KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 22, 2021

Ashley Grier

Atlanta Athletic Club

Quick Quotes

Q. If you could describe what it's like to be a working PGA professional.

ASHLEY GRIER: It's the greatest job. I love golf so much. My dad was a golf pro, PGA member for 40 years now, so I grew up with the game. So getting to still compete and play the game I love and then be around it every day at the club is awesome.

Q. If you could speak to the coaching side of that; what is it about coaching that you love?

ASHLEY GRIER: It's just great to see the improvement from your students. They get so excited. We all get excited when we get better at golf, so to see them, and I've helped them a little bit, is awesome.

Q. Describe how you're able to balance the playing with the coaching and how that works for you to perform at the highest level?

ASHLEY GRIER: Yeah, you definitely have to work on your schedule. My full-time job is being a PGA club professional, so I definitely have to try to squeeze in practice when I can. I'm at a pretty good club where they allow me to go out and practice at times, but I kind of look at my schedule each day, and if I have a 30-minute window here or there, I go out and try to do something golf-related.

Q. Why did you decide to become a PGA professional?

ASHLEY GRIER: I think I became a PGA professional just because I love golf so much. Like I said, my dad was a pro. We had a golf center in our front yard where I grew up, and I love the game and everything about it, and now I can still be around the game every day even if I'm not playing and competing.

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

ASHLEY GRIER: It's great that they allow some of the PGA of America club professionals to play and to be able to represent one of the eight or nine ladies that are out here is such a cool feeling.

Q. Describe some of the support you're getting from students and stuff back home, people you coach.

ASHLEY GRIER: A lot of my members have sent me texts or emails saying good luck, my head pro, my staff, as well. Everyone is pulling for me this week.

Q. I know you've been here before; what is this major atmosphere like, how special do you think it is?

ASHLEY GRIER: It's incredible. It's definitely something we never feel on the club pro side of it anymore, and to play in one of the biggest tournaments of the year on the LPGA, it's just cool to be around the atmosphere, to see all the other great players, learn from them, and just be part of the whole experience.

Q. I want to talk briefly about you being the daughter of a PGA professional. Does it make this opportunity even more special for you?

ASHLEY GRIER: I think so, just because my whole family grew up around golf and my dad loves the game I think more than anybody. So to have his daughter to be able to compete in a major championship is pretty special, and I know they're going to be watching online and pulling for me for sure.

Q. What did you learn about the game from them?

ASHLEY GRIER: His biggest thing was never give up, never stop grinding. He was always telling me to work on my short game and just get a little bit better, but never stop grinding was his favorite line.

Q. How much has he mentored you, playing that line between dad and coach?

ASHLEY GRIER: It was great. He never pushed me growing up. Just kind of helped me and my sisters also play, as well. My middle sister is a club pro at Wilmington Country Club. But whenever we needed help he would help us but he also let us do our own thing and learn and grow and enjoy the game on our own.

Q. What are your goals this week?

ASHLEY GRIER: My goals are just to go out and stick to my game. It's a big, long golf course. It's a major championship. So I just have to play my game and enjoy it and do the best I can, and if I can make the cut and play on the weekend, I think I'd be pretty happy.

Q. The fact that you played two PGA events before and now you're playing another one, does that make your students want to --

ASHLEY GRIER: I think so. Golf is growing on the women's side, and I see more and more girls out there playing, so I hope that I can inspire them to be out here playing and get more of them into the game and stick with the game, as well.

Q. What is your experience lately? Can you talk about some specific examples of your students that you're especially proud of and you see an evolution?

ASHLEY GRIER: This year we've had probably the largest women's group at our club. The nine-hole group, which is the beginner women's golf group, and I've offered a lot of clinics, and they play every week, and every time fills up. They love the clinics. They're really into the game, and I feel like we've grown the women's golf membership at our club tremendously this year for sure.

Q. So those messages that you were getting, is there any one of them that you will remember especially this week?

ASHLEY GRIER: Maybe not one special. They're all equally important, but just to know that they're out there cheering for me. I help them and work for them at the club every week and I help them get better, and to have them see me out here and support me is just pretty special.

Q. So you have the experience of coming to this event and measuring yourself with the people that work at this 24 hours a day seven days a week. Is it a little overwhelming sometimes?

ASHLEY GRIER: It definitely is because I know that I don't get to play and practice all day every day like I'd like to. This is their full-time job. My full-time job is being a club professional.

It is overwhelming. I actually had that talk with my caddie last night about how can I go in with the right mindset to not let all of that overwhelm me and bring me down, and the best line he said was just, play your game, your game got you here, so don't try to hit it farther this week, just do what got you here and see how you do at the end of the week.

Q. Who's with you here?

ASHLEY GRIER: My boyfriend is here. He's caddying for me. I have a former college teammate. She's going to come watch me. And a couple members that I know from back home are down in the area and going to watch me, as well.

Q. Is your dad here with you?

ASHLEY GRIER: My dad is not here, no. My parents kind of run the golf center themselves. They've owned it for 30 years. It's a little mom and pop golf center, so they couldn't get away, but I know they'll be watching online every step of the way.

Q. I guess his voice is going to be in your head?

ASHLEY GRIER: For sure. I'll always remember, never stop grinding.