NW ARKANSAS CHAMPIONSHIP

September 26, 2024

Ally Ewing

Pinnacle Country Club

Press Conference

THE MODERATOR: All right, welcome inside the media center here at the Walmart NW Arkansas Championship presented by P&G. Pleased to be joined by LPGA Tour winner, Ally Ewing. I think we all know why we brought you in this week. In general the announcement you made a couple days ago about how this will be your last season here on the LPGA Tour. Just wanted to give you the space to talk about that decision and just what has been going through your mind and what have you been able to reflect on over the last few days since posting the Instagram video.

ALLY EWING: Yeah, it's been amazing, the support. I wanted to -- I kind of struggled -- I didn't really struggle, but I was just kind of figuring out how I want to do it.

There were a lot of people that were part of this and I just wanted to be able to thank them more than just in person. And then also just showcase a little bit of the back story of how I got here, just a little snippet.

I take pride being in from Mississippi, and there haven't been a lot of the Mississippi golfers that have advanced to the LPGA. You know, just inspiring the next generation of girls from Mississippi and just having pride in that. That's a huge part of why I wanted to announce the way I did.

I've had such peace throughout the year. This has been in my head. I knew this was going to be the last year for me since the beginning of the year. Just had a lot of gratefulness to the LPGA and my journey. Just the peace has been very evident to me.

Each event -- I think just having a solid season is what I wanted to do to finish off my year, so being able to do that knowing it was my last year, it's been awesome.

Q. You told the Golf Channel a little bit ago that despite the success that we've seen leading up to this year, you never wavered on your decision of this. Why not waver, and what are you looking forward to now in 2025 with this decision?

ALLY EWING: Yeah, I mean, I've always just known there is more to life than golf. Golf has been a huge part of my life. There is no doubt about that. Like I've said, ever decision I've made has had some sort of thought behind how it would impact my golf career.

So I think just the main thing for me is I did put that this was going to be my last year, even speaking with my family. Certain people have known this was my last year. I think knowing what's ahead, you know, I don't know exactly what is in store for me ahead, but looking forward to just a little bit less travel, being able to do things with family and friends.

I'm fortunate I still have all four of my grandparents. Just things like that that you miss out on. I've missed out on things throughout my career and you've been able to look past it; now I can't look past. I've got nieces and potentially more nieces and nephews down the road.

I think there is just so much in store that I look forward to.

Q. You said you kind of knew from the beginning of the year this was going to be your last year. How do you then approach every week, enjoying the walking, enjoying the last -- it seems like you've been doing it in quiet for a while. How have you done that each week?

ALLY EWING: Yeah, I think it's really cool. So like Kurt knew that this was going to be the last year. My family has known.

So it's kind of been a balance. You know, you don't want to tee it up at the U.S. Open and go, oh, my gosh this could be my last U.S. Open. It's my last chance.

So I did approach it with a big sense of gratefulness. You know, I played well through it. I think that's what has been awesome for me to see, is like I put in my mind this deadline with everything, but was able to really soak it in and enjoy it and also play some of my best golf through it.

That's been a lot of fun.

Q. Couple logistical questions here. First of all, do you have other tournaments scheduled for the rest of this year after this one?

ALLY EWING: I do. I'm playing Pelican and CME to finish off my year in Florida.

Q. Back to the Solheim Cup. Stacy was in earlier talking about it. I guess she knew before even then, right? She knew you were...

ALLY EWING: I was able to pull her aside Sunday night after we had won and was able to tell her and just thank her for everything.

Q. I think you took two matches to the 18th hole, one to the 17th hole. I think you played with Lexi and Jennifer. Did you request either of those or how did the pairings come about?

ALLY EWING: Jen and I played well at Dow and I think that was the big reason that pairing came about. Our games fit each other really well to play alternate shot.

And then with best ball I think you go in with the mindset you could be paired with anyone. Stacy said you're going out with Lexi and I thought that was awesome. I didn't get to say anything to Lexi, but I think for me personally, that meant a lot knowing that was my last go-around with Solheim and she had already publicized that she was retiring.

Meant it a lot to me to get to play with her at least one match at the Solheim Cup.

