Starting in 2019, Augusta National Golf Club will allow a field of amateur ladies to compete on its famed course for the first time with the announcement of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship.
The event will be played over 54 holes – with 72 of the world’s top female amateurs competing for two rounds on the nearby Champions Retreat club in Augusta and the top 30 proceeding to Augusta National for the final round, set to be held on the Saturday before Masters week.
“We believe this event will have a significant and lasting impact on the future of the women’s game,” said new Augusta National chairman, Fred Ridley. “Our hope and expectation is that this event will further energise those who already love the sport and inspire others through the dream of competing at Augusta National.”
Leading amateurs
The field will be comprised of all of the winners from the U.S. Women’s Amateur, Ladies’ British Amateur, Women’s Asia-Pacific Amateur, U.S. Girls’ Junior, Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship, Girls Junior PGA Championship. In addition, the top 30 players in the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking not already qualified will receive invitations to the event, as well as the top 30 players from the United States. The Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship Committee will fill the remaining positions.
Exemption
The winner will receive an exemption into next year’s U.S. Women’s Open and the Women’s British Open, as well as any USGA, R&A and PGA of America amateur events for a year.
