THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the Volunteers of America Classic media center.
Without further, we are joined by Volunteers of America Classic defending champion, Angela Stanford. Angela, thanks so much for stopping by today.
ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, thanks for having me.
THE MODERATOR: Those words have to feel good to hear. You got into town yesterday. All the great signage with your face on it back at Old American Golf Club.
How good does it feel to return to this tournament as defending champion?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, it still feels like a dream. Like driving in I was kind of like, did this really happen? You kind of pinch yourself a bit.
So it's been fun. Obviously the memories come flooding back. Yeah, it's fun to have your face on signage, so it's cool.
THE MODERATOR: We're only six months removed from your win. Usually it's a little longer than that for a tournament year after year. But during that time, what has all your reflection focused on when it comes to this win, the community, your connection, its magnitude to the sport and yourself and beyond?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I think first off, winning in golf is really hard. I'm a little bit older, and I often think about, well, if it's the last one I get to win, it's pretty cool that I did it at home.
So I think I have a different perspective than somebody would if they were -- like take a Cheyenne Knight. Her perspective is she's going to win more. So my reflection has been how grateful and thankful I am that I got to do it at home, got to win, and if it is going to be my last win, I'm very blessed that it was at home.
Q. I think you had family out here last year and they were able to soak in the moment with you. Same kind of case this week with some family and connections watching?
ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah. I'll have some family and friends out, yeah.
THE MODERATOR: You know they say everything is bigger in Texas. You're from the state. How welcoming is it when you can compete in your home state and you look on the drive in and you see all the American flags lining the drive, competing over an Independence Day weekend there year and celebrating 125 years of service by Volunteers of America?
ANGELA STANFORD: It's so special. You know, I'm a proud Texan. I think Texas is -- they do it right. I loved driving in this morning and seeing all the American flags. What a great week, 4th of July week leading up to the Sunday here. I love it.
I think it's pretty cool that it's Volunteers of America and that they have this week. 125 years of service is pretty incredible. I've enjoyed their sponsorship and friendship, and I think it's a great fit if for our tour.
So, yeah, looking forward to a great week.
THE MODERATOR: Awesome. Open up for some questions. Beth Ann?
Q. Just going back to last year's victory here, did that at all change your timeline on how long you would play the tour? I ask that because Lizette on Sunday talked about how she considered retiring, and I know that that is for different reasons, but players wrestle with that question quite a lot at different times. I wonder if you could just touch on that.
ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, I think any time you win you feel like, oh, okay, maybe I can stick around a little bit longer. My baseline for that has always been if I get up and I want to try to get better.
I think if you still have that passion to try to improve things, and I still have a lot areas to improve, so I think -- and I can kind of tell I'm starting to waver a little bit.
There are days that I'm kind of like, Man, I don't know if I want to spend four hours at Shady Oaks working on stuff. So my time working at it has gone down a little bit, but there is still the passion to at least want to get up and make things better.
You know, I think even playing last week we're starting to play these golf courses that are historic and they're just really good golf courses. I just think, man, I kind of wish my 28 year old self could be playing these golf courses.
Because I can feel it. I can feel that I don't hit it as far and this new generation, they hit it so much farther. The game is changing for sure.
So I feel it in different areas, but as long as I still have that passion to get up and work at it, I'm going to keep going.
Q. On the flip side of that, do those courses keep you motivated as well? The idea of Pebble Beach and Baltusrol and what's coming up?
ANGELA STANFORD: Yeah, for sure. Talking to the people at the U.S. Open they were giving me -- telling me what's coming in the future and I'm thinking, Well, that's after my exemption. Ya'll could have done this earlier in my career.
So, yeah, it is motivation, but it's also pretty cool. Even if I don't get to play, I think I've always said I don't want to be a bitter old lady out here. I pull for the young kids. You want your tour to get better. I want them to light it up and light it up on those courses that are historic.
So it's going to be fun. I'm going to -- I'm trying to stick around as long as I can to play these venues, but super excited to where this tour is going.
Q. If I could, we've talked to several players who were at the practice session already. What were some of your favorite takeaways of that time together and why is that important for the team?
ANGELA STANFORD: We had so much fun. That group of ladies, you know, you kind of get to know people away from the golf course. You get to learn new things about them. We played different games and did clay shooting and stuff like that.
And then you just get to hang around with people and you get to learn them on a -- away from the golf course, so on a different level, their interests, what they're good at. It was interesting.
I mean, Amy Olson is good at everything we decided.
Ally is the most competitive person I've met outside of me.
You just learn little things about people that you can take with you. I feel like I learned a lot about Amy that I feel like I could take into Solheim week. So it's really important for the assistant captains and Pat as the captain to learn a little bit more about them just so when you get into that week, that's why it's so important.
I think people think that you just show up that week and you gel as a team. That's not how that works. That's why the practice sessions, our team bonding, those things are so important. Because now we know going into that week, like -- and I think I was saying it to either Cheyenne or Angel, I was like, Now you've done the groundwork. You're laying the foundation. You got to know each other or you're getting to know somebody else, so when we get into the Solheim week you're comfortable with each other.
