This week is a blast from the past for Gerina Piller. The last time Piller visited Lake Reynolds Oconee, she was a participant in Golf Channel’s Big Break Invitational at Great Waters in 2014. She came in a tie for fifth but remembers taking on the Jack Nicklaus design before its extensive renovation in 2018 and 2019.
“I just think the first things that comes to mind is hospitality. They welcomed us with open arms, and it was just awesome. The course was great. I think we might have played some different tees. I know the greens were different. They had redone them. To be back at a tournament with past Big Breakers, that was kind of fun,” said Piller, who played alongside fellow Tour players Ryann O’Toole and Jackie Stoelting, as well as PGA Tour pro Tony Finau.
With one practice round to go, Piller looks to recount her best memories of Great Waters, anything that might be of advantage. “[I] played 18 this morning. It's tough. It's definitely playing a lot longer than I remember. The greens are firm and they have a lot of undulations. It's definitely a second-shot golf course,” said Piller after playing 18 holes on Tuesday. “You got to position yourself off the tee to get a better angle into the greens, more accessible pins. It's going to be a great test. It's in phenomenal shape. Just excited to get started.
RACE TO THE CME GLOBE UPDATE
As the LPGA Tour heads to Greensboro, Ga. for the LPGA Drive On Championship – Reynolds Lake Oconee, Danielle Kang remains at the top of the Race to the CME Globe standings with 1,637 points through 10 events. Only 27 points behind in second is another 2020 champion, Inbee Park (1,610 points). Nasa Hataoka sits in third with 1,203 points, followed by the 2020 KPMG Women’s PGA Champion Sei Young Kim (1,054 points) in fourth and Minjee Lee (1,018 points) in fifth.
As the final event for the 2020 LPGA Tour season, the CME Group Tour Championship field will comprise of 70 players versus the traditional 60 in the Race to the CME Globe points standings, along with two sponsor exemptions. The 72-hole tournament will have no cut, with a purse of $3 million. The winner will receive $1.1 million, the highest first-place check on the LPGA Tour.
CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT
108 players; 72 holes, stroke play, cut to top 70 and ties after 36 holes
PURSE
$1.3 million USD; winner’s portion is $195,000
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