Austin Eckroat, the American professional golfer who claimed the title at the Cognizant Classic last year, has opened up about his experience at the iconic Augusta National, site of the revered Masters tournament. The 26-year-old, who boasts two PGA Tour victories, but regards his Masters performance as a career highlight, took a trip down memory lane during a recent press conference prior to the Cognizant Classic.
Eckroat admitted that setting foot on Augusta’s fabled greens provided him with an enlightening glimpse into the world of major golf tournaments. He candidly acknowledged that the actual experience of participating in such a high-stakes event is the only way to truly grasp what it involves.
The golfer was quoted by The Fresno Bee, stating, “I think it’s honestly — I don’t know if it’s a little bit of a hazing thing, but you don’t know anything until you get there, and the yardage book sucks (laughing). There’s so many things that you have to figure out through experience.”
The pressure and responsibility that come with participating in tournaments of such magnitude were not lost on Eckroat. The young golfer confessed to grappling with intense anxiety, which ultimately hindered his performance in the competition. He addressed this issue candidly, stating that he faced multiple difficulties on the course, and that his failure to make the cut was an expected outcome considering the circumstances.
“Last year with Augusta, my game was not in a good spot going into it,” he confessed, “so I was very, I would say, not on edge, but I was anxious about playing Augusta. I think I had some issues in the golf swing that I was managing that weren’t coming out whenever I was playing in other tournaments, but then I get there, all the emotions and everything, and I was a little exposed, honestly.”
However, Eckroat remains optimistic about the future. Equipped with the valuable lessons he learned from his Augusta experience, the golfer is hopeful for a much-improved performance this year. Having gained significant experience from his Masters debut, Eckroat anticipates a more confident and successful outing this time around. His journey serves as a testament to the power of firsthand experience and the resilience necessary to compete at the highest level of professional golf.
