ROAD TO GEORGIA
Boosted by T2 finish in Sage Valley, Malixi sets sights on Augusta
‘Rianne Malixi will continue Yuka Saso’s legacy as the second player from the Philippines to compete’
The Philippines’ golfing pride and joy Rianne Malixi is using the bounce of her runner-up finish in Sage Valley to maximize her chances in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship next week.
The 16-year-old incoming Duke University scholar is hoping she’s mentally and physically prepared for the challenge in the 3 to 6 April tournament featuring the best women’s amateur players in the world.
In fact, Malixi was mentioned in the tournament website as among the promising first-timers in the meet.
“Rianne Malixi will continue Yuka Saso’s legacy as the second player from the Philippines to compete.”
“Malixi won the 2024 Australian Women’s Amateur and is committed to Duke University. Saso finished tied for third in the inaugural event in 2019 and won her first major two years later at the 2-21 US Women’s Open.”
The comparison was striking despite the fact that Saso has since shifted allegiance to her father’s home country, Japan.
Among the top-ranked players Malixi will face are World No. 1 Ingrid Lindblad from Sweden, No. 4 Lottie Woad from England, Germany’s No. 5 Helen Briem and No. 6 Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio from Spain.
The first two rounds will be played at the Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, Georgia. Final round will be at the famed Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday with practice round there on 5 April.
The low 30 players and ties after 36 holes will qualify for the final 18 holes with no playoff tiebreakers.
The winner will earn invitations to big tournaments including the next five Augusta National Amateurs, the 2024 US Women’s Open, the 2024 Womens’ 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.
Currently ranked 37th in the world amateur standings, Malixi, the ICTSI-backed campaigner, marked her 2024 campaign with a victory in the Australian Master of the Amateur Championship in January.
Subsequent strong performances, including an eighth-place finish in the Australian Amateur and a fifth-place effort in the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific Championship in Singapore, have further showcased her talent.
She also played the Singapore Women’s Open, finishing tied at 60th in the professional event.
Malixi, who has won several titles on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, approaches her inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur appearance with high hopes of making a significant impact.
Past champions in the Augusta National Women’s Amateurs include Jennifer Kupcho and Tsubasa Kajitani, with Anna Davis and Rose Zhang among the distinguished winners.
Malixi, who has won several titles on the Ladies Philippine Golf Tour, approaches her inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur appearance with high hopes of making a significant impact.