FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 30th, 2017

NOTABLE QUOTES: KPMG WOMEN’S PGA CHAMPIONSHIP, FRIDAY’S 2ND ROUND

Golf Channel Notable Quotes
KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Second Round (12:30-3:30 p.m. ET)
Friday, June 30, 2017
Olympia Fields Country Club
Olympia Fields, Illinois

On Danielle Kang, currently T1 at 7-under par after two rounds (5-under par 66 on Friday)
Dan Hicks – “She is in the best position that she has ever been in a major.”
Hicks – “Bogey free so far, 32 of 36 greens. That produces a tidy scorecard.”

Danielle Kang speaking with Golf Channel’s w Steve Sands following her round
Danielle Kang – “Both of those rounds I kept my game plan and they are both bogey free, so I’m pretty happy. And I kept sticking to the iron shots that I’ve trusted all of my life and keep giving myself opportunities. That’s what I’ve been doing.”
Kang – “My plan is still sticking with how I laid out the golf course, staying with the same game plan I’ve been playing the last two rounds. I tell myself if I reach my goal, then I played well and I won. We’ll see what happens at the end of the week, but I’ve going to keep sticking to my game plan, playing aggressive and we’ll see where I end up.”

On Sei Young Kim, currently T1 at 7-under par after two rounds (5-under par 66 on Friday)
Karen Stupples – “You talk about a feisty, fiery competitor. She looks all cool, calm and collected on the outside, but on the inside she wants to win everything.”

On Amy Yang, 6-under par after two rounds (even-par 71 on Friday)
Jerry Foltz – “It is one of my favorite swings in all of golf. The tempo is flawless. The positions she gets into are as good as it gets. Phenomenal ball striker and phenomenal player. The only thing missing from her resume is a major.”

On Moriya Jutanugarn, 5-under par after two rounds (3-under par 68 on Friday)
Hicks – “Moriya caddied for her sister Ariya here when she won the U.S. Girls Junior years ago, maybe this will be her week at Olympia Fields.”

On World No. 1 So Yeon Ryu, 5-under par after two rounds (3-under par 68 on Friday)
Hicks – “She has been deadly with those irons in her run to the number one position in the world.”

So Yeon Ryu speaking with Golf Channel’s Steve Sands following her round
So Yeon Ryu – “Last night we got a lot of rain so greens softened up and it was easier to get closer to the pin, but at the same time, the wind died down and was calm this morning. So compared to yesterday, this morning were much easier conditions.”
Ryu – “I’ve finally achieved my dream and I’m living out my dream so I’m kind of overwhelmed these days. Every time I get off the course I’m hyper and so happy, but I’m trying to be the same person, no matter if I’m number one or number 100, I’m still the same person. My goal is to just enjoy this game. That is the reason why I play golf. So, I try not to think about my responsibility and just think about how I’m going to enjoy golf.”

On Lexi Thompson, 3-under par after two rounds (2-under par 69 on Friday)
Hicks – “Lexi Thompson breaks the par streak in bigtime fashion, ending Friday in spectacular fashion.”
Stupples – “She gave herself plenty of opportunities, but she remained patient and it really was just a matter of time before she finally got one in the hole.” 

Lexi Thompson speaking with Golf Channel’s Steve Sands following her round
Thompson – “I just finished yesterday before they blew the horn so we got very lucky. It was supposed to rain all morning and it changed to rain overnight so looks like I got lucky again today.”
Thompson – “I struggled a bit all day on the greens and I just focused on something very still on that last putt. It was a little bit of a slider, downhill left to righter and I just tried to stay still over it and I stroked it very well and it lipped in there.”

Thompson speaking with Sands about her mother’s condition
Thompson – “It is very difficult, that is why I’ve been taking a good amount of weeks off. Just going back and spending it with my mom. I’m very family oriented and for that to happen to my mom is a big downer, especially at the time that it did. She is a fighter and that is where I get it from and I know she is always here no matter what. Hopefully she will be recovered and will be with me at the U.S. Open and supporting me again.”

Thompson speaking with Sands on Olympia Fields
Thompson – “It is definitely not an easy track. That is what major championship golf courses are all about. Just about being patient out there, you are going to make bogeys but it is all a matter of taking advantage of the birdie chances when you get them. Focusing on hitting fairways and giving yourself some looks at birdies. And leaving it below the hole out here is definitely key.”

On Gerina Piller, 3-under par after two rounds (5-under 66 on Friday)
Kay Cockerill – “She really shines on tough courses so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see her break through at this major.”

On Friday’s second round at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship
Gary Koch – “The entire golf course is in immaculate condition.”
Hicks – “The stars are beginning to align themselves on the leaderboard.”

-NBC Sports Group-