You're not getting to know each other and then also trying to learn a course for Solheim and also all of the pictures and the gala and opening ceremony. There is so much that week. The last thing you want to do is try to figure out a teammate.
So I just think it matters more than people think it matters.
Q. And how many people were there?
ANGELA STANFORD: We had a total of 15 with Michelle, myself, and Pat. So 12 players and two assistant captains and captain.
Q. Thank you.
ANGELA STANFORD: Welcome.
Q. You mentioned how much the tour has been changing recently, and it was relatively common when you joined for players in their 40s to be in contention. What's the biggest difference with less veterans contending now?
ANGELA STANFORD: You know, that's a good question. I think there could be a number of reasons. For myself personally, I think it's the wear and tear of the international travel. I think when I first came out on tour -- I tell people this all the time. When I came out on tour, the first time I had to go overseas -- I played Curtis Cup overseas, but when I went to the British in 2002 I had to find my passport. I had no idea where it was.
Now the kids show up passport in hand, they're ready to go. So I think the travel kind of beats you up more than you think. Just the longevity of it. So I think that's been for me tough.
But, again, the game is changing in that people are hitting it farther. So even when I came out on tour I was hitting it farther than some of the older players. So it's like anything. It just continues to grow.
And I think there are a lot of people having families and they want to have kids. I just think it could be a number of things. For me it's been the travel. I apologize, I shouldn't just say internationally, but just the travel in general. I think as you get older it starts to wear you down a little bit.
Q. How has the travel worn you down?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I don't recover as fast as I used to. I noticed it this year when I flew to Singapore. I used to be able to get off the plane and go outside and go for a walk and go to the course and practice.
Obviously this year that was different, but it took me a couple days. My body wasn't right. I wasn't sleeping as well. So just things like that.
And even as much as we go from east coast to west coast, that bothers me more than it used to. The time changes and my body for the most part -- you just don't recover as fast and you ache a little bit more.
Q. Do you think it's important for the health of the tour to have players in their 40s contending?
ANGELA STANFORD: Good players. (Laughter.) You know, I think what matters most for the health of this tour is that we continue to do what we're doing, that we have stars from every country on this tour. We have stars that compete at a high level that are exciting.
And I do love that people are hitting it farther. You know, I'm not hitting it as far but I love watching it, and I know the fans do, too. I think it's great for our tour. No, I think you need stars from all over. You have to represent this entire globe, and we do. I think that's what makes us great.
THE MODERATOR: You've made eight cuts this year, twelve starts with a pair of Top 10 finishes. As we transition into the second half of the year - hard to believe that we're about halfway done - but where do you feel your game is as we look to the rest of the season?
ANGELA STANFORD: That's kind of a tricky question, because honestly -- you know, when I come in here I'm honest with you guys, and honestly only going to play a handful more this year. I think it's probably time to be at home a little bit more with my mom.
So I'll play here, Evian, British, Arkansas, and we'll see what happens. But, yeah, I think it's probably just time for me to be more available. I need to -- it's time to be at home. I've talked to some veterans that played out here, and Beth Daniel, Meg Mallon, they've been great. Every time I talk to them they just always say, You'll know. And they're always right.
So it was time. So I'll play those. Maybe CME if I get in. Maybe Tampa. But for now it's just going to be Evian, British, and Arkansas, and then just reevaluate.
Going into next year, I think I'm just going to take this one month at a time.
THE MODERATOR: We know how family is important. We wish you all the best.
Q. Was there any advice in particular from those veterans that resonated with you?
ANGELA STANFORD: Well, I have to say Meg and Beth, any time I need anything -- and even Pat. Pat, Juli, I'm very fortunate in that I played in a time that I got to compete with these ladies, but now they have become mentors.
I think any time I get super confused about things, they've been through it all, so going through what my mom is going through, they've had to go through that. Pat, I mean, they've all had to live through that. They've been very helpful.
First off, give yourself a break. Like stop being so hard on yourself. I think that was it. Nobody can say -- nobody can tell you when it's time to ease back on your schedule and go home.
But they said, You'll know, and they were right.
Q. You mentioned you'll reevaluate at the end of the season. Do you think retirement will be an option you consider?
ANGELA STANFORD: No. You know, my mom told me today, she -- I think she would be pretty mad if I just up and quit playing. I think that's one of the coolest things. My mom, she's had to deal with this battle since 2009, and the thing that she always said is: I'm going to work so you're going to work.
So she never wanted me to not work. I'm not going to retire, but I think I'm just going to be more aware of her schedule, her appointments, and just try to be more available.
She doesn't want me to be at home full time yet. She doesn't want me around all the time just yet. She wants me to play. Even my dad said that. He said, She loves watching you play, so don't take that away from her just yet.
THE MODERATOR: Family is always in our hearts and we'll keep your mom in our prayers.
ANGELA STANFORD: Thank you.
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