The sixth Augusta National Women`s Amateur tournament is upon us, bringing a wealth of compelling narratives. Defending champions, seasoned participants, and rising young talents will compete at one of golf`s most iconic locations.
Here are six golfers to keep an eye on as the competition begins at Champions Retreat Golf Club on Wednesday and Thursday, culminating in the final round at Augusta National on Saturday.
Lