With trip to Augusta National at stake, emotions run high

EVANS, Ga. — When Mirabel Ting exited the scoring area just after 1 p.m. local time, she received plenty of high-fives and pats on the back from her supporters. After posting a four-under 68 — her career low in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, and eight better than her score the day prior — the praise was well-warranted.

“It was a tough round yesterday,” Ting told reporters. “I felt pressure that I’ve never felt before. Today I just went out there and I told myself I want to play on Saturday, and I hope I get a chance to play on Saturday now. I did everything I can on the golf course today.”

Unfortunately for Ting, her valiant effort came up just short. After playing Champions Retreat in 144 strokes over two days, she found herself one shot outside of the cut line on Thursday afternoon. On Saturday, as 32 of her peers compete for the most prestigious title in amateur golf, she will play the role of spectator outside the ropes.

“There’s nothing I can do,” Ting said. “I just have to move on. I have three more tournaments to go for the season. I will just keep playing and see where it takes me.”

Golfers are notorious for their ability to mask emotions. But on cut day at the ANWA, why bother? With a trip to Augusta National on the line, there’s no secret just how much every shot means.

One one side of the spectrum, you have jubilation — and relief. On Thursday, no golfer embodied that more than Carolina Lopez-Chacarra.

As the 25th-ranked amateur in the world, the three-time All-American has plenty of experience elevating her game when the lights are brightest. However, despite her success elsewhere, Champions Retreat has consistently perplexed her. In four previous ANWA starts, the Spaniard missed the cut each time, including a heartbreaker two years ago in which she missed a three-footer on the final hole.

This year, she left no doubt. With rounds of 70 and 72, Lopez-Chacarra made the cut by two strokes and will tee it up for the final round at Augusta for the first time. After her tee time was confirmed, she let out a huge sigh of relief as she hugged her family members in attendance.

Fellow Spaniard Carla Bernat Escuder had a similar sense of relief after completing her round. Despite posting four-under 68 to climb to T3 and sit just a stroke behind the leaders (Kiara Romero and Lottie Woad), she had a frank assessment of her round when chatting with her supporters.

“It was a grind,” she said.

When those near the lead are grinding on cut day, you know those teetering on the brink are feeling the pressure. Exhibit A? Kelly Xu. The Stanford junior started the day right on the cutline and remained there for much of the day. By the time she arrived to the 9th tee box (her final hole of the day) she needed to card one more birdie to make the cut. She did just that, and when she saw her caddie near the media flash area, the two shared an extended embrace.

Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio felt the hurt on the other side of the bubble. After her round, tears welled in her eyes as she stomped to the scoring area. Despite playing a tremendous three-birdie front nine to get inside the magic number, back-to-back bogeys to finish her round dropped her outside the cut line. After signing her card, she walked to the back of the 18th green and sat on a curb alone. She snatched her yardage book from her back pocket and smacked it off her outstretched legs in frustration at a dream gone awry.

Heartbreakingly, the majority of the 72-player field that teed it up to start the week will get no competitive reps on golf’s grandest stage. With just the top 30 and ties qualifying for Saturday’s final round, plenty of fierce competitors walked away from Champions Retreat wondering what could have been.

A consolation prize awaits the heartbroken on Friday: Each player in the field will get a non-competitive round at Augusta National, along with a spin around the par-3 course. Perhaps a trip to golf’s sweetest spot will wash away disappointment’s sour taste.