“As a kid, you dream of playing in The Masters and dream about putting on a Green Jacket”
Reflects on his record- breaking win at Augusta National
You grew up just down the road in Columbia, South Carolina. Does that make this win even more meaningful?
It’s been the tournament I’ve wanted to win the most since I’ve been on tour, since I played my first Masters. Being close in the last couple of years and finishing second last year to Tiger, this was just something I really wanted to do.
Starting the final day with a four shot lead, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. I knew I was going to have to play well if I wanted to win, and I played really, really solidly. I hit a lot of great shots. But it was still hard. I was nervous all day, but I felt like I controlled myself very well. I controlled the golf ball very well in difficult conditions. I felt like the wind was really tricky. The course, the greens were a little bit faster. I felt like I really had to be careful.
Austin [Johnson’s brother and caddie] said that on 18, as you were walking up, you asked him where you stood. Did you not know?
I did not. Not exactly. I assumed I had the lead, but I didn’t know by how many. I looked at the leaderboards a little bit early on, and after that I just told myself ‘don’t worry about what anybody’s doing, just play as well as you can’.
I didn’t look at the leaderboards at all from probably the 7th on. I tried not to. I just tried to play my game. When I felt comfortable with the wind and the number that I had, I would play aggressively. If not, I would try to play to the fatter side of the green. Pars are a good score on a lot of holes, especially when you’re on 9, 10, 11 and 12. I’ll take par all day on those holes, especially with the wind, the way it was blowing.
What did it mean having your brother by your side?
It’s unbelievable having my brother on my bag. He’s a big help, too. He does a great job reading the greens for me. I read them, too, but he definitely helps. He’s really good at it. I just love experiencing all these moments with him. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
What, if anything, did you prove to yourself by winning?
I proved that I can get it done on Sunday with the lead at a Major, especially in tough conditions. I felt like it was tricky out there. I proved to myself that I do have it, because there were doubts in my mind, just because I’d been in that position a lot of times.
As you walked off the 18th, you looked at Bubba Watson and said “I’ve been dreaming of putting that jacket on my whole life.” Has this always been your number-one aim? For sure. Always around the putting green growing up, it was putts to win The Masters. It was always to win at Augusta. As a kid, you dream of playing in The Masters and dream about putting on a Green Jacket. I still think it’s a dream, but hopefully it’s not!