Augusta National to host women’s amateur event
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AUGUSTA, Ga. Augusta National went nearly 80 years before having female members. Now the club is inviting its first female competitors.
The Augusta National Women's Amateur begins next year, a 54-hole event for top amateurs from around the world who will become the first women to play a tournament at the home of the Masters.
Fred Ridley, who took over as club chairman in October, said the new tournament will expand Augusta National's goal to inspire young people, following in the footprint of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, the Latin America Amateur and the Drive, Chip and Putt competition for children.
He said the Augusta National Women's Amateur was for a “segment of our sport that is vital to the future of golf.”
“We believe this event will have a long-lasting impact on the game,” Ridley said.
Women have long played at Augusta National, but it wasn't until the fall of 2012 that the club invited its first women as members — former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore. The latest member is former USGA president Diana Murphy.
“I've said many times that our country is a story of our great institutions evolving and becoming more inclusive over time,” Rice said. “This is one of the great institutions, not just American institutions but international institutions, so it's evolved and it's become more inclusive, and that's very exciting.”
Ridley said the opening two rounds would be held at Champions Retreat in Augusta, with the final round moving to Augusta National on Saturday, April 9, extending the week at the Masters. The finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt would be on Sunday, followed by practice rounds for the Masters.
The 72-player field will be determined by winners of recognized amateur events around the world and by the women's world amateur ranking.