Ashley Grier, a SoFlo resident and PGA professional golfer, is competing in the United Kingdom this weekend at the fourth edition of the Women's PGA Cup, and she is doing so in a role no player has held before.
Grier is serving as the first-ever player-captain for Team USA; a distinction she called a dream come true.
"It's a huge honor. I've gotten to play in every PGA Cup since the inception. And so now to not only make the team but be the captain. I just, it's a dream come true. Really. Couldn't even imagine."
Grier said the captain role is a new development for the competition. Previously, captains were officers of the PGA rather than active players.
"Players weren't ever captains. It was always somebody else that was an officer of the PGA. So, I didn't know that was even going to be an option or a thing until this past season."
She said the decision on who would serve as captain was made among teammates, coming down to her and one other player.
"We actually decided amongst the teammates who was going to be the captain, just because it is kind of a new thing. And so, it was going to be me or Stephanie. And then we decided, since I've been on each of the teams so far, that I would be the captain."
Golf runs deep in Grier's family. Her father has been a PGA professional for more than 40 years, and her sister has been a PGA professional for approximately 7 or 8 years.
"We're just a golfing family."
When asked about the legacy she hopes to leave on the sport, Grier said her focus is on inspiring others, especially young girls, to embrace the game.
"I just want to, you know, inspire people. Golf is such a fun game you can play your whole life. I, you know, when I went to a couple of major championships, I wanted to sign a lot of autographs, like just, you know, inspire young girls and other players in the game to love it and play it, you know, for a lifetime, like I do."
Grier also offered advice to female athletes across all sports and industries.
"Believe in yourself. You know you got there for a reason and stick to your game and play to your strengths."
Fans can follow Grier's progress at the Women's PGA Cup by searching "Women's PGA Cup" online or visiting pgatournaments.com for daily results.
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