KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 22, 2021

Alisa Rodriguez

Atlanta Athletic Club

Quick Quotes

Q. If you could describe the emotions of getting the chance to compete in your very first major championship.

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, I'm just so excited to be out here. I got to hit balls next to Maria Fassi yesterday, and I've seen Gerina and a couple other players out here, so it's just kind of cool to see them up close and personal, kind of see what they do to prepare for a tournament.

Q. How much for you is this a pinch-me moment just being here, getting to share this stage with some of the best players?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: Honestly it still hasn't really kicked in. Being on the grounds it's cool just to see everything, but it still hasn't hit me that I'm going to be hitting my first tee shot on Thursday.

Q. I've been told that you have a unique golf journey in the Southern Texas PGA section. Tell me a bit about how you got started as a junior golfer and playing in the section events.

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, so I picked golf about freshman year in high school, so I was kind of late to the game, and I started playing for the STPGA, those tournaments, junior year, so played those, and then in college I actually came back and started working for the STPGA as a rules official and helping out in the tournaments. Now I play in the section events, so it's kind of cool just to grow with the program for sure.

Q. What made you want to pick up a golf club in high school?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: My uncle actually got me in. I mean, growing up my parents threw me in some sports camp at the nearby country club here and there and I tried golf but it was never really my passion, softball was, so my uncle inspired play to play golf, and kind of picked it up from there.

Q. So then you mentioned you worked for the section office at one point. How have you felt being a part of the PGA family for so many years?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: I love it. There's just -- the PGA family is just so welcoming. They're so loving. They try to help me out every chance they can. They're so supportive in this whole process and journey of making it to the KPMG.

Q. Describe what it's like to be a working PGA club professional.

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: It's hard but yet rewarding. It's fun to see -- it's fun to teach some of these juniors and just see them grow and get better every day. For them to see me come out and play, too, it gets them going honestly. I have two juniors coming out this week and they're so excited to watch me play and see what I do because normally it's me on the bag for them.

Q. What is it about coaching that just speaks to you?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: I love juniors. Like I love teaching. I love just seeing that smile when they hit that driver perfectly down the middle. It just kind of shows them never to give up. They kind of feel what I go through every day practicing and just being a little frustrated and just pushing through it. It helps them overall in life.

Q. What is the best piece of advice do you think you've given somebody?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: Just to have fun.

Q. Describe balancing coaching with playing and your passion to be able to perform at the highest level.

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: It's definitely hard. I have made a lot of sacrifices, whether it's going out and practicing instead, so I travel a lot, and I don't really get to see my friends and family a lot, so it has its ups and downs, but it's fun and I love it.

Q. Why did you decide to pursue a career as a PGA professional?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: Like I said, I love teaching, I love kids, I just love coaching anybody that wants to learn the game, and just to see them hit that one shot that makes their eyes light up and everything, it's what makes it worth it.

Q. This week how much of it is an honor for you to be a member of PGA of America and represent the organization?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: It's amazing. I am so happy to be here and hopefully this isn't my last KPMG.

Q. Describe some of the support that you're getting from back home. Who's looking out for you?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: Pretty much everybody. My head pro, everybody at Balcones is texting me and telling me good luck. All my juniors are texting me through their moms' phone if anything, but I've had a lot of Facebook posts, good-luck text messages and two juniors that are very happy to come out and watch me this week.

Q. Have you experienced a major before? What is this atmosphere like for you?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: It's crazy. This is my first major, and probably the only thing that compares is conference in college, but just to be out here and hitting balls against some of the best players in the world is just -- it's crazy. I've had to calm myself down a couple of times, and even seeing some players in the dining room, I'm like, hey, I know you, I follow you on Instagram, so it's been a fun experience so far.

Q. What are some of the goals you have this week?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: Honestly I just want to have fun, enjoy the moment. I've been playing really well in my mini-tour events, so hopefully it continues into this week.

Q. Your uncle is connected with golf, your parents. Can you tell me a little bit where they come from?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, so parents were born and raised in El Paso. My dad, he golfs here and there, but he calls himself the coach, the caddie, the therapist, the chauffeur, the cook, he does it all. I'm very thankful for him to be here this week. We got in early so he's been here with me the whole time. My mom and the rest of the family comes in tomorrow and Wednesday. It's going to be a fun week for all of us.

Q. How many family members do you have here?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: Five, six, so we're going to have a good crowd following.

Q. Do you expect a lot of screaming and --

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: Yeah, hopefully. I mean, I told them to keep quiet because my mom gets on a roll and she likes to yell and scream, so I was like, wait, mom, dad will tell you when you can be excited.

Q. So you were saying your uncle is here?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: No, he just -- he's always loved the game. We call him Uncle Beto. He grew up playing. His son grew up playing, so they were the ones that really kind of got me going, and now we can go out and play golf together. It's a lot of fun even though I have to give them a couple strokes here and there, but we make it work.

Q. You said softball? Do you think it's an advantage? Do you hit it longer?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: I mean, yeah, a little bit here and there. Softball definitely helps you for these hot days because I grew up playing softball in the hot Austin heat, so I'm kind of used to the heat. It doesn't really -- I was a catcher, too, so I'm pretty tough if you ask me. It's nothing crazy for me.

Q. Are you a little bit conscious about other players from El Paso?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: A little bit here and there, yeah.

Q. What do you hear about that?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: I mean, you've got -- now you're going to put me on the spot. I'm drawing a blank. I mean, we have Gerina. Gerina went to UTEP, so I'm kind of following her path, if anything. Ever since I saw she went to UTEP and I went to UTEP, she's kind of been somebody I look up to and I aspire to be someday. Hopefully I can make it on Tour and maybe we'll get a pair together later this week. Who knows. But besides that, who -- why am I drawing a blank? Who is it?

Q. Maybe it's Lee Trevino?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: Yes! I forget because they have a road named after him. But still, he's great.

Q. There's been a lot of growth in women's golf, young girls, a lot of Latinas. Is that your experience? Do you get involved in Latina --

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: Not as much. I wish I did. I actually started a girls' golf program at my country club, so we're one of the -- there's now two girls' golf programs there in Austin but I started one just because I feel like they deserve some more attention than they already get or that they don't get right now, so we started a girls' golf program and we have about 50 kids, so it's been growing. Slowly but surely.

Q. Have you had a chance to meet Lizette or Gabi?

ALISA RODRIGUEZ: No, not yet. I met Maria Fassi on the range last year or a couple -- when there was no tournaments during COVID, so I've seen her hit balls, and amazing swing. I'm trying to follow that technique.