, mainly driver, kind of get that thing back in the short grass more often than that. That will at least help us get things started.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports