FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, April 5th, 2021
NOTES AND QUOTES – LIVE FROM THE MASTERS (MONDAY EVENING)
“Jordan Spieth may not have the firepower of Tiger Woods, but in the last 25 years, he is the player that appears, to me, to have the brainpower of Tiger Woods.” – Brandel Chamblee
“Unquestionably the best major championship player of the last four years.” – Rich Lerner on Brooks Koepka
“When people doubt him, as I think we kind of are right now because of his health, that usually spells success for Brooks Koepka.” – Justin Leonard
Live From the Masters Continues Tomorrow Morning at 9 a.m. ET and in Primetime at 7 p.m. ET on GOLF Channel
STAMFORD, Conn. – April 5, 2021 – NBC Sports began its Live From the Masters coverage from Augusta National Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., today and in primetime tonight on GOLF Channel.
Throughout the week, GOLF Channel’s daily live coverage features more than 55 hours and includes pre- and post-tournament coverage through the final round on Sunday, April 11.
In advance of the 2021 Masters at Augusta National Golf Club, NBC Sports Golf’s lead studio team of Rich Lerner, Brandel Chamblee and Justin Leonard held a media conference call last week to preview the tournament. Click here for the transcript.
On Jordan Spieth
Brandel Chamblee: “He was so often, over the last three years, getting stuck and missing all over the place — I think (it was) that little technical problem that he was trying to get over. But also when he said, ‘I took ownership’ that is, to me, to a golfer what the La Brea Tar Pits are to a paleontologist looking for a woolly mammoth.”
Chamblee: “Jordan Spieth may not have the firepower of Tiger Woods, but in the last 25 years, he is the player that appears, to me, to have the brainpower of Tiger Woods, and digging himself out of it, taking ownership of his game, is the larger piece of the puzzle here.”
Rich Lerner: “Jordan has a make-it-happen gear. A run-it-in, roll-it-in, chip-it-in gear, where he can just pile up the birdies and eagles in a way that kind of blows your mind.”
Chamblee: “This guy has the ability to make magic. And that’s what makes him so fun to watch.”
Lerner: “It’s a mistake to doubt the will of a great athlete, and he is a great athlete.”
On Brooks Koepka
Justin Leonard: “When people doubt him, as I think we kind of are right now because of his health, that usually spells success for Brooks Koepka. He loves proving people wrong; he’s not afraid to talk about it, and more times than not, he’s backed it up.”
Lerner: “Unquestionably the best major championship player of the last four years.”
Chamblee: “He has everything necessary that you need at this place, just capable of ridiculously big shots. In the last three, four years we’ve seen him at major championships, (he hits) jaw-dropping, laser bullets at the heat of the moment in major championships.”
On the 2021 Masters Tournament
Leonard: “Normally there’s a nine-month buildup to the Masters Tournament. Just four-and-a-half months ago (this year)…being that short between competitions of this event, you might think that would lend to a sense of compliancy by the players and patrons. But, after successful competitions and completions of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and Drive, Chip and Putt, to me its very evident that there’s an excitement around this Masters Tournament that only the Masters can provide.”
Chamblee: “I can’t think of another place in sport that we go to year after year with elevated expectations, and then are surprised, year after year, after year. There’s just something about this place.”
–NBC SPORTS–
