The sixth Augusta National Women`s Amateur is underway, presenting numerous compelling narratives as defending champions, seasoned participants, and emerging talents compete at a legendary golf venue.
Here are six players to keep an eye on as the tournament begins at Champions Retreat Golf Club on Wednesday and Thursday, culminating in the final round at Augusta National on Saturday.
Lottie Woad
Woad`s ANWA victory last year was secured in dramatic fashion, with birdies on three of her final four holes to narrowly defeat Bailey Shoemaker. This win propelled Woad to the top of the world amateur rankings in 2024. Since last year`s event, she has achieved one more victory, alongside an impressive streak of ten top-5 finishes, including eight consecutive top-3 finishes starting from the Folds of Honor Collegiate in September.
`I believe winning the ANWA boosted my confidence, especially coming from behind. It taught me I`m never out of contention,` Woad stated before the tournament. `I rode that momentum, and it set me up for the rest of the year. While expectations might have shifted slightly, I already had high expectations beforehand, so it wasn`t a drastic change.`
As part of the LPGA`s LEAP program, which offers amateur players a pathway to LPGA status through various achievements, Woad earned two points for her ANWA win. Another victory would bring her within two points of the 20 needed for an LPGA Tour card.
`My focus is on playing good golf and seeing where it leads me,` Woad said. `Playing on the LPGA has always been my dream, so having a slightly easier route that bypasses Q-School would be incredible.`
Despite the event`s history of no repeat winners, Woad`s consistency and experience position her as a strong favorite to become the first to win back-to-back.
Bailey Shoemaker
Shoemaker nearly achieved a memorable ANWA victory last year, shooting a 66 on Sunday, which seemed sufficient for a playoff until Woad`s remarkable finish.
Shoemaker`s performance since hasn`t been groundbreaking; she is ranked 45th in the world amateur rankings and hasn`t won an event. Her best finish was sixth at the Leadership and Golf College Invitational last September.
However, USC head coach Justin Silverstein remains optimistic. He noted that while Shoemaker hasn`t fully clicked in recent tournaments, her ball-striking in practice has been exceptionally strong, and her putting is Tour-level. This season, she`s gaining approximately 0.25 strokes per round with her putter.
`Based on all of this,` Silverstein commented, `I expect everything to come together soon.`
Jasmine Koo
While Shoemaker might be more prominently remembered from last year, Jasmine Koo, her USC teammate, also deserves attention.
Koo, a freshman, is currently ranked No. 1 in the AJGA rankings and No. 2 in the world amateur rankings. Since last year`s ANWA, where she placed fourth, Koo has consistently performed exceptionally well. In 17 events, she has won four, finished in the top 5 in seven, and her lowest finish was 17th at the U.S. Women`s Amateur. Notably, she was one of two amateurs to make the cut at last year`s LPGA Chevron Championship, finishing 13th at this professional event.
Asterisk Talley
Talley was a surprise standout at last year`s ANWA, tying for eighth place at just 15 years old. She has since demonstrated star potential, winning the Annika Invitational by five strokes in January and securing second place at both the U.S. Girls` Junior and U.S. Women`s Amateur, while winning the U.S. Women`s Amateur Four-Ball. Currently ranked No. 14 worldwide, Talley has achieved nine top-10 finishes in the past year. Her most notable achievement might be tying for low amateur honors at last year`s U.S. Women`s Open. And she`s still only 16!
Rianne Malixi
Malixi, from the Philippines, was the only player to defeat Talley at the U.S. Girls` Junior and U.S. Women`s Amateur last year. Her victories in both events marked only the second time a player has achieved this in a calendar year, winning decisively against Talley 8&7 in match play at the Junior and 3&2 at the Women`s Amateur.
The 18-year-old Duke commit will begin her college career in Durham in 2025. Her impressive run followed missing the cut at her first ANWA appearance last year. Since then, the world No. 4 has achieved six top-5 finishes in her last 11 events and aims for a more extended and competitive week in Augusta this time. Her game seems ready for the challenge.
Mirabel Ting
Ting has won more events than anyone else since last year`s ANWA. Ranked No. 3 in the world, this Florida State player has won six times in the last 12 months. Her performance this season has placed her at the top of the NCAA Division I rankings, with a lead over second place as significant as second place`s lead over 42nd.
A 65th-place finish at the NCAA championships is the only blemish on Ting`s record. However, she has won her last two events this year, making a strong case that no one enters Augusta in better form than this 19-year-old from Malaysia.
Jasper Hawthorne