VOLUNTEERS OF AMERICA LPGA TEXAS CLASSIC

July 1, 2021

Gerina Piller

Old American Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. Gerina Piller, nice 5-under 66 today. That included six birdies and a bogey-free front nine, which was your second nine. Take us through the day, just how you got to a nice low number on day one.

GERINA PILLER: Yeah, you know, just started the day I was hitting it pretty close and missed a couple putts I think my first three, four holes.

Talked to my caddie and said, You know, it's really hard not to get frustrated with my putting right now. He just reminded me that I'm really good at staying patient. So just try to have that mentality just because the golf course is playing soft conditions and a lot of pins are really gettable.

So just really try to stay patient. Had my first birdie and followed it with a bogey, so that was kind of a bummer, but got it back the in next hole with another birdie - next two actually. I birdied 18.

So same thing. Went to the back nine and just tried to do the same thing. Just keep my ball striking up and get a little more confidence in my putting.

Q. You're used to this heat being out in the southwest, but when you are playing this and walking 18 holes and you're not accustomed to this week in and week out, is it easier to lose focus and maybe find a bogey here and there? Do you find yourself focusing a little more at times?

GERINA PILLER: For sure, especially towards the end of the round. We're all tired, we're all hot. There is only so much water you can drink. Make sure I eat lots of food out there just to get the energy levels up.

Felt like did a pretty good job staying in every shot, yeah.

Q. Temperatures were about 60 degrees cooler six months ago when we were here. How much different does Mother Nature and just a summertime date for this event make Old American Golf Club play?

GERINA PILLER: It's not even comparable I feel like. Normally we have the winds. You got a little bit of breeze today. You know, and in the fall, winter it plays a little firm and fast and that makes it pretty difficult. You have to watch out of run-outs on the fairways.

That's key here, because the greens are pretty small and you need to be in the fairway to have good numbers and kind of hit to the quadrants of the green.

So I definitely was not hitting the same irons as I did in the fall. I think I was hitting a lot of 4-irons and 6-irons, and I don't think I had more than an 8-iron, 7-iron.

So it's definitely a lot better in the summer for me. And, yeah, it's playing great.

Q. When you're a little frustrated you said with your putting today but you can manage the score you did and you can manage keeping big numbers off the scorecard, how good do you feel with three more days ahead to maybe figure a few things out and continue to keep doing it?

GERINA PILLER: Yeah, I mean, I guess like the frustration with my putting, it's not so much that I don't feel like I'm a good putter. It's more like my ball-striking is really good right now, so I have a lot of opportunities, and you're clearly not going to make all the putts.

So I just try to have that mindset as I have a lot of opportunities and I'm not going to make everything. But threw in a new putter this morning, and so I like where that's heading. We'll see if it can get hot this weekend.

Q. I mean, I'm sure the temperature will definitely help, too. What putter?

GERINA PILLER: Just a PXG putter they made up for me. It's one of their newer models.

Q. Last one I have for you. I see a lot of Golf Channel commercials with you and the Volunteers of America circulating leading up to this event. Volunteers of America celebrating 125 years this year. What do they mean as an organization to you?

GERINA PILLER: I mean, I think it's incredible to give back to the community. Not that I'm like an ambassador for them, but being in town, being able to support them, has been huge. You know, I just feel like I come from a small community, so to give back is really important for me. So I love being a part of that and what they stand far.