The azaleas are in full bloom at Augusta National, and this week we’ll get our first look of 2024 at the storied course at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Founded in 2019, this year marks the fifth playing of the ANWA — and if the championship goes anything like the previous iterations, fans are in for a treat. Two of the last four champions (Rose Zhang and Tsubasa Kajitani) triumphed in a playoff, while another (Anna Davis) claimed her title by a single stroke. True to form, Augusta National always seems to deliver on its promise for drama.
The ladies will begin their quest to become the newest ANWA champion on Wednesday at nearby Champions Retreat, with the 36-hole cut coming after play Thursday night. The top 30 players will tee it up Saturday at Augusta National to determine who will join the list of winner’s at one of golf’s most storied venues.
Here are five storylines to keep an eye on this week in Augusta. And here’s how you can watch it all.
1. Can Anna Davis bounce back?
Anna Davis became an overnight sensation when she claimed her ANWA title in 2022 clad in a Titleist bucket hat. And heading into 2023, she was one of the favorites in the field as she tried to repeat her success. Unfortunately for Davis, that repeat bid was undone by an early rules controversy at Champions Retreat. The junior never did recover from that early stumble and missed the cut. This year, the 18-year-old returns to Augusta once again looking to become the first two-time winner in the event’s history. Does she have what it takes?
2. Will Ingrid Lindblad (finally) break through?
There aren’t many players in the ANWA field who’ve had as much success at Augusta National as Ingrid Lindblad. In two starts, she’s notched a T2 and T3 finish, both times finishing a single shot out of a playoff. But without a trophy to show for her efforts, the Swede still has something to prove at Augusta. She heads to ANWA in excellent form, with three wins and two runner-ups so far this season. And as the top-ranked player in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, she’ll be the player to beat at Augusta National.
2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur viewer’s guide: How to watch, TV, streaming, tee times
3. Keep an eye on the juniors
ANWA has plenty of accomplished collegiate stars in the field, but don’t forget about the juniors who are still in high school. The top four juniors in the AJGA rankings are in the field (Gianna Clemente, Jasmine Koo, Yana Wilson and Asterisk Talley) and any one of them could make a run at the crown. A junior has won twice in the last three years (Davis and Kajitani) and another would be no surprise.
4. ¡Vamos!
Spain will be well-represented at Augusta National, as seven players from the country are teeing it up, four of whom are in the top 13 of the World Amateur Golf Ranking. Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio finished fourth in her debut last year, while Julia Lopez Ramirez enters ranked second in the WAGR with three top-three finishes this season. They could join Jon Rahm, Segio Garcia and Seve Ballestros as Augusta National winners from Spain.
5. Will experience matter?
The ANWA is still in its youth with this year being only the fifth playing of the event, but there are a few players who have racked up some valuable experience at Augusta National. Emilia Migliaccio — the 2021 runner-up — will be making her fifth appearance, while Carolina Chacarra (brother of LIV golfer Eugenio Chacarra), Amari Avery and Amanda Sambach will be making their fourth appearances. Augusta National has always favored those with a wealth of course knowledge, and these players certainly fit the bill. Time will tell if it proves to be a difference maker.