Players View Prospects this Week at Augusta National


Some of the favorites - and gallery favorites - entering the 79th Masters Tournament sat down with members of the media on Tuesday to talk about their thoughts about possibly being the one to don a green jacket at Butler Cabin on Sunday afternoon.

The green jacket is, of course, given only to a Masters champion, and is thus one of sport's most hallowed symbols of success. The following interview excerpts are from past champions and those who look to be contending when the field negotiates Amen Corner and the fabled back nine during the final round at at Augusta National Golf Club.

Here's what they had to say.

Tiger Woods - Four-time Masters champion in search of first (and career 15th) major since the 2008 U.S. Open; hasn't competed since early February.

"I'm excited, excited to be back, to be back playing at this level. I feel like my game is finally ready to compete at this level, the highest level, and I'm excited to be here. There's no other tournament in the world like this, and to come back to a place that I've had so many great memories at and so many great times in my life, it's always special. And then this week, to play with Mo, haven't seen him in a while, go back and relive some old times, brings back some great times. Excited to be competing again and really looking forward to Thursday."

Of the unrelenting scrutiny he's under:

"I think it's anyone's choice whether they use the Internet or not. So I refuse to go on and read what you all write, good or bad, whether you're friends of mine or not. Just choose not to go down that road. I've come to the understanding that I live it. I know exactly what I'm doing out here and I've hit the shots, and I don't really need someone else's secondhand opinion of what I was thinking of. I know exactly what I was doing out there. But it's nice to be back and see some of my old friends out here and get back to competing again."

Rory McIlroy - 25-year-old Northern Irishman will be going for third straight major; won 2014 British Open and PGA Championship. T-8 last year was highest finish at Augusta National in six Masters:

"I think the first tee shot is probably the only first tee shot of a tournament these days that I still get nervous at; the one that you get butterflies and your heart races a little bit faster than it does usually. So, yeah, still get that same feeling I did as a rookie back here in 2009."

On improving his numbers on Augusta's par-5s, the secret to victory at the Masters:

"Making too many pars on them. I think I made six 6s last year, four on par-5s and two on par-4s. I just feel, you know, sometimes on par-5s with my length, I can be a little over aggressive. I'm standing there, especially thinking back even to the last day last year, I had a 9 iron in my hand on 13, and I think I had a 9 iron in my hand on 15, and I walked away with two 6s. You turn those into two 4s and all of a sudden I finish third in the tournament. So just things like that where instead of being maybe ultra aggressive, and you think you're in a position to make 3, give yourself a decent chance at 3 but make sure that you get your 4.

"That's been something I've been thinking about, getting the eagle a little bit too much, and trying to get two shots up on the field instead of settling for one and still realizing that's still a good result. If you look at the previous winners here, they've all played the par-5s well. Bubba (Watson) last year played them at 8 under par; I played them at even par and he beat me by eight shots. If I can just play the par-5s a little better, hopefully that will help me do better and obviously have a chance to win."

Bubba Watson - Champion of two of the past three Masters, including last year when he closed with a 3-under 69 to win by three strokes over Sweden's Jonas Blixt and Texan Jordan Spieth:

"I think is if it's your first time winning, like I did in '12, in '13, I didn't know what to expect. I mean, I'm scared to death of the Champions Dinner in '13 because you're talking about great champions across the board, old and young, and now I'm getting to sit and have dinner with them and I'm making sure they like the food I picked out. The media attention, the atmosphere; even a year later, you're excited about your win. Sometimes you get away from your routine or you just use your energy in a different way. That's what I did. I don't know about the other guys, but that's what I did.

"So this time I know what to expect. Doesn't mean I'm going to play better, just I know what to expect, I know how to save some energy. I know how things are going to happen in the Champions Dinner now. I know more. That doesn't mean it's going to help, it just means that I should be better prepared this time."

Phil Mickelson - Three green jackets in closet, 44-year-old lefty thinks he's still got some fuel in the tank at age 44:

"I'm looking forward to this event, as we all are every year. It feels like the year kind of starts at this tournament, and we all loved the Masters growing up. This last year and a half has not been my best. It's been terrible (laughter). Feels like it's slowly getting better, and the last couple of weeks were a good couple of weeks for me because I got my aggressive play back, I got a lot of birdies again.

"That's what I kind of needed to do first to kind of get my game back is to start making birdies again. Now that I've been doing that, I've got to try and eliminate some mistakes and see if I can put it together for a good week. Last two weeks, San Antonio and Houston, I made a lot of birdies, made a lot of mistakes, made a lot of errors here and there. But the key was I had not been making a lot of birdies, and now that I'm starting to do that, the game feels like it's coming around. I don't know if it will be in time for this week. I certainly hope so. I believe it is, but we'll see."

Jordan Spieth - In nine starts this year, 21-year-old wunderkind from Dallas has one win, one runner-up and six top-10s, with earnings already over $3 million. Took second place at two previous events in Texas:

"This is, in my mind, the greatest place in golf. Having been so close last year and have a little experience and riding some momentum, I hope to put myself in contention and use what I've learned since last year. I think last year's event, I certainly took a couple things out of it, as well as the positives that came from closing out a couple of tournaments at the end of the year and a few weeks ago.

"Then last week, I had an opportunity to close, as well, and just missed. So there's stuff to take from the close losses and stuff to take from the victories. Obviously in a tournament like the Masters, you know, looking to just put myself - give myself a chance when the weekend comes around and see what I'm made of.

