Next month’s inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur will begin with the same feel of the Masters: it’ll feature golf legends hitting ceremonial tee shots.
Annika Sorenstam, Se Ri Pak, Lorena Ochoa and Nancy Lopez will all be involved as featured guests to Augusta National for the event and will all smack a drive down the first fairway at the famed course just like legends of the men’s game have done for years.
“I cannot think of a better way to encourage this year’s inaugural field and mark this important moment in the sport than to have the support and presence of these four legends,” said Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley. Those legends won a combined 20 major championships and 172 LPGA tour events throughout their storied careers. Their opening tee shots will kick off the final round of the 54-hole event on April 6.
The first two rounds of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur will take place at a nearby course, Champions Retreat, in Evans, Ga. The top 30 finishers and ties after 36 holes will advance to the final round. Before that round, however, all contestants (those making the cut and those not) will play a practice round on Friday, April 5.
“I am thrilled for these players and the experience ahead of them next week,” Sorenstam said in a press release. “This championship is fantastic for women’s golf, and I know young girls are going to be energized and motivated by seeing this event unfold for years to come.”
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