2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur | Tuesday Updates
EVANS, Ga. (WJBF) – Practice is complete at Champions Retreat Golf Club for the fifth Augusta National Women’s Amateur. The tournament has become the traditional beginning of golf-related events in the Augusta area leading up to the Masters Tournament.
The 72-player field features the top 43 eligible amateurs in the final World Amateur Golf Ranking of 2023. Each played a practice round at Champions Retreat in Evans on Tuesday. It is the only golf course in the world co-designed by golf’s “Big Three”: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.
The world’s top-ranked amateur, LSU golfer Ingrid Lindblad of Sweden, returns for a fourth time. She finished third in 2021 and second in 2022 before missing the cut last year.
“I think I just forgot about (last year). I think I rather just think about ’22 or ’21 instead,” Lindblad said after Tuesday’s round.
“I decided not to think about it too much, not spend too much time on what happened last year, and just go out there, try to — it’s going to be windy, so just keep the ball in play and try to shoot a low score.”
Among the first golfers to complete their practice round Tuesday afternoon was reigning U.S. Open champion Megan Schofill, a fifth-year student at Auburn making her fourth Augusta National Women’s Amateur appearance.
“I think it’s easy to keep the focus here,” she said of not looking ahead to Augusta National Golf Club. “I mean this golf course is not Augusta National, but it’s pretty close. It’s in great condition, great shape. It’s a super fun golf course to play, so I think focusing on this golf course and knowing you have two rounds here is very important.”
2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Anna Davis, 18, is back after missing the cut a year ago. Now a freshman at Auburn University, she is making her third appearance in this tournament.
“Just ignore what happened last year,” Davis said after Tuesday’s practice round. “Think about the first year. I think it’s important to just think about the good things and enjoy myself. So that’s kind of my plan. Just to go out and try my best and hopefully play good golf.”
Tuesday night participants were able to experience one more memorable moment before competition begins on Wednesday: The annual Chairman’s Dinner at Augusta National Golf Club.
The first two rounds will be contested at Champions Retreat on Wednesday and Thursday before the field of 72 is cut to the low 30 plus ties. On Friday, the entire field will play a practice round at Augusta National Golf Club, with the 30 remaining golfers competing in the final round on Saturday.
WJBF will have live reports during newscasts throughout the week. Golf Channel will provide live coverage of the first two rounds of competition on Wednesday and Thursday from 1:30 p.m. until 3:30. NBC will broadcast the final round beginning at noon on Saturday.
Emilia Migliaccio of the United States plays a stroke from the fairway during a practice round prior to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Anna Davis of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 5 tee during a practice round prior to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Kelly Xu of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 4 tee during a practice round prior to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Megan Schofill of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 5 tee during a practice round prior to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Hailee Cooper of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 1 tee during a practice round prior to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Anna Davis of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 5 tee during a practice round prior to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Tuesday, April 2, 2024. (L-R) Amari Avery of the United States, Bailey Shoemaker of the United States and Catherine Park of the United States walk to the No. 6 tee during a practice round prior to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Tuesday, April 2, 2024.
For a detailed look at this year’s field, click here. For start times on Wednesday and Thursday, click here. Free parking for ticketed patrons at Champions Retreat is available at Grace Baptist Church on Hardy McManus Road.
This story will be updated throughout the day.
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