"Last year I had - I think I remember being in here saying I had no expectations, didn't know what it was going to be like, never played the tournament before. This year, I come in maybe expecting to play well on a course I feel very comfortable on. I feel like it suits my game nicely, and also I feel like I've been playing well. So as long as I'm getting enough rest and just keeping with what's been going on the last month, should be able to make some birdies and get myself up there.

"Part of me wants to improve on last year and that's my goal is to improve on last year's finish. Another part of me says, you know, let's not over-think this place, keep it simple and make it like a regular event because that's how I've had success in the last few tournaments is just trying to hit as many greens as possible, get into a rhythm with the putter. Once that happens, you know, see a couple go in, the hole gets bigger."

Henrik Stenson - No. 2-ranked behind McIlroy, tall Swede has the long game and touch around the greens for Augusta National, but his best finish in nine appearances is a T-14 and three missed-cuts:

"Possibly I don't feel like out of those nine previous appearances, I've never really gotten here with a game that felt like I'm playing really well at the moment. It's been once or twice, I feel like I've played okay but never really been on top of my game coming into this week. That's obviously one thing. I mean, I feel like I've been putting really solid the last three tournaments on the PGA Tour and the stats show that, too.

"In previous years, I've had some poor weeks on the greens here, and as we know, it's a very difficult week on the greens. And if you're not putting good or better than good, you're going to struggle to have a good finish here. So I think that's one part of it, too. Other than that, it's a golf course that should suit my game pretty good. It's a different week because there's no room for in between shots. Something that would have been a decent 20 foot, or 25 foot birdie putt on a regular week tends to take a little reach and end up far away from the pin. You either hit a good shot or a great shot and get a really good chance for birdie. Otherwise, you kind of end up with a poor shot anyway.

"It's not a week where you can keep on plowing away and give yourself 20 footers for birdie. They don't stay around 20 feet from the hole here. They are going to be hard ones to make par at. Yeah, combination of those things. And any other thoughts (would be) greatly appreciated (eliciting laughter from reporters)."

Adam Scott - became a sporting hero in his home country after becoming the first Australian to win the Masters, earning his green jacket in 2013 in a memorable sudden-death playoff with Angel Cabrera:

"I think coming back here is always a special feeling no matter what, when you get the invitation to come and play. But since winning, it's been so much more to me. It's been an incredible two years since winning of trying to immerse myself in the Tournament and the golf club even more than I had before. I've enjoyed that thoroughly.

"Last year was a little hectic and a little different. I tried to embrace the experience of being the defending champion and hosting the Champion's Dinner, not knowing what to expect with a lot of things, but enjoyed it all the way. Also tried to get myself ready to defend the title, which unfortunately I didn't, but coming back this year all the good memories will keep coming back and slightly less responsibility this year. Enjoy all the perks of being a former champion and then focus on Thursday to get down to business."

Dustin Johnson - after taking six months off to deal with "personal issues," uber-talented South Carolinian has the perfect game for Augusta National, yet in five previous Masters best result is a T-13:

"The golf course, I feel like sets up very well for me. Just haven't really put it all together. So, I mean, I really can't explain it. I feel like I should play well here. But this year, I feel a little bit better coming in here, a little more confident in my game. I feel like I'm doing the right things with the golf game. I feel like continuing to get a little bit better. You know, with my play this year, definitely playing a lot more consistent and more solid coming in here.

"I'm in a lot more of a routine on the golf course, off the golf course. I haven't really changed too much except for going to the gym. I'm going to the gym a lot more consistently, where before in the past years, I would go to the gym, just not very much. Or I would go and then I'd take a month or two off. You know, it was just sporadic. Now I'm in a routine where I'm going pretty much every day, whether I'm at a tournament or I'm at home. So that's been a big difference."

Rickie Fowler - 26-year-old Californian T-5 in 2014; searching for first major:

"Always feels great to be at Augusta. Even to come here last week, spent a couple days, driving down Magnolia Lane and getting to being on the property is pretty special. Then tournament week comes around and it's amazing. I think it kind of heightens my focus a little bit and gets me excited about the week. Obviously haven't played as well as I would have liked to starting the year.

"Looking back, I actually probably got off to a better start this year than I did last year. Missed some cuts. At least I'm playing the weekend and get to check and see where my game is at. Got some good work in over the weekend and the past couple days here, and I'm really, really pleased with where my game's at, just hasn't really shown yet. I'm excited for this week and excited to be back into the kind of heat of things and in contention at the majors."

Ben Crenshaw - the 63-year-old from Austin has won two green jackets, each coming 11 years apart. Playing in 44th and final Masters, tying Sam Snead for fifth-most appearances in tournament history:

"I've probably stayed too long (drawing laughs from the reporters). Let's start with that. But you know, I've spoken to so many of you and I've known so many of you, and I know that you know how special this place is. It's occupied a lot of my thoughts other than Aprils. I think the world of this place. I'm just a fellow lover of Augusta.

"I love everything about it, always have, and to have won here twice is most meaning to my family back there, my family, Julie, my dear daughters Julie and Claire and Katherine, and the young one is on the way, Anna Riley, and my brother is here, Charlie, his wife, Julie, and Julie's mom and dad. They have gotten to see me through trials and tribulations here, but it will always be that way.

"This is my final appearance, and I'm happy. I played today with Jimmy Walker and Tom Watson and I mean, it was just - and Jim Furyk. I feel like I've played in the gutta percha era. I've spent so much time here and been in the fight here, and that's what I'll always take away here. So I'm very thankful."

Excerpts from the above interview transcripts are courtesy of ASAP Sports.