Q. That was a 65 today. What did it feel like it could have or should have been?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: That's just a terrible question. Next question. Awful.
Q. What enabled you to go low today as compared to maybe the last couple of days?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I hit it really nice today. I felt like I was very sharp with the irons. Got it up there. Gave myself a lot of opportunities. I felt like I took advantage of those on the front nine, and then back nine I did a lot of good things. Was really, really close to seeing a lot go in.
Trying to think. It's, like, hit two good shots into 10, a really nice putt, just breaks a little bit more. Birdied 11. Good things on 12. Hit the fairway on 13. Get a mud ball. Didn't hit what I felt like was a good bunker shot, and 14 was another good putt, and 15, like, ball just barely goes further. Get a little gust downwind, and fortunately today it didn't go all the way into the hazard, but still left me with a it pretty difficult pitch. Then 16 did some good things. 17, you know, three really good shots. Still didn't make birdie.
Overall could have been -- I mean, I guess to answer your question, it wasn't maybe that bad, but it definitely could have been lower. But like I said, I did what I needed to do. Went out and executed to give myself some opportunities, and more of that tomorrow, and I think I'll be in a good spot.
Q. We've talked all week about how a good a test of golf the course is. Was there a moment earlier in the round where you felt like you could be more aggressive?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Yeah, I mean, it was very firm the first day. I felt like they softened it pretty significantly yesterday. Today definitely going out early. I was able to get some softer bounces. At least through -- I mean, I was able to spin back a wedge on five. Trying to think where else.
By the time we got -- yeah, pretty much by the time we got to ten, it started to firm up, and I would imagine they would continue to get firmer as the day goes on, because the sun is out, and there's not too much wind.
Q. Along those lines, what color would you call these putting surfaces?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Grass (smiling). I already ripped on one question that wasn't that bad, so I'm not going to rip on another one. (Laughing).
Q. You said yesterday that you wanted to make more putts. How would you assess your putting today?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I mean, I stroked it really nice. The greens here are challenging. The margins are small. I mean, I rolled it really nice today.
I'd be interested to see what the stats are. I'm sure they're still positive, but when you have that many birdie looks, I think sometimes you wish they could all go in.
Q. Just wondered where you were when Rory went on that charge yesterday?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Where was I?
Q. Were you watching at home?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I watched a little bit of it. I was down in the training room and I got some practice in yesterday afternoon. So I was around. I saw a bit of it. Yeah, it was pretty special stuff.
Q. Have you noticed any difference in the tee position at 13 from years past?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: The last -- sorry, the first two days they had it pretty far back on that box, and it was playing into the wind, which is not typical for this tournament.
Typically they want to give guys an opportunity to go for that green, and if that tee is back and the wind is in your face, there's only a handful of guys in the field that can actually get it around that corner in order to get the ball on the green in two.
Q. I was actually referring to the tee itself. Have you noticed it's moved at all to the left from years past?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I don't know if they moved it to left or leaned the trees in. Could be one or the other. Do you know the answer? No, he doesn't know (laughing).
Q. Tomorrow obviously the golf course is probably playing a little firmer. Do you think you can play with the same aggressiveness as you did today or do you have to dial it back?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: It depends on what the leadership here wants to do. It was crazy firm Thursday afternoon when we were coming in. There were virtually no birdie opportunities. If you look at the scores from late in the day on Thursday, there were not many birdies made in fairly similar conditions. A little less wind, and the greens were fairly soft yesterday, so you saw a lot of scoring late in the day.
Then today there was a little bit of opportunity early. You saw my front nine. There was definitely some opportunity going out. Not much wind. Softer greens, but they firmed up a little quicker. It really depends on what they decide to do with the greens.
If they want to see some lower scores, they can make them softer if they want. I mean, they're already pretty firm, so they can just go full Bay Hill and just let them die. It's Augusta. They'll figure it out after that.
Q. You might be the worst person in the world to ask this based on your amazing perspective on life, but when you're in a major championship, when you are here at the Masters, is there another level to you? Can you find another layer of competitiveness or ability?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I think so. I think that's what great players and great competitors do is they're able to rise to the occasion. I think when you look at the biggest tournaments, you'd be hard-pressed to find another tournament that's bigger than this one, especially for myself.
When you come here, I think that's why it's such a great test too, because not only do you have to conquer this golf course, you have to conquer changing conditions, a difficult country club golf course, but you also have to conquer your nerves as well to get it done around here.
There's numerous challenges to get it done in this tournament, and we'll see what happens as the weekend progresses.
Q. You said you struck the ball better today. On the range did anything feel different, or is it always just a matter of executing?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: I mean, yesterday I can tell you the two iron shots I didn't strike the way I wanted to. I caught a little thin on four, and what was the other one? I caught it a little thin on 13, and I ended up in the water.
Outside of that, I hit my irons pretty good yesterday. Just got some weird wind gust and some things happened that you wasn't expecting. Today continued to strike it well and was a little bit more rewarded for it.
Q. This might qualify as another bad question, but you tended your own pin on 18. Do you remember the last time you've done that here?
SCOTTIE SCHEFFLER: Here? Shoot, I don't know. Yeah, that's not great (laughing).
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