Q. Have you two compared notes about all this through the year? Maybe she may play a few more.

ALLY EWING: No, you know, I didn't know anything about her retirement until she posted it at the U.S. Open. Super happy for her.

I think everyone's career is different. You know, Lexi is a testament to so much. She's done great things for the LPGA. We didn't compare any notes. Just so happened that, yeah, I thought it was really cool when I found out she was going to retire and I knew later in the year I would announce, too.

Yeah, just happened to be.

Q. You mentioned golf in Mississippi. Any great young players in the pipeline coming up? Do you have plans to help golf in this state? What else might you be doing?

ALLY EWING: Yeah, I mean, I'm always going to have huge heart for Mississippi golf. My husband coaches at Mississippi State. You kind of have to be cautious with junior golf and everything with recruiting and everything like that.

But I'm always going to be on board for any help that I can do to Mississippi golf. I'm always going to want to see good golf, both the men and the women's game. We've got some good products right now. Either at Mississippi State or soon coming to Mississippi State.

Any way that I can help, they know that I'm there, hopefully. Yeah, I just love to see us keep growing and getting better and better.

Q. You mentioned about Lexi. You and Lexi are a part of a wave of players that are stepping away around 30. When you started, did you have kind of a timetable or time frame in your head, or is it a I'm going to see how I play and let that go? And then I'll ask a follow up on that one.

ALLY EWING: Yeah, I wouldn't say a timetable so to speak. I mean, the biggest timetable for me I think growing up I wanted to do certain things on the LPGA. Couple years out of college I was able to meet my future -- we eventually got married -- my future husband.

Marriage changes things too. It was really hard for me to leave home after we got married, so that's got a part to do with did as well. I am in that age range where hopefully if I am blessed down the road to have kids we would love to start a family.

You take a lot of things into consideration. I didn't have like a certain number so to speak in my head, but as time has progressed and I've been fortunate enough to do this for nine years as a professional, it seemed -- a year or two ago it started to seem like the right time for me and my husband and family, just knowing the situation for everyone.

That's just what we kind of...

Q. And then for I'll say you and Lexi in particular, but a few of ya'll that are stepping away, starting next year what do you kind of envision you're going to be -- I guess maybe from afar, but also in person continuing to be involved in the LPGA Tour in an ambassador role or something like that?

ALLY EWING: Yeah, I'm always going to be a huge advocate for the LPGA. We're on a great trajectory right now. Any way that I can be -- I'm always going to speak highly of the LPGA. I want to see the players succeed and purses increase, everything that goes with it.

Yeah, definitely don't see full time travel or anything like that. Any way I can see the LPGA keep growing and help the tour, I'm always going to be big for that.

Q. Last one: Golfers coming out of Mississippi State who probably will look up to you as far as your travels and success on the tour, this type of subject as far as how long to play on the tour, what advice would you give these young golfers coming right out of school who want to chase their dreams but also keep that in mind?

ALLY EWING: Yeah, I mean, I think everyone's career is different. Obviously mine and Lexi's couldn't be -- like they're so far apart. She started doing this so young. You know, she didn't play college golf; I played four years of college golf. From the professional standpoint I've not been doing it anywhere close to as long as she has.

Everyone's career is different and everyone's reason to step away at a certain time, everyone's purpose is different. That's okay. You know, so much of this game is like you've got to -- the cameras are around and I think a lot of people are trying to tell you what to do.

What really matters is what you want to do. If you want to play until you're 40 or 50, that's great. Look at Angela Stanford's career. I applaud her for what all she's done and done for the game.

I think it's huge about what you want to do, you know, what you might discuss with your family about how they support everything. But everybody's career will be different and that's okay.

Q. While you were talking I just wrote down Lorena, Inbee, Michelle, Lexi. You know, is part of this a function of the purse increases and being able to make a pretty good amount of money in 10, 12 years that maybe women in the past couldn't do to have this luxury?

ALLY EWING: I can't speak for everyone, only myself. My answer to that would be no. When I pursued -- the purses are great and obviously you're trying to earn a living out here. When I joined the LPGA Tour I wanted to make a mark. I wanted to win tournaments. I wanted to contend for major championships. I wanted to play Solheim Cups.

And I think like there are things like Solheim Cup and other things that you just can't put a price tag on. That's just how it is in my heart.

Like I said, I can't speak for everyone else. I'm sure it might have an impact on some people's decision. I'm certainly fortunate to be able to do this at this age and step away from the game with a good place financially.

But it's not the driver to any sort of my decisions.

Q. You talked about Lexi and the impact she's had on the game. I'll turn it to you and what you hope your legacy is as you leave the LPGA.

ALLY EWING: Yeah, well when I first started out on tour, I mean, my parents are incredible. I've always tried to carry myself in a way that would impact others, whether that means winning golf tournaments and being able to just showcase good golf or if it's just the small things of speaking and thanking the volunteers for being here.

I'm not saying I was perfect by any means, but that's just kind of what my parents instilled in me. I'm super grateful for that. The most important thing for me I think if you pull all of my wins and Solheim Cup appearances aside, it was hopefully being able to leave a good mark on the LPGA.

And hopefully people see not necessarily me but who I play for, and that's for Christ. That was my purpose, and I'm just thankful that God gave me this platform to be able to use it for him.

Q. To that point, it seems like you've had a really big impact on a lot of players. Lilia said she was pretty surprised yesterday and caught off guard. To have the support of your fellow players on your Instagram post out there this week at Walmart, what has that meant to you to have people come up to you and be, not to lie, just devastated you're not going to be out here next year?

ALLY EWING: Yeah, it means a lot. Yeah, I'm certainly going to miss everyone. That's the hardest part of leaving the LPGA for me. I'm going to miss competition a little bit. More than anything, the people, the relationships. These are the people we see week in, week out, we travel with.

We watch each other struggle to get our luggage through an airport. Traveling circus like I like to say. The people and the relationships are definitely going to be the hardest parts for me that I'm going to miss. That would be the reason I come back for sure, to make sure I can see people, give some hugs.

It's been incredible just to see. Everyone certainly has meant a lot to me and their words have meant a great deal to me for sure.

Q. You said in your video, and I think this is being talked about more and more in athletics, there is not all highs, there are lows. To be able to voice that and be an example of what it means to be resilient, what has this meant to you?

ALLY EWING: Yeah, I don't know. Like I can't speak to everyone, but I've got to imagine every single person that plays this game has to feel alone at times. My husband is at home. My mom traveled with me the first couple years on tour.

Even if you have great friends out here, still sometimes you can never feel more alone. That's not a dig. I have incredible friends who would pick me up. It's still just sometimes you can feel like you're on an island. That's just the truth of it. It's a hard game. It will beat you up.

The main thing is you can look past and lean on people that care about you. Another part I said in the video is golf is not who I am, it's just what I do.

So many people could just give themselves a little bit of a break, know that people care about them no matter what they shoot.

Q. Obviously CME will be your wrap-up. How do you plan to celebrate? You've done a lot in the last nine years. Won three times, all those Solheim Cup teams. What will you do to kick back, you know what, job well done?

ALLY EWING: No, I guess I should --

THE MODERATOR: You did give your husband an ultimatum.

ALLY EWING: Yeah, I've always wanted a dog, but a dog by December 31st is the big thing. Yeah, just enjoy it. Being able to not rush through Christmas thinking I need to hurry up and get back to practicing.

Yeah, I think the little things I haven't really been able to grasp yet, that's what I'm going to look forward to.

Q. Dog names picked out?

ALLY EWING: Maybe a couple but they're going to stay right here. (Taps head).

Q. You still have work to do. Still a tournament at play. How do you carry the momentum from a crazy week that was in Robert Trent Jones as we look ahead to Walmart this week? How are you feeling about your game and coming back to the tournament that has meant so much to the LPGA and this community for so many years?

ALLY EWING: That's why I chose here. Arkansas is as close to Mississippi as we get. You're right, there is still work to do done. I think what's really cool -- announcing this week has certainly brought on a little more media, stuff like that. I fully expected just to have more people coming up, which is great.

THE MODERATOR: As she looks at me.

ALLY EWING: All for good things. But it hasn't really changed anything about my mindset. I've been able to enjoy walks this year. Been able to just soak in each round.

And just, yeah, nothing really changes about my game plan or anything like that. Just go enjoy my walk and, yeah, do my best this week.