Piller's maintaining focus going into UL International Crown

LPGA golfer Gerina Piller and her husband don't have an ordinary marriage. In fact, it might be anything but ordinary.

Gerina married longtime PGA golfer Martin Piller back in 2011 and both compete full-time on their respective tour. As the two are both competing in different tournaments in different parts of the country all year, seeing each other can be a challenge.

“We're kind of a traveling circus,” Gerina said with a chuckle. “Next week, I won't see him for two weeks, but it's kind of something that we kind of lay out at the beginning of the year. So if there is a tournament for him to play in, I always encourage him to be out there and play.”

Making the cut and playing well at tournaments are always goals when playing on the tour, but for the Pillers making the cut may mean not getting to see the other for days and even weeks at a time, but both know the sacrifices that comes with the territory.

“Last week I saw him for a couple of days. He missed the cut, and it's kind of a bittersweet thing. I want to see him, but I want him to play well,” she said. “It's not like I'm working a 9-to-5 job where I have to request a week off here and there. I think, I see him more as a professional than I would if I stayed at home.”

It's been a big year for Gerina Piller. She is currently ranked No. 15 on the World Woman's Golf rankings, she has eight Top-10 finishes and ranks 15th in the world in earnings in 2016 ($696,903). In here most recent tournament, the U.S. Woman's Open, Piller finished tied for eighth and as the newest member of Team USA at the UL International Crown, she's hoping her solid year continues this week.

“Obviously, playing well this year in general and just riding the confidence, I think it's awesome,” she said. “Playing with these girls, being on the team with them ... this is who the top golfers of our country are, and it's always an honor for me to be a part of that.”

The UL International Crown kicks off this Thursday with matches beginning at Merit Club at 8 a.m. and running through Sunday afternoon. Gates open to the public at 7 a.m.

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