KPMG WOMEN'S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP

June 24, 2021

Gerina Piller

Atlanta Athletic Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Looked like a pretty steady round out there, especially once you got out of your first nine, which is the back nine, played your way in with pars, but it has to be a pretty good way to open a major.

GERINA PILLER: Yeah, game feels great. To shoot under par in a major any time is good, so just happy where my game is and I'm just going to keep hitting good shots and just staying in the moment.

Q. As I mentioned, you were completely even, all pars on the front nine, which is your back nine, but you had three birdies on 12 and then 16 and 17. Could you tell us about those birdies and what happened there?

GERINA PILLER: Yeah, on 12 just laid up my wedge shot and been really working hard on my wedges and hit it pretty close, so that was kind of a stress-free birdie there. Had a three-point on 15, par-3. Hit it pretty long, and it was nice to come back with two birdies, and just hit my irons really well. My distance control has been really good. I've been working really hard on that, so it's definitely paying off.

Q. How are you feeling as you come into this major? It's been kind of an up-and-down year for you, some missed cuts, some good finishes. Seems like everything is rounding into place for this good first round.

GERINA PILLER: Yeah, I feel this is probably the best I've felt about my game in a long, long time, even before taking maternity. I'm just excited. I feel like I have a direction, just started working with a new coach three, four months ago, so it's been great. I'm finally feeling like myself again.

Q. Who are you working with and what have you been working on?

GERINA PILLER: His name is Brian Zeigler and really just kind of getting me to swing and play like Gerina plays. Just giving me lots of confidence, lots of drills as far as my short game, my putting, and I feel like I've always been a pretty good ball striker but my short game has definitely improved and that definitely takes a lot of pressure off my long game and my irons. I'm not worried about missing greens because I know I can chip really well and putt really well.

Q. Do you feel coming back from maternity -- it's certainly the right reason to take a break, but is this really feeling like you're getting back to where you were before you went out there?

GERINA PILLER: For sure. I would even say I'm probably better than what I was. I'm super excited.

Q. We were talking early this morning with Alisa Rodriguez who went to UT El Paso and she was praising you as a model. I wonder seeing people that went to UT El Paso and also seeing Latinas play well, is that something nice?

GERINA PILLER: Yeah, it's great. I didn't know she was in the tournament, so I was surprised to see her, and it's great to see her. I didn't play whenever she was there at UTEP, but it's pretty cool to see someone from my college out here, as well, and yeah, Lizette is playing great. She's a great player, and so hopefully catch up to her tomorrow.

Q. We were talking with Lizette this morning about kind of helping and encouraging young Latinas to take on the game and it's happening more and more and also not to feel like it's not part of the culture, like girls have to do something. I don't know what was your experience growing up as a young golfer and if you have something to say about that.

GERINA PILLER: It's funny you say that because I grew up in the town of Nancy Lopez, same town as her. I guess I just never really saw it as a hindrance or anything. I set my goals high and worked hard and just kind of see where that got me. I feel like everything I did, I did 150 percent, and at the end of the day if it wasn't good enough, then just got to work harder.

Q. So is Nancy Lopez kind of your role model for golf?

GERINA PILLER: For sure. I grew up in New Mexico in Roswell and I didn't start playing golf until 2000, so going to the same high school she went to and there's an elementary school named after her and a golf course, I didn't really quite understand what all she accomplished until I got out here and it's very impressive, and I do look up to her, not only as a golfer but as a mother.

Q. You mentioned mother, I mentioned A.J. Yesterday we had Stacy's Drive On story that we told and we told yours about how you look up to your mom and how you want A.J. to look up to you. You're playing well, Stacy is playing well. We've got so many moms out there. How cool is it to have that mom community out there supporting each other and showing kids what can be done?

GERINA PILLER: Yeah, no, it's super cool. It's not a bit of easy, but it's kind of like another support system you have. You kind of can encourage each other. It's just awesome to be able to still live our dream and come out here and play and still be a mom. I'm super blessed to do that and to be here, and yeah, just -- yeah.

Q. What do you take from today that you try to apply to tomorrow for another good round?

GERINA PILLER: Just keep doing what I'm doing, just kind of going into this week. Me and my coach talked about just having stress-free pars, and I felt like I did that today. I feel like having tap-ins for pars at majors is a pretty good deal. That's my goal, and sticking to it.