THE MODERATOR: So, obviously here you ended No. 33 on the money list. It all came down to the final putt, and you didn't even know it. How did it feel when you came off the green? I know in the moment you just wanted it to be final and wanted to know for sure that you made it in, but how did it feel once it finally sunk in?
AMELIA GARVEY: Yeah, it was great. I mean, I had a lot of pressure that week. Well, sort of my last three weeks I knew that I was sitting outside the top 35 and wanted to make -- you know, obviously wanted to be exempt into final stage.
So to play really well that last week and for it all it on work out just felt weird almost. But, yeah, I was just glad that the season was over and I still had a shot at getting my card this week.
THE MODERATOR: And then this week is a second chance at an LPGA card. How have you prepared? I know you said you went home. How have you kind of gotten ready for this week, and what are your expectations for yourself?
AMELIA GARVEY: Yeah, it's amazing to get to go home. I had seven weeks off in between the last event and this, but it's been a long year, and I haven't been able to see my family at all.
Left Florida a couple of days after that event and got a good month back home, and it was really nice just to take a couple of weeks off and refresh myself going into this. And then I've just spent the last week in Orlando with my coach out there.
So, yeah, the game is feeling really good right now. Hopefully I'll take a little bit of my momentum from that last couple of tournaments into this, but at the end of the day it's more just, like, play solid golf. And it's eight rounds, so really staying patient and knowing that there's a lot of golf to be played.
THE MODERATOR: Then I know at Tour Championship when you found out that you were projected to be No. 33 in that bubble, you had your boyfriend with you, and he was making posters, jumping up and down for you. What does it mean to you to have that support, and will you have some of that this week?
AMELIA GARVEY: Yeah, it was really funny actually. He was in Europe the week before that, and he was on his way home, and he asked me whether I wanted him there that week. The first thing I said was, no (laughing). I knew it was going to be a pretty stressful week, so I didn't really, you know, want him to feel like the nerves and stuff like that.
But I had a little think about it, and I hadn't seen him for probably six weeks. So, yeah, I ended up getting him to come. Just to have him there and it all go well was amazing. So now is he back home right now, but I'm going straight back home after this.
So I've got my cousin, who is my caddie, on the bag who was there at the Tour Championship, so a bit of a family affair as well here.
THE MODERATOR: And then having family on the bag, having somebody that knows you well and is here to celebrate with you, but also console you if things don't go your way, how does that feel? And does it relieve any pressure off the week a little bit?
AMELIA GARVEY: Yes. Having him on the bag, I feel so comfortable with him. He has caddied for me since I was probably 13, 14, just in amateur events and stuff. He knows me so well. He knows when to talk and when not to, and also he is such a big believer in me.
Yeah, when things don't go to plan, like, he is always that positive guy that knows -- you know, he has played golf himself at a high level, so he knows the game in and out and he also knows me in and out. So it's really nice to have him on the bag this week.
THE MODERATOR: Awesome. Then I know part of being in that 11 to 35 range, whether you are 11 or you're 35, you get exempt into Q-Series. You don't have to go to Stage 2. What did that extra couple of weeks or not having to go to Q2 and play that competitive week in between your rest, how do you think that kind of gives you a little bit -- not of an advantage, but a little bit more comfortability heading into this week?
AMELIA GARVEY: Oh, I just didn't like those courses at Stage 2. I had to play last year, and I wouldn't say they really fit my game. That was a lot of irons off tees and stuff like that, so I was really happy that I didn't have to go back there.
A lot of really good golfers put in a lot of spots on that stage. So it's nice just to be able to come here. I've been in Alabama now since Friday night, so I've been able to see both the courses. And I've actually gone and played next week, one, so it's helped the prep a little bit more. Yeah, obviously it takes some pressure off having made Stage 2 as well.
THE MODERATOR: Then obviously two weeks is a long time, eight round of golf. Definitely, like you said, takes a lot of patience. What do you do to kind of remind yourself to stay patient or to kind of take the pressure off when you are not on the course?
AMELIA GARVEY: I think really just, like, understand what you need to do and don't compare yourself to other girls out here. I think I've been a professional golfer long enough now to know what I need to do and just come to the course, get it done, and really prioritize risk.
I think having the seven weeks off, you know, two weeks isn't too bad at all. But, yeah, just try to take the mind off things and watch a few Netflix series and just -- I'm buying Christmas presents right now, which has been nice. A good time waster and money waster, I guess (laughing).
THE MODERATOR: Are you watching anything good on Netflix?
AMELIA GARVEY: I started watching the Jeffrey Epstein thing, the documentary about him. And then I have started also watching "White Lotus," so I'm kind of going in between the two, yeah.
THE MODERATOR: Then you played your rookie season on the Epson Tour. Obviously worked out well for you to be here this week. How do you think the Epson Tour prepared you for the competitive levels of playing Q-Series?
AMELIA GARVEY: I think honestly it's, like -- Epson Tour has been great this year because I think the quality of golf has been amazing. I think we've got a lot of really good girls that could play on the LPGA any week of the year. So, like, just to come up against that strength of field every couple of weeks has been really nice to know that I can contend with these girls.
Just because you're at Q-Series, you know, I would say it's basically, yes, you've got girls coming down from the LPGA, but I would say, you know, the strength of field is just as good on the Epson Tour as it is here.
So, yeah, I think this week is all going to be about mindset at the end of the day. Everyone has a good enough game. It's just going to be who can kind of forget about that end result and just go and play golf, I guess, and try and not put too much pressure on knowing that there's a card at the end of it potentially.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports