THE MODERATOR: Welcome everyone to the media center here at the Cognizant Founders Cup. Joined today by LPGA Tour professional Lizette Salas, as well as two of our Girls Golf leaders, Eva Moawad and Sara Matos.
Thank you for being here so much. Lizette, we will start with you. You are a Girls Golf ambassador. You have two amazing Girls Golf e-leaders by you. What does it mean for you to represent the Girls Golf brand?
LIZETTE SALAS: Well, I feel like the LPGA has really taken the initiative of using their brand along with LPGA Girls Golf to really give these girls access, exclusive access to us I mean, they're at a lot of our events. We chat with them. We've created such incredible relationships with them.
I still have a relationship with my Girls Golf twin back in the day, Olivia Florence. It's just incredible to see these girls just not only grow up, but just taking this sport so seriously and passionately.
I can speak for myself and the other ambassadors that we're extremely proud of this organization and where these girls are headed.
Q. You mentioned growing up. You've met Sara before. Sara, what are your first memories of Lizette and how cool is it to have seen yourself grow up and still you get to hang around with Lizette Salas?
SARA MATOS: I mean, it's definitely one thing to be an LPGA pro and another to have a relationship with one and create that bond.
One the earliest memories I can recall is in the DriveOn campaign, in the first-ever Founders Cup I was at with my golf coach, Steph Peareth. Kind of just meeting Lizette and just having this conversation of how it's great to learn about the history of golf and to just be a female and empowering others.
Q. Eva, what's your experience like? How has it been in the Girls Golf program and how cool is it to have one the e-leaders of the brand?
EVA MOAWAD: My experience has been awesome. It's truly amazing like empowering other girls and having the influence on other girl's lives. I know I'm making their experience much better or amazing being a leader.
THE MODERATOR: We also have our junior reporter here with us today. You have some questions I know, so go ahead.
Q. Lizette, how does it feel to know that you've inspired so many girls to play golf and now we just reached one million girls?
LIZETTE SALAS: That's an incredible stat to know, that this organization has reached one million members. I think it has exceeded all of our goals and it's just inspired myself and the other ambassadors to keep doing what we're doing.
You know, sometimes we do have to pinch ourselves and remind ourselves we are role models and that we're inspiring the next generation to continue to be great and to do extraordinary things.
It's incredible that the sport has allowed me to do so. Just reminds me of my journey and humbles me, and really just I cherish what I do a little bit more because of this organization and meeting all these incredible young ladies, and excited to see how impactful they can be to the world.
Q. Can you tell us one of your favorite golf memories?
LIZETTE SALAS: Oh, wow. In general? You're talking 25 years of memories. I mean, most of the top memories I have are with my dad. I can think of times we spent in his pickup truck traveling the country pursuing this dream.
I think the other one is meeting my twin for the first time in matching outfits with Olivia, and also the other ambassadors with their twins. Yeah, I think that was the first -- one of the first moments where I'm like, oh, my, I am a role model and this job has -- I need to take this job seriously and passionately and also be myself.
Q. How old were you when you first started playing?
LIZETTE SALAS: I was seven years old. Yeah, thanks to my dad, who a mechanic at a public golf course, uh-huh.
THE MODERATOR: The commercial is amazing. We've all seen it.
LIZETTE SALAS: Thank you.
Q. We have the future of the game here with us, so let's talk about the past. This is the Founders Cup. Wondering what your experience with our pioneers this year, Betsy and Pia; have you ever interacted with them? Any stories of them?
LIZETTE SALAS: Yeah, I think part of being an LPGA pro is is to get that interaction or have that foundation, understanding what earlier generations have gone through, what they've done for the TOUR, their contribution to making women's golf the way it is now.
And so I've had interactions with them. I've had interactions with other Founders as well. You know, I'm really great friends with Nancy Lopez who I adore. She's like my mom.
But with Betsy and Pia, just being here, being present at the Founders Cup and really just acknowledging all of us current players and understanding what we go through on a day-to-day basis is pretty incredible.
I think these girls also are getting an idea of what we go through on a day-to-day basis and is also preparing them for what's ahead if they do decide to pursue professional golf.
Only special people can handle what this job demands or what this sport demands.
Q. Sara, Eva, must be cool for you guys to see some pioneers of the game out there. Have you had any interactions or seen any of your favorite stars out there that you want to share with us?
SARA MATOS: I mean, I was very, very close friends with Shirley Spork, the 13th Founder. Just to be here at the Founders Cup and learning the history of golf -- to me, history is very important part of our lives, and to have that connection with someone like Shirley and 6the other Founders, Marilynn Smith, it's very special, because it's not only -- she's like a great grandmother of golf, grandmother of golf.
I would always call her my golf Goddess because I would always look up to her. And to have pioneers like Nancy Lopez to be such an inspiration and role model to me, especially as Hispanic, having those experience with them on and off the golf course is very special.
EVA MOAWAD: This is my first experience. Meeting Lizette was awesome and doing this, because she's one of my favorite players for sure. It was so cool interacting with everyone, and I'm so excited for this weekend to build relationships.
Q. You guys will be out on the perch at some point. Looking forward to that? Got the best view of 18 green.
SARA MATOS: Yeah, I'm definitely excited, especially we get to watch all the shots come in to 18. So that's definitely like adrenaline rushing through the veins.
EVA MOAWAD: It's is cool being right there so close. Yeah, it's awesome.
Q. Lizette, a week of golf for you. What are you thinking about Upper Montclair? Excited for the tournament with what's going on this season?
LIZETTE SALAS: Yeah, I mean, Upper Montclair is definitely a beautiful track. Very challenging from tee-to-green. Definitely demands a lot of different shots, and I think for myself, just coming in with that boring golf mentality of just hitting fairways, hitting the greens.
This year is a long year. We have a lot of -- which is great. A lot of tournaments on the schedule. A lot up for grabs. For myself, this is my 12th season, so just taking it one shot at a time. As cliche as it sounds, as annoying as it sounded as a kid growing up, it's something too that I'm really focusing on for the rest of year.
Q. What advice would you give a golfer or young girl about this course in general?
LIZETTE SALAS: About this course?
Q. Yeah, playing this course or a professional course I guess.
LIZETTE SALAS: Embrace all the views, the traditional east coast track. You don't really see this kind of course out on the west coast. Just pick a spot, trust it, and center of the green is never a bad thing.
Q. What is a good way to calm your nerves when you're nervous about a tournament?
LIZETTE SALAS: Nervous about a tournament?
Q. Yes.
LIZETTE SALAS: That's interesting. That's what I asked Nancy Lopez right before I started my Epson Tour career or professional career. First thing she told me was: If you have nerves, that means you care. Means you need to embrace them. If that means you need it cry it out, go ahead. Acknowledge those feelings, that it's important to you.
And breathing exercises have always helped me. Music has always helped calm my nerves. That's why I'm always plugged into my headphones on the range. Also trusting that you have the ability to perform at this level or any level, and that all the hard work that you put in is for a reason. Whatever happens, happens, but just hold your head up high and have a positive body language out there.
THE MODERATOR: Thank you all for being here today. We appreciate your time.
SARA MATOS: Thank you.
LIZETTE SALAS: Thank you.
EVA MOAWAD: Thank you.
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