[PHOTO: David Cannon]
It’s been almost 12 months since Rose Zhang boosted her status as one of golf’s great amateur players with her victory at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. The next great women’s amateur player will hope to follow in her footsteps as a field of 72 of the most talented female golfers in the world prepares to compete at golf’s greatest stage.
For the fifth time, Augusta National hosts this premier amateur competition. To get you ready for the occasion, here’s everything you need to know about the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
When is the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur?
The 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur will take place from April 3-6. The final round is played on a Saturday, with Augusta National hosting the Drive, Chip and Putt National Final on the Sunday (April 7) and then the 88th Masters Tournament the next Monday through Sunday (April 8-14).
When did the ANWA start?
The first Augusta National Women’s Amateur was played in 2019. Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley announced the event in 2018 during his pre-tournament press conference at the Masters. The event was created with hopes to continue the growth in interest of the women’s game and give a pathway for these athletes to chase their dreams.
“This championship will become an exciting addition to Masters week, and it furthers our effort to promote the sport and inspire young women to take up the game,” Ridley said in 2018. “Now, just imagine the 40 girls who come here each year for the Drive, Chip and Putt national finals will be able to dream about returning here one day to compete on a much grander stage for another impressive title.”
Where is the ANWA played?
The ANWA is contested on two courses. Round one and two for the ANWA are played at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, Georgia, about 15 minutes’ drive from Augusta. The final round is played at Augusta National Golf Club.
What’s the format of play at the ANWA?
The tournament is a 54-hole event but it’s a bit unique compared to other women’s amateur events. The first two rounds are played on Champions Retreat’s Island and Bluff nines on Wednesday and Thursday. After the first 36 holes, the top 30 players and ties will make the cut and advance to the final round at Augusta National. All competitors get to play a practice round on Friday before Saturday’s final round. If there is a tie after 54 holes, the winner is decided based on a sudden-death playoff.
So everyone gets to play at Augusta National?
Yes, at least a practice round.
Who is eligible to compete in the ANWA?
The 72-player field for the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur is filled with players based on these qualifications:
1. Reigning US Women’s Amateur champion
2. Reigning Women’s Amateur champion
3. Reigning Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific champion
4. Reigning R&A Girls Amateur champion
5. Reigning US Girls’ Junior champion
6. Reigning Girls Junior PGA champion
7. Reigning NCAA Division I women’s individual champion
8. Past champions of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur within the past five years
9. The 30 highest-ranked players from the USA based on the prior year’s (2023) final Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, not otherwise qualified
10. After qualifications 1-8 above, the 30 highest-ranked players not otherwise qualified, as listed on the prior year’s (2023) final Women’s World Amateur Ranking
11. Players receiving special invitations from the Augusta National Women’s Amateur committee.
Are any Australians playing?
Recent Karrie Webb Scholarship winner Maddison Hinson-Tolchard is the lone Aussie in the 2024 field. The Perth golfer is the top-ranked Australian woman on the World Amateur Golf Ranking (28th). She is currently playing college golf in America for Oklahoma State University.
Who else is in this year’s field?
The fifth Augusta National Women’s Amateur will have players representing 18 countries and six continents competing. Two of the past three champions will be playing: Anna Davis (2022) and Tsubasa Kajitani (2021). Out of the 72 players, 29 are first-time competitors at Augusta and 15 of those 29 are from outside of the United States. Twenty-four new players are in the top 100 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking, including Spain’s Andrea Revuelta (No.11), Rocio Tejedo (No.15) and Paula Martin Sampedro (No.21). Asterisk Tally is the youngest player in the 2024 field at 15 years old after she won three World Amateur Golf Ranking events in 2023. Davis won the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur as a high school sophomore at 16 years old.
You can see a complete list of the 2024 field here.
Who has won at the ANWA?
Rose Zhang won last year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur in a two-hole playoff against Jenny Bae. Zhang had previously won the US Women’s Amateur, US Girls’ Junior and the NCAA Championship. She went on to win a second NCAA title for Stanford University last May, before deciding to turn pro after a history-making amateur career. (She proceeded to make a big splash by winning in her pro debut on the LPGA Tour.)
What does the ANWA winner get for her victory?
Provided the winner remains an amateur, the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion will receive an invitation to the next five Augusta National Women’s Amateurs, the 2024 US Women’s Open, the 2024 Women’s Open, the 2024 Chevron Championship, the 2024 Evian Championship and any USGA, R&A and PGA of America amateur championships for which she is eligible for one year.
How can I watch the ANWA?
On Kayo and Fox Sports. The first and second round (April 3-4) of the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur from Champions Retreat will be broadcast live on Golf Channel, which will be viewable in Australia via Kayo and Fox Sports. The final round from Augusta National will be broadcast live on April 6.
