James Piot Readies Himself for The Masters on Thursday
4/5/2022 4:28:00 PM | Men's Golf
East Lansing, Mich. – Michigan State men's golfer James Piot said he's just trying to be a kid this week.
It's probably been hard to do that since he came upon Tiger Woods in his practice round on Monday, was paired with Bryson DeChambeau on Tuesday morning and will open The Masters on Thursday (Group 15, 10:45 a.m. tee time) paired along with defending champion Hideki Matsuyama and major champion Justin Thomas.
Photo Gallery
Piot, who qualified for The Masters after winning the U.S. Amateur last August, arrived in Georgia last weekend, winning The Georgia Cup, a matchup between the winners of the U.S. Amateur and the British Amateur.
This last week has been awesome," Piot said in a zoom with local media ahead of The Masters last week. "Just getting down to Georgia ahead and getting some practice rounds at Augusta before the week of the event and getting a feel for the course. Getting the (Georgia Cup) match in (last Sunday) was awesome and a great confidence builder.
It's tough to put into words what it means to be playing in a Master's. I try not to think about it too much, but I'm just focused on the moment and being ready to go. I want to make sure my swing mechanics and everything are all there and by the time the first tee shot goes up, I'll be feeling good about my game."
This will be the second appearance in a professional event for Piot, who made his PGA Tour debut in March at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.
"That was great prep," Piot said. "I didn't get the results I wanted out of the event, but to get through the emotions, getting your first tee shot, playing in front of such large groups and being next to golf's greats, it was a great prep for me.
"If anything, it was a confidence builder for me despite the results. It showed me that you don't have to do anything too special to hang with these guys. It was a hard course for everybody and for me, I hit some shots while I was there, that it just showed me that I can do this. It gave me a sense of belonging there and I just have to get that in my head. You just have to say I belong here and I'm good enough to do it and that's going to be my mentality going into Augusta."
Piot arrived in Augusta on Sunday and is staying at the famed Crow's Nest, nestled on the third floor of Augusta National Clubhouse and set aside specifically for amateurs.
Following his practice round on Monday, Piot attended the annual Amateur Dinner, which has been held since 1948 and was first staged to provide a way for those golfers who don't play the sport for a living to feel comfortable among the professionals.
On Sunday, during his practice round with fellow amateur Aaron Jarvis, the pair came up behind Woods. On Tuesday, before the practice round was postponed due to inclement weather in the area, Piot was paired up with DeChambeau, the U.S. Open Champion.
"It's one of those things, when you're a kid, you're sitting there on the putting green and you're saying "This is one to win the Masters,"' Piot said. "Being able to play in the Masters, it's tough to be able to express into words how much that means to me and how cool of an experience it will be. I'm trying to stay in the moment and not think about it too much it this week because I won't sleep if I do. Staying in the moment is a big thing for me."
Piot knew that he'd be paired with the defending champion, Matsuyama, and learned on Tuesday that their third would be Thomas. The group ahead of them includes Woods and Louis Oosthuizen, while the group behind them includes Adam Scott and Scottie Scheffler.
"I'm looking at it as nothing but a positive opportunity this week," Piot said. "No matter what I do, it's going to be a great week.
"I'm playing in a Masters and I'm still at Michigan State University. Not too many college kids get to say they do that, so for me, it's going to be enjoy the experience, take it one shot at a time and whatever happens, happens. Obviously, I'd love to be in contention and get a shot for a Green Jacket, but I'm going to enjoy the whole week and see where it takes me."
After a few days of getting used to the surroundings – playing among and alongside golf's greats, attending dinners and handling media obligations – and getting himself ready to play on historic Augusta National, Piot has one more practice day before he tees off for real.
"Comparing it to TV, it doesn't do it justice," Piot said. "It's the most perfect piece of property. There's nothing out of place. It's phenomenal. When you're out there, you're on holy ground as a golfer. I wish I could stay for a couple of extra weeks after the tournament's over.
"I'm trying to be a kid as much as I can still. That's what I'm telling people. It's tough to do and it's a big transition mentally as you're playing next to golf's greats, but I think I've done a good job of handling it. You can always be better, that's my mentality in life."
It's probably been hard to do that since he came upon Tiger Woods in his practice round on Monday, was paired with Bryson DeChambeau on Tuesday morning and will open The Masters on Thursday (Group 15, 10:45 a.m. tee time) paired along with defending champion Hideki Matsuyama and major champion Justin Thomas.
Photo Gallery
Piot, who qualified for The Masters after winning the U.S. Amateur last August, arrived in Georgia last weekend, winning The Georgia Cup, a matchup between the winners of the U.S. Amateur and the British Amateur.
This last week has been awesome," Piot said in a zoom with local media ahead of The Masters last week. "Just getting down to Georgia ahead and getting some practice rounds at Augusta before the week of the event and getting a feel for the course. Getting the (Georgia Cup) match in (last Sunday) was awesome and a great confidence builder.
It's tough to put into words what it means to be playing in a Master's. I try not to think about it too much, but I'm just focused on the moment and being ready to go. I want to make sure my swing mechanics and everything are all there and by the time the first tee shot goes up, I'll be feeling good about my game."
This will be the second appearance in a professional event for Piot, who made his PGA Tour debut in March at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in Orlando.
"That was great prep," Piot said. "I didn't get the results I wanted out of the event, but to get through the emotions, getting your first tee shot, playing in front of such large groups and being next to golf's greats, it was a great prep for me.
"If anything, it was a confidence builder for me despite the results. It showed me that you don't have to do anything too special to hang with these guys. It was a hard course for everybody and for me, I hit some shots while I was there, that it just showed me that I can do this. It gave me a sense of belonging there and I just have to get that in my head. You just have to say I belong here and I'm good enough to do it and that's going to be my mentality going into Augusta."
Piot arrived in Augusta on Sunday and is staying at the famed Crow's Nest, nestled on the third floor of Augusta National Clubhouse and set aside specifically for amateurs.
Following his practice round on Monday, Piot attended the annual Amateur Dinner, which has been held since 1948 and was first staged to provide a way for those golfers who don't play the sport for a living to feel comfortable among the professionals.
On Sunday, during his practice round with fellow amateur Aaron Jarvis, the pair came up behind Woods. On Tuesday, before the practice round was postponed due to inclement weather in the area, Piot was paired up with DeChambeau, the U.S. Open Champion.
"It's one of those things, when you're a kid, you're sitting there on the putting green and you're saying "This is one to win the Masters,"' Piot said. "Being able to play in the Masters, it's tough to be able to express into words how much that means to me and how cool of an experience it will be. I'm trying to stay in the moment and not think about it too much it this week because I won't sleep if I do. Staying in the moment is a big thing for me."
Piot knew that he'd be paired with the defending champion, Matsuyama, and learned on Tuesday that their third would be Thomas. The group ahead of them includes Woods and Louis Oosthuizen, while the group behind them includes Adam Scott and Scottie Scheffler.
"I'm looking at it as nothing but a positive opportunity this week," Piot said. "No matter what I do, it's going to be a great week.
"I'm playing in a Masters and I'm still at Michigan State University. Not too many college kids get to say they do that, so for me, it's going to be enjoy the experience, take it one shot at a time and whatever happens, happens. Obviously, I'd love to be in contention and get a shot for a Green Jacket, but I'm going to enjoy the whole week and see where it takes me."
After a few days of getting used to the surroundings – playing among and alongside golf's greats, attending dinners and handling media obligations – and getting himself ready to play on historic Augusta National, Piot has one more practice day before he tees off for real.
"Comparing it to TV, it doesn't do it justice," Piot said. "It's the most perfect piece of property. There's nothing out of place. It's phenomenal. When you're out there, you're on holy ground as a golfer. I wish I could stay for a couple of extra weeks after the tournament's over.
"I'm trying to be a kid as much as I can still. That's what I'm telling people. It's tough to do and it's a big transition mentally as you're playing next to golf's greats, but I think I've done a good job of handling it. You can always be better, that's my mentality in life."
Players Mentioned
/ Men's Golf
Ireland's Best | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, September 26
Supporting Heroes: Folds of Honor | Spartans All-Access
Thursday, September 19
Spartans All-Access: Folds of Honor Collegiate
Monday, September 11
Coach Lubhan | Weekly Press Conference | Aug. 28 2023
Monday, August 28