KROGER QUEEN CITY CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY P&G

September 17, 2024

Amari Avery

TPC River's Bend

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, very pleased to be ginned by Amari Avery, one of our sponsor invites here at the Kroger Queen City Championship presented by P&G. How does it feel to be making your first professional start as a professional since turning pro in June?

AMARI AVERY: Yeah, feels great. I think turning pro in June I was really excited to come play an Epson and LPGA Tour, and so I'm excited to play this week.

First professional debut on the LPGA, so it's really cool and I just can't wait for the experience.

Q. Have you got to see much of the course today or yesterday? What have you made of it, and how does it play to some of your strengths?

AMARI AVERY: Yeah, I just got in yesterday from last week's Epson. Took yesterday off. Today I'm going to go out there in the afternoon and play the front nine and see how it is.

I talked to some of my friends out here and said it's a pretty gettable course but there is definitely some challenges too, so we'll see.

Q. You just mentioned you've been talking to some of your friends about it. Maybe who are some of those friends you have out here and maybe what kind of advice have they also given you?

AMARI AVERY: I haven't got to too much advice yet. I think we're just kind of feeling it out. Was just talking to my close friend Rose Zhang straight off Solheim win. I was just congratulating her. She didn't really give me much about the course.

Just kind of saying our hellos and seeing each other after a while.

Q. Have you guys had conversations about what it's like since you just are very recently new to you turning pro, and she is also someone very new to turning pro. Have you had conversations about it, just what it's been like going from collegiate to professional life?

AMARI AVERY: Not really. I think we'll definitely catch up throughout the week. I'm excited to see what she has to tell me.

She had a view unique transition to pro golf. I think she would be the one person I would go to to ask about the experience and how it's like, so I will definitely have those conversations.

Q. Competing on Epson Tour this year; two top 10 finishes, including one last week in Tuscaloosa. How has Epson maybe helped you go from the collegiate experience as you transition to now a professional experience?

AMARI AVERY: Yeah, I mean, going into Epson you didn't really know what to expect competition-wise. I knew the girls would be tough, but it definitely exceeded those expectations. I think the girls out there are very competitive. The whole idea of the Epson Tour is to make it on the LPGA, so I think it's very competitive. It's tough.

I think it really sets you up for playing the LPGA. Obviously these girls are really good. There is a slight difference in competition, but I think when you play against all those girls out on Epson they're all fighting for the same thing. It definitely gets you ready for an LPGA event like this.

Q. Has it been kind of a pinch-me moment to be playing in an LPGA event as a professional? Has to hit you yet? I don't know if you had that moment of rolling up as a player and being like oh, my gosh.

AMARI AVERY: I haven't had that feeling yet. I don't think I've had the feeling that I'm a pro yet. I mean, making the transition from college to Epson, I think it's -- it was very quick and swift, so I feel like I've just been constantly playing events and playing a lot of golf.

So hasn't really hit me yet. I'm sure after this week once I get a break I'm sure it'll hit me.

Q. Obviously played your first LPGA event, first U.S. Women's Open in '21. What did you maybe learn from that week playing alongside the world's best athletes that you've kind of used or taken to heart as you've gone through the professional journey over the last few months?

AMARI AVERY: I think it's been great that I've had the experiences that I've had. I've played a lot of majors as an am, so maybe not as much LPGA events, but I think the majors kind of set you up. I mean that's the toughest challenge of golf, playing in the majors.

So I think that really helps me a lot in my experiences, playing U.S. Open at Pebble and Chevron. I think it's definitely tough wherever you go. I think the competition and the courses we play at really just sets up for every event.

Q. I know she's transitioned over to the U.S. National Team, but you got to experience Tiff Joh the last couple years at USC. Being around somebody that's been on the biggest stage and having them coach you and really encourage you, what did you take maybe from Tiff or learn from Tiff as you've gone on this professional journey as you decided to turn pro?

AMARI AVERY: Yeah, I would say the biggest thing that I took from Tiff as a coach and person, I think just kind of having a lighthearted approach to things.

I mean, yeah, she's been out on tour, played on tour for what, 11 years or something like that. And then transitioning to being a college coach, I think she's kind of done it all.

It's nice to have someone like that and I got to get pretty close with her, so honestly, just being more fun and being more relaxed. She knows about all the tough, challenging situations so just having her and knowing that you can play these big events but still be very chill is really cool.

Q. What's the most valuable lesson you learned from Epson this year?

AMARI AVERY: I don't know. I think the most valuable thing I learned from Epson is how tough golf can be.

I mean, I've played a lot of golf coming into Epson, but it's nothing compared to what we do now. We're playing week in, week out. It can be four-, five-week stretches. That's not something I was used to coming off college.

You kind of get prepped for that but you don't really do that. It's on and off with golf. I think Epson is just a great way to transition into the LPGA Tour.

And just into the pro life in general. I think it's a lot of golf, a lot of golf, but this is what we all dreamed about so it's definitely really cool for me.