LPGA Q-SERIES

December 10, 2024

Mariel Galdiano

Magnolia Grove Golf Club

Quick Quotes

Q. All right, Mariel, so officially going to be a 2025 LPGA Tour rookie.

MARIEL GALDIANO: Uh-huh.

Q. How does that feel to hear?

MARIEL GALDIANO: So relieved. I mean, like you could tell like towards the back nine today everyone was kind of quiet. It's really serious and stressful.

But you can finally breathe out a sigh of relief, and here I come. It's finally a long time coming. I've been grinding it out on Epson. It's been a wild ride. I feel like I learned a lot playing on Epson and I'm sure I'll be playing in some events early in the season.

But without the help from all the staff and the sponsors from Epson, this wouldn't be possible.

Q. And talk about your grind to get up here as you kind of put it. Started WAPT.

MARIEL GALDIANO: Yeah.

Q. A long road. Is there a little bit more satisfaction knowing you kind of went that long way, long road, and are now going to be on the LPGA Tour?

MARIEL GALDIANO: Yeah, definitely. I graduated at an unfortunate time, 2020, so WAPT was there for me like when there was no tournaments.

You know, you learn how to be a pro through mini tours, through Epson Tour. I think it's better for the individual overall, because if you go straight on Tour sometimes you can get like a bit of culture shock, especially straight from college.

There are some who have had easier transitions than others. Time and time again you hear the stories where I'm almost going to quit golf, but kind of stuck in there, relied on my support system, and I think I'm a prime example of that.

Yeah, just like sticking it out really. I feel like a lot of my friends on Tour, might be kind of tough, but I see them out here at Q-Series with me, so it goes to show we all belong out here.

Q. You've obviously played some events on the LPGA, some U.S. Opens in the past. Are you going to take anything from those experiences that you really honed in on and take them into next season?

MARIEL GALDIANO: Yeah, definitely. Of course that's the highest level of competitive golf so it will be somewhat similar to the events. Compared to Epson it'll still be different. I'm going to be like a freshman, a rookie again. There will be a little bit of transition period, figuring things out, but I'm excited and super happy.

Q. Bunch of new experiences coming up next year. What are you most excited for? Is there one thing, one tournament, one area you're just really looking forward to playing?

MARIEL GALDIANO: I feel like definitely LOTTE, Hawai'i. I tried to get a sponsors exemption this past October during our off time. I unfortunately didn't get it so I was on the sidelines. I was like, man, I should be playing out there.

Definitely that event, and I guess just seeing my friends out there who are -- like I've always looked up to and finally playing alongside them. Just having a lot of fun finally on the big stage.