FM CHAMPIONSHIP

August 27, 2024

Alison Walshe

TPC Boston

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: Welcome Alison Walshe to the media center here at the FM Championship. Just how excited are you to be teeing it up this week in Boston where you've called home for several years now?

ALISON WALSHE: Yeah, this is a dream come true. You know, grew up knowing there were tournaments that were in Massachusetts prior to my time; then playing on tour I think the closest we got to Massachusetts or New England was Westchester one year at KPMG and Jersey in different spots.

But this is awesome. I'm really looking forward to -- I know how great the crowds are here and how passionate people are about golf. Just going to be a big showing for the tour in general, and playing in front of friends and family is going to be a lot of fun.

Q. Do you remember when the U.S. Women's Open was in South Hadley? Was that formative for you?

ALISON WALSHE: Yeah, so I certainly do remember. It was over at Orchards and Meg Mallon won. She's is a pseudo Bostonian. She doesn't like to tell people that because she grew up in Michigan, but she's an original Massachusetts girl and a great friend of mine.

So watching her win there, I didn't know her at the time, but, yeah, that was motivating. It was right tinkering going to college and really getting into it, so it was great to have this here as a young player.

Q. For you, will you take this tournament and look at the crowds, things that you may not have thought to do earlier or younger in your career? Will there be moments that you'll look around and kind of take it all in to keep a mental snapshot?

ALISON WALSHE: Oh, yeah, for sure. I mean, already it's fun. Seen some people inside the ropes volunteering and the presence of home, if you will.

Yeah, I'm sure there will be pinch-me moments out there, and with friends and family watching and being there is really neat. I've removed myself a bit and not out here as often. I make a rare appearance here and there.

But, no, it'll be special.

Q. Is it important -- the WNBA played in Boston for the first time; women's soccer team coming; women's hockey league in Boston. Feels like this could be kind of at point where the first steps of women's sports blossoming in Boston, New England. With this tournament happening at a pretty ideal time for that, for you is that special to be part of?

ALISON WALSHE: Yeah, I'm an athlete all around, avid, avid sports fan. Boston is title town as we like to call it. The trend in women's sports is unbelievable. Obviously being a professional female athlete I'm biased. I know what the product is. I think it should be even more than what it is already getting to.

We're trending in the right direction. In Boston like you said, we have a soccer team coming in, new stadium, WNBA presence, this being here for a few years.

I think -- I hope other major cities in the country, and it develops and kind of spreads like wildfire.

Q. Is it if you can crack the Boston fans that that opens a lot of doors?

ALISON WALSHE: Yeah, I think the Boston fans are passionate and intense, and I think they spread the joy for the game. You know, whatever sport it is. Hopefully they will make it contagious for others.

Q. Golf history in Massachusetts is big. Wearing the Ouimet hat right now. What does it mean for golf professionally to be here, particularly with the women's game, but golf in general to have a tournament in the Boston area?

ALISON WALSHE: Yeah, you alluded to the Ouimet hat. Very involved with Ouimet; I am on the board with them. The country club and the history that obviously has started out there with the game of golf and the U.S., you know, I believe it was the original USGA site. Could be speaking out of tune.

Donald Ross, I grew up on a Donald Ross golf course, lived in Massachusetts. Epic name in designing golf courses worldwide so much history, so many old, old golf courses, great golf courses. I think that carries over to just the community here. Everyone plays golf and loves golf.

I think the more we come back -- you know, The Open was here last year or two years ago. The crowds were awesome. There is women's Mid-Am going to be here at two weeks at Brae Burn. I think that makes it one of the highest hosting clubs for USGA events. So much golf history here, and I hope it continues to come here and thrive here.

No, it's great.

Q. And you mentioned Donald Ross as being a huge architect with golf. What is it about golf in Massachusetts that you don't find anywhere else, whether it's not just in the country but in the world?

ALISON WALSHE: Man, Donald Ross courses are unique around here. Weather can be a big concern. We're trending in the fall/cold weather, so playing rock hard greens because of ice temperatures, not necessarily because they're firm.

The weather here can be -- can change in 24 hours. Can be a hot, humid day and cool day.

But it's traditional. Thick rough. Of course there is modern golf courses coming to the area but I find this to be really traditional golf, classic, classy.

So, yeah, I think that's a good character for it.

Q. You obviously mentioned it already but what does it mean tore on a board and a program that helps the next generation be able to go to school and pursue whatever their dreams are?

ALISON WALSHE: Man, it means the world. So I grew up working in a pro shop my whole life and outside and cleaning golf carts and trying to make a buck. I think being around the game of golf is such a good character builder for young men and women.

Then to be able to provide people with opportunities to go on and get college scholarships, it's fantastic. I wouldn't be where I was without this game, without a college scholarship myself.

So to be able to now be on the other side of it and support it and give back means the world to me. Ouimet is doing an awesome job.

Q. Have you played much here before?

ALISON WALSHE: So it's funny, everyone thinks I've played this place a ton. Only a few times. I think I did a U.S. Open qualifier here a couple years ago and a couple charity corporate outings. I don't live that close to the area.

But it's great. You know, I know it enough to remember the holes prior to coming out here this week, which is a little bit of an advantage I guess.

Q. Obviously this is your first tour start this year. I know you haven't played since last year. What is your prep like and how excited are you just to be competing on the tour again this week?

ALISON WALSHE: Yeah, I like to call myself a professional trunk slammer now because I'm just running around and playing golf at the last minute, running from -- I'm working now. That being said, I still do play a lot of golf.

I'm fortunate that I have a great team and job in front of me so I make the most of my time. Especially leading up to this, you know, racing out in the mornings, get a couple hours in or couple in the evenings. Still golf enthusiast at heart, so I play all the time. No excuse.

Q. Awesome. You said you were working now. What are you doing?

ALISON WALSHE: I working with for March McClennan Agency. Commercial insurance broker, yeah.