An invite only field of 72 top amateurs from around the world descend on one of the most famous cities in golf, with two Aussies among the group who will compete over 54 holes starting Wednesday.
Despite its name, and being run by Augusta National, the tournament takes place over two venues, with the first 36 holes played at Champions Retreat in Augusta, before a cut is made with all 72 players allowed a practice ground on the hallowed grounds of The Masters host venue on Friday.
The top-30 players from the 36 hole scores then competing for the trophy on Saturday at Augusta.
DEFENDING CHAMPION: In something of a foreshadowing of what was to come for Hideki Matsuyama the following week, Japan’s Tsubasa Kajitani claimed the first win for an international player in 2021.
RIGHT: Japan’s Tsubasa Kajitani started a magical fortnight for Japanese golf at Augusta National with her win here in 2021. PHOTO: Augusta National.
Following on from Jennifer Kupcho’s win in the inaugural event in 2020, the ANWA was cancelled the following year due to Covid, before Kajitani triumphed over American Emilia Migliaccio in sudden death.
Kajitani closed with an even par 72 that included a double bogey at the penultimate hole of Augusta National to finish at one-over-par alongside Wake Forrest’s Migliaccio before winning on the first play-off hole at just 17 years of age.
Kajitani will not defend her title this week, and in fact hasn’t played an event offering World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) points since early October, 2021, but remains in sixth on the ranking.
COURSES: Lying north-west of the course that lends the tournament its name, Champions Retreat sits on the banks of the Savannah River that divides Georgia and South Carolina and is home to 27-holes designed by three of the biggest names in golf history.
Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Arnold Palmer each designed nine holes at the venue in Evans, with the trio reportedly deciding which parcel of land would house their nine holes at a Masters Champion’s Dinner at the turn of the century.
It is Palmer and Nicklaus’ work that hosts this field of elite amateurs each year, with the ‘Golden Bear’s’ Bluff loop owning the more undulating terrain of the three.
Palmer’s Island nine is so named due to six of the holes being laid out on an island in the aforementioned Savannah River, with less undulation but more spectacular views and some of the better holes on the property.
Alongside The Old Course at St. Andrews, Augusta National Golf Club is one of the most famous golf courses in the world thanks to its annual hosting of the first men’s major of the year and its countless memorable moments.
West Australian Kirsten Rudgeley is one of two Aussies in the field with genuine title claims. PHOTO: David Cannon/Getty Images.
Designed by Bobby Jones and Dr. Alister MacKenzie, Augusta features rolling terrain, expansive bunkering and sever;y undulating and fast greens that can make even the best players in the world look foolish.
In prime condition a week out from The Masters, the ANWA field will be greeted with a course the likes many will never have faced, with perfect conditioning a feature of the strategic design that has been constantly updated and manoeuvred to challenge the likes of Tiger Woods over the years.
The famous holes of Amen Corner played a significant role in the first ever ANWA, with Kupcho’s five-under run over the final six holes of the championship kick started by an eagle at the par-5 13th known as Azalea.
The course is listed to play 6,310 yards this week, which with the added length recently announced is 1,200 yards shorter than the pros will play the following week.
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PLAYERS TO WATCH: As you might imagine with an elite field of the best amateurs in women’s golf there is a plethora of players with aspirations of taking the third ANWA title this week. And all with reasonable claims to do so.
The two-strong Aussie contingent are both serious chances, with Kirsten Rudgeley making the trip over to the U.S. after a summer where she primarily competed with the pros in events like the Vic Open and TPS, the West Australian winning the skills and match play based The Athena and the Avondale Amateur.
A proven winner around the globe, 21-year-old Rudgeley has an impressive all-round game with a short game that has benefited from the assistance of arguably one of the best ever exponents, Brett Rumford.
Joining Rudgeley making their debuts here is the U.S. based Emily Mahar who originally hails from Brisbane.
Playing her college golf at Virginia Tech, Mahar is a year older than her compatriot and enters in some good form after a number of recent top-10s and a new course record to her name in February. Mahar also had an impressive 2021, when she qualified for the U.S. Women’s Open and made the quarterfinals at the U.S. Women’s Amateur.
World No.1 Rose Zhang is in the field this week and the favourite to add another trophy to her mantle piece at an event she finished one shot out of a play-off at in 2021. PHOTO: Augusta National.
Enjoying a dominant run at the top of the women’s amateur game, Rose Zhang enters this week among the favourites.
Playing her golf at Stanford, the alma mater of Woods, Zhang has a slew of amateur and junior titles to her name, including the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur and missed the play-off here in 2021 by one shot.
The reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, Jensen Castlewill also tee it up in Georgia this week with hopes of adding another title to her resume.
Castle is a fighter, surviving a 12-player play-off to make her way to the match play at the U.S. Amateur last year and if this week turns into a head-to-head contest late on Saturday would be hard to argue against winning.
Among the other names that will be familiar and in with a big chance are Megha Gannewho led the U.S. Women’s Open after the first round in 2021 and played in the final group, the American recording a top-20 finish. The 18-year-old making her second start here.
Rachel Heck is another player with past experience, the Stanford golfer finishing T3 in 2021 and owning an impressive resume that suggests she will be in the mix over the week, while Scotland’s Hannah Darling makes her debut after heading stateside to play collegiately in South Carolina having collected a number of big trophies at on the other side of the pond.
Last year’s runner-up, Emilia Migliacciomakes her third appearance this week at an event she clearly enjoys as she continues to study and work occasionally for the Golf Channel.
54-HOLE RECORD: 206, (Jennifer Kupcho2019).
PAST AUSSIE WINNERS: No previous Australian winner.
AUSTRALIANS IN THE FIELD: Kirsten Rudgeley and Emily Mahar.
TV TIMES*
Round 3: Sunday (Fox Sports 505 LIVE 3am – 6am)
*AEST, check local guides.
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