2025 Augusta National Women’s Amateur | Monday updates

EVANS, Ga. (WJBF) – The top women’s amateur golfers from across the globe arrive in Augusta on Monday to begin preparation for the 2025 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, the sixth edition of the event.

The tournament will feature all of the top 50 players in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, the first time that has happened in a tournament since the ranking came into existence. Defending champion Lottie Woad,

a junior at Florida State University, is back to defend her title.

“It’s just really cool to be standing in the same place as the Masters champions have stood and just following in their footsteps a little bit,” Woad said after birdies on three of her final four holes to win the tournament last year.

Among those trying to capture that feeling this year will be Jasmine Koo, the top-ranked American in the field at No. 2. A freshman at the University of Southern California, Koo finished fourth in her first ANWA appearance a year ago.

The University of South Carolina has three golfers in this year’s field, including three-time All-American Hannah Darling, making her fourth appearance in the tournament. A senior from Scotland, Darling finished seventh in 2024.

“There are emotions that you don’t feel for a while that are kind of a little bit new,” Darling said after the final round a year ago. “I loved being in that position, and I loved being out here with somewhat of a chance, and I can’t wait to be in that position again.”

The two other Gamecocks in the field are No. 9 Louise Rydqvist of Sweden and No. 18 Eila Galitsky of Thailand.

Three of the previous five champions of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur are back this year. In addition to Woad, 2022 champion Anna Davis and 2021 champion Tsubasa Kajitani return. 2019 champion Jennifer Kupcho and 2023 champion Rose Zhang are now competing professionally on the LPGA Tour, where Kupcho has won three times including the 2022 Chevron Championship. Zhang has won two LPGA tournaments.

The week begins with player arrivals on Monday, after which they will be able to use the practice facilities at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, the only golf course in the world co-designed by the “Big Three”: Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. The course was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene in September, leading to a six-month race against the clock to be ready for this year’s tournament.

Later Monday evening, players can officially register for the tournament and take part in a social event to kick off the week’s festivities. After playing a practice round at Champions Retreat on Tuesday, participants are invited to the Chairman’s Dinner at Augusta National Golf Club hosted by Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament.

The first two rounds will be contested Wednesday and Thursday at Champions Retreat, after which the field will be cut to the top-30 plus ties that advance to the final round on Saturday at Augusta National Golf Club, where the entire field will have the opportunity to play a practice round on Friday.

Golf Channel will provide live coverage of the first two rounds from 12:30 p.m. until 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday. NBC will broadcast the final round on Saturday beginning at noon.