MASTERS 2017: Pieters: ‘I’d rather win Masters than Open’

Nationality: Belgian

Qualified: Inside the world’s top 50 at the end of 2016

Career highlights: Three-time European Tour winner; rookie record holder at Ryder Cup

I’ve always dreamed about playing in the Masters. I was lucky enough to go a couple of times as a kid and it’s really a special place. Over the last few years, I’ve seen guys posting pictures of their invites on social media. All I ever wanted was my own, so it was such a big relief just before Christmas when I knew I was going to be just inside the top 50 and qualify automatically. 

No disrespect to Henrik Stenson, but it looks much cooler winning the Masters and pulling on a green jacket! Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to win any Major. But I’ve imagined holing the winning putt at Augusta millions of times ever since I was five years old. I still do it now. I just hope one day I get that chance to do it for real. 

I normally take all my family with me to the Majors, but I’m leaving everyone at home. I’m just going with my sister who’s my manager. I don’t want to worry about anything else. My plan is to fly out there early and play a few practice rounds the week before. I’m definitely going to try and play with Adam Scott, and I’m going to be asking as many people as I can for some advice. My caddie has been three or four times, so he’s got some experience. 

There are holes where I will attack and try to take advantage of my length. But there are also holes where I’ll need to think strategically, place the ball in the right spot and walk off with a par. That’s really what I need to learn about. 

We all saw what happened to Jordan last year on 12 and my goal is to make four pars there and just run away. I’ve actually walked that hole and the wind swirls so much that you can easily mess it up.   

They always say that the course is set up for someone who draws the ball. I prefer a fade, but I’d like to think I can move it both ways. The good thing is that there are quite a few guys who hit fades who’ve won there so I don’t see why I can’t join that list. 

The Ryder Cup was important to prove to myself that I could handle that pressure. I managed to deal with everything pretty well at Hazeltine, so that should stand me in good stead. We’ll see how I cope if I’m in contention on Sunday, but I think I’ll be more excited than nervous. People probably forget that I’ve only played two Majors so this year I want to play all four, all the WGCs and try to put myself in contention a couple of times.

Great players like Lee Westwood and Luke Donald have never won a Major. The bounces have to go your way and sometimes form counts for nothing. I just try to treat every Major just like any other tournament. I will never say to anyone, especially the media, that I am going to win this thing, but I feel like my game is in good shape. I’m getting a lot better at controlling my ball flight so I’d like to think I can play well there.