AUGUSTA NATIONAL WOMEN'S AMATEUR

April 3, 2024

Kiara Romero

Quick Quotes

Q. You got off to a great start today. Can you take us through the beginning of that round?

KIARA ROMERO: Yeah, so I was like the first one to tee off this morning, and it was pretty exciting for me, so I was kind of cruising through the front nine, lots of birdies. Good attitude out there, keeping positive. It was a good start for sure.

Q. When you saw you were off first, was that extra nervousness?

KIARA ROMERO: No, I wasn't really nervous. I was more excited to tee off first. Good crowd behind us, and it was pretty fun.

Q. That drive, how would you rate it? Was it a good --

KIARA ROMERO: It was a 10 out of 10, yeah, right down the fairway.

Q. You have kind of a unique setup compared to a lot of players out here. You carry a 3-iron. How far can you hit that. You can hit it pretty high?

KIARA ROMERO: Yeah, it does go pretty high. Usually it carries about 195 is a decent one.

Q. Any good shots with it out here today?

KIARA ROMERO: I only used it once, and it was not good, but that's okay, it happens.

Q. How do you regroup after the second nine that you played today, giving a few shots back? Do you look at it as a sum or do you need to get some momentum back tomorrow?

KIARA ROMERO: Yeah, for sure I need to get a little bit back tomorrow, but I'm not really worrying about the leaderboard or anything or where I stand, I'm just trying to play my game and do the best I can.

Q. You have two siblings who play college golf. How much do you guys communicate about your games, and how much do they support you now? How do they support you?

KIARA ROMERO: Quite a bit. My brother is out here today, so it's pretty cool to have them out. We're always competing against each other and pushing each other to be the best, and it's pretty cool to have our support out there.

Q. What's the age difference with everybody?

KIARA ROMERO: My sister is four years older than me, and my brother is two years older than me.

Q. You like to play more than you like to practice, right?

KIARA ROMERO: Yeah, for sure.

Q. Have you ever gone to the range after a round, or when is the last time you've done that?

KIARA ROMERO: That's like my one rule. I never do that. I never practice after rounds. I don't think I really get anything out of it. I think it's better to just go rest and recover and get ready for the next day.

Q. What's your favorite thing to do after a round of golf?

KIARA ROMERO: Probably take a nap.

Q. Do you putt after a round?

KIARA ROMERO: That's probably the most I'll do, maybe just a little bit.

Q. Are your siblings the same?

KIARA ROMERO: I think they're a little bit different. They'll practice for a little bit.

Q. How often do you play with the guys' team back in school?

KIARA ROMERO: A lot, actually.

Q. More than the women's?

KIARA ROMERO: Yeah, probably. Yeah. We always get a lot of matches out there, and we like to bet against each other, get some team matches and stuff. So that's fun.

Q. How is your record against them?

KIARA ROMERO: Pretty good.

Q. Do they have a nickname for you or anything?

KIARA ROMERO: That's probably better not to share. They do, though.

Q. What's the best part of your game right now?

KIARA ROMERO: I think my approaches for sure. I hit it pretty high, and it helps a lot out on this course for sure because the greens and all the slopes and stuff. It's a little bit easier for me to get spin with those longer irons with the way I hit it so high.

Q. What were your expectations coming into this year for collegiate golf?

KIARA ROMERO: I mean, I don't really have any expectations or anything. I'm just trying to enjoy myself and just play the best I can. That's pretty much all you can do.