The Augusta National Women`s Amateur tournament, now in its sixth year, is set to begin, promising exciting competition. Defending champions, seasoned participants, and emerging talents are all vying for victory at this prestigious golf venue.
Here are six notable players to keep an eye on as the tournament starts 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 a dramatic one, sealed with birdies on three of the final four holes to win by a single stroke over Bailey Shoemaker. This win boosted Woad to the top of the world amateur rankings in 2024. Since then, she has secured one more victory and consistently achieved high placements, including ten top-5 finishes and eight consecutive top-3 finishes since September`s Folds of Honor Collegiate.
In a pre-tournament press conference, Woad mentioned that the ANWA victory significantly boosted her confidence, especially coming from behind. She stated it reinforced her belief that she`s never out of contention and propelled her through the rest of the year. While expectations might have shifted slightly, she affirmed her already high personal goals.
Woad is participating in the LPGA`s LEAP program, which offers amateur players a pathway to LPGA status. Her previous ANWA win earned her two points, and another victory would bring her closer to the 20 points needed for an LPGA Tour card.
Woad emphasized her focus on strong performance and where it leads. She acknowledged her long-held dream of playing on the LPGA and recognized the LEAP program as a potentially easier route than Q-School.
Despite the tournament`s history of no repeat winners, Woad`s consistent performance and experience position her as a strong favorite to break that trend.
Bailey Shoemaker
Shoemaker nearly achieved a thrilling ANWA victory last year, with a Sunday score of 66 that seemed sufficient for a playoff until Woad`s impressive finish.
Shoemaker currently holds the 45th spot in the world amateur golf rankings and is still seeking an event win. Her best finish was sixth place at the Leadership and Golf College Invitational last September.
However, USC head coach Justin Silverstein remains optimistic. He noted that while tournament results haven`t fully reflected her potential recently, her ball-striking during practice has been exceptional, and her putting is at a Tour-level quality, gaining approximately 0.25 strokes per round with her putter this season.
Silverstein expressed confidence that Shoemaker`s game is poised to come together soon.
Jasmine Koo
While Shoemaker is well-remembered from last year, Jasmine Koo, her USC teammate, is another player to watch closely.
Koo, a freshman, is currently ranked No. 1 in the AJGA rankings and No. 2 worldwide among amateur players. Since the previous ANWA, where she finished fourth, Koo has had an impressive series of results. In 17 counted 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 only two amateurs to make the cut at last year`s LPGA Chevron Championship, finishing 13th in this professional tournament.
Asterisk Talley
Talley was a standout surprise at the last ANWA, tying for eighth place at just 15 years old. Since then, she has demonstrated considerable 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, alongside a victory at the U.S. Women`s Amateur Four-Ball. Talley is currently ranked 14th in the world amateur rankings with nine top-10 finishes in the past year. Her achievement of tying for low amateur honors at last year`s U.S. Women`s Open is also particularly impressive, especially considering she is only 16.
Rianne Malixi
Malixi, from the Philippines, is the only player who outperformed Talley at both the U.S. Girls` Junior and U.S. Women`s Amateur last year. Her victories in both events marked only the second instance of a player winning both in the same year, achieved decisively with wins over Talley of 8&7 in match play at the Junior and 3&2 at the Women`s Amateur.
The 18-year-old, committed to Duke University for 2025, has achieved this success after missing the cut in her first ANWA appearance last year. Ranked No. 4 globally, she has achieved six top-5 finishes in her last 11 significant events and aims for a more extended and competitive presence at Augusta this year. Her current form suggests she is well-prepared.
Mirabel Ting
Ting has secured more victories than any other player since the last ANWA. Her No. 3 world amateur ranking reflects her performance: six wins in the past year. Her play this season has propelled her to the top of the NCAA Division I rankings, with a lead over second place as significant as the gap between second and 42nd place.
A 65th place finish at the NCAA championships is an anomaly in Ting`s otherwise strong record. However, she has won her last two tournaments this year, making a strong case that she is entering Augusta in peak form among all competitors, despite being only 19 years old and hailing from Malaysia.
