Women’s event to give fans a chance to visit Augusta
Applications now open for tickets to new amateur championship, writes Brian Keogh
AUGUSTA National is gearing up for the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur next year and announced that ticket applications are now available for those interested in attending.
Gathering the week before the Masters Tournament next April, an international field of 72 players will play 54 holes of stroke play, with first two rounds taking place on the Island and Bluff nines at Champions Retreat Golf Club from April 3-4.
The entire field will then play Augusta National for an official practice round on Friday, April 5, with the final round for the top 30 who make the cut taking place at Augusta National on Saturday, April 6.
NBC Sports will produce and broadcast three hours of live final-round coverage of the event, which is sponsored by AT&T, Bank of America, IBM, Mercedes-Benz and Rolex.
Golf fans wishing to attend any of next year’s competition rounds can now request a ticket application via www. ANWAgolf.com, the event’s official website.
Tickets will be sold in advance, but only after receipt of an online application. Applications will be accepted until September 30.
All applicants will be notified in late October when the selection process is complete.
“Since the announcement of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April, we have remained determined to organise a competition that will provide a meaningful impact on the development of the women’s game,” said Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament.
“While we aim to stage a first-class championship, our motivation goes beyond the scores posted between the
ropes. By providing this opportunity and shining a brighter light on this important segment of the sport, we expect role models to emerge who will help inspire a new generation of golfers.”
Based on the qualification criteria for the ANWA published in April, Ireland’s world No 26, Olivia Mehaffey, could be eligible to tee it up.
Kristen Gillman (USA), U.S. Women’s Amateur Champion; Leonie Harm (Germany), Ladies’ British Open Amateur Champion; Atthaya Thitikul (Thailand), Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Champion; Yealimi Noh (USA), U.S. Girls’ Junior Champion and Girls Junior PGA Champion; and Emma Spitz (Austria), Girls’ British Open Amateur Champion, are all exempt.
The following criteria will fill the next 60 positions in the field, based on the World Amateur Golf Ranking at the end of the 2018 calendar year:
The top 30 players from the United States of America not otherwise qualified and the next 30 highest ranked players not otherwise qualified. The field’s remaining spots will be filled by special invitation from the ANWA Championship Committee.
Provided she remains an amateur, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Champion will receive an invitation to the next five Augusta National Women’s Amateurs, the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2019 Women’s British Open, and any USGA, R&A and PGA of America amateur championships for which she is eligible for one year.