[Photo: Augusta National]
Raegan Denton means no disrespect, but she has never watched the Masters.
Denton is an accomplished Australian amateur golfer playing in this week’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur. It is not just about the time difference. She does not watch golf. Not even the arguably most famous golf tournament in the world.
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“I was trying to look up some highlights for this event to get a feel for the courses,” Denton said. “Obviously, the event is the holy grail of golf. Personally, I do not get a big kick out of watching. Playing is enough for me. After this week, I will make it more of a priority.”
Denton’s lack of knowledge about Augusta is not that dissimilar to Californian Anna Davis who also confessed to not watching the Masters. The then-16-year-old shot 69 in her first competitive round at Augusta National and won the 2022 ANWA.
The subject of Augusta came up when the 18-year-old from Adelaide was talking to an Australian outlet and was asked about a favourite moment she has watched from the Masters. Denton has seen key shots on social media but that is it. She will be able to make her own memories in a practice round on Friday when the entire field gets to play the renowned course.
With the way Denton played on Wednesday, shooting an opening five-under 67 at Champions Retreat, she also has an excellent shot at getting to play a competitive round at Augusta National on Saturday. She is tied for sixth, two shots off the lead, and the top 30 players and ties after 36 holes make the cut.
Denton gleaned some good notes about Augusta from fellow Australian, Masters veteran and LIV golfer Cameron Smith when they played golf together in Florida recently.
“He gave me a few tips on the course which was really good,” Denton said. “He shared some of his insights. It was more Augusta focused. He mentioned you will be forced to play aggressively otherwise you are not going to have birdie putts. I like to play aggressively.”
Denton won the Women’s Australian Master of the Amateurs earlier this year and is playing well.
“Definitely my biggest win so far,” she said. “Definitely the strongest field I have played in in the harshest conditions so that was a big confidence boost to show that I can compete amongst some of the best in the world.”
The LSU commit is ranked 43rd in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. She finished tied for fourth in the Women’s Vic Open and last year she won four World Amateur Golf Ranking events to make a big leap in the rankings.
She and her brother grew up playing golf but not the traditional way. They had fun though.
“I usually play at Royal Adelaide but I started in Coffin Bay which is a small country town on the Eyre Peninsula,” Denton said. “My brother and I were both very athletic kids. We did not really have anywhere to play any other sports but there was a local nine-hole golf course which had sand greens at the time so we both picked it up and loved it. Then we ended up moving to Adelaide to pursue golf as a career.”
And now it has taken her on the other side of the world to play one of the most famed golf courses in the world. She is already getting good vibes after Wednesday’s round.
“I just kept really composed,” Denton said. “I did not put too many expectations on myself and did not freak out if I had a poor shot or anything. I just focused on what was ahead and I think I kept my cool really well.”
