Media Center Interviews
April 1, 2026
Pre-Tournament Interview with Brian Harman
MODERATOR: We would like to welcome Brian Harman into the interview room. He's our defending champion of the Valero Texas Open, making his ninth start at this event.
Brian, welcome back. If we can get you to take us back to last year, recollections you have the win and how excited you are to defend.
BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah, this week last year really got my year going. Ended up making the Tour Championship, I had a chance at the Open Championship again. It was a big week for me last year. I had been struggling coming into the week. I feel like my game's in a lot better spot this year.
But I love coming here, always loved coming here. Kind of skipped it the off year, was super happy to have some success here last year because I really like coming here.
MODERATOR: You're coming off of a T11 at THE PLAYERS Championship. This is your 399th career start, so 400 next week at Augusta. That number, does that scare you a little bit?
BRIAN HARMAN: No, no, I feel like I'm just getting going. Obviously that voice creeps in all the time, 39 years old, been out here, this is my 15th year I think. So statistics say it's kind of coming to an end, but I don't feel that way. I feel like I've got a lot left in the tank. My body's in as good of shape as it's ever been. I'm feeling really good. My ball speed's gotten up a little bit, so I feel like I can contend in most places.
Q. Brian, we talked to you I guess it was about a month ago and you weren't super happy with your game. It sounds like you're in a much better place now. What sort of changed over the recent weeks?
BRIAN HARMAN: Starting the year I have been happy with my game, just really upset with the results. I felt like I was getting out there and kind of shooting the highest score that I could every day.
Kind of when I got it going, I couldn't keep it going, and when I got it going bad, I didn't really have a good answer for it. So it was a tough first day at THE PLAYERS, was pretty down. Played last three days pretty well, had a big day on Friday. It finally felt like I kind of turned the corner a little bit and felt like I got a little better command on things. I had my head down, working really hard. I kind of went for it on 16 of THE PLAYERS. I could have finished a little bit better if I had played a little bit safer, but that's not what we're here to do.
Q. Brian, what are you working on the most in your game? What's the part of your game that
BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah, a lot of mental stuff, a lot of that's been the big focus lately because the ballstriking's been there, the short game's been there, and now I feel like I'm just trying to get a better picture of what I'm trying to do and try not to get so far ahead of myself.
When you get into a little bit of a funk or a slump, it's really easy to get out in front of yourself and think about the future a lot. I'm a victim of that more often than not. Just trying to stay real present and not dwell on stuff too bad and just kind of try to stay where my feet are.
Q. Is that working with a mental coach?
BRIAN HARMAN: Been talking to some people. Yeah, it's always kind of a self exploration thing trying to figure out what works, what doesn't work. There's a lot of autonomy that gets us to where we are, but at the same time you don't want to stop consuming information because there might be stuff out there that can help you.
It's a balancing act, like who do you listen to and how much do you trust yourself and trying to figure out what works for you.
Q. Have you done that ever before?
BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah, every day, man.
Q. I mean work with a sports psychologist.
BRIAN HARMAN: Yeah, I've bounced around a little bit. Always like hearing professionals in other fields, especially guys that have dealt with other athletes that have dealt with some of the same kind of stuff. Everyone out here playing's dealing with something. There's always something going on. Yeah, just trying to maximize my time.
Q. Does this course get you ready for Augusta in any way?
BRIAN HARMAN: I think every course has its own way to get you ready for Augusta. When I tee off this week, I'm not going to be thinking about Augusta, I'm thinking about trying to win this golf tournament.
Everything's sort of a test. Like my game's got to be in a certain kind of shape to contend in a major. I use tournaments to gauge how it's going. That gives you a plan for working on this or working on that. It's always kind of a balancing act to trying to shore up all the stuff that you know you're going to need to do next week.
I spent a couple days at Augusta last week and when I was there, all I did was think about the Masters, but here this week I wouldn't be thinking about the Masters very much.
Q. Do you have any comments about what happened, what took place with Tiger Woods this week?
BRIAN HARMAN: No. I think he spoke for himself. I wouldn't dare try to put words in his mouth.
Q. When you did that Zoom call two weeks ago, you mentioned how you figured out that you were struggling with your putting from I think it was 10 to 20 feet. Did anything that you've picked up on lately in the data that you're keying in on?
BRIAN HARMAN: You know, I think a lot of that just comes from not putting enough pressure on myself in practice, kind of expecting it to be there. I'm trying to make it show up a little bit more in my practice and not just kind of hoping that it shows up during the tournament.
Q. At Augusta, is there a most impressive shot or round that you witnessed as a player?
BRIAN HARMAN: I played with Corey Conners the first two days last year and he played some really impressive golf. I've made a couple eagles. Nothing pops out really.
MODERATOR: Anything else? Brian, we appreciate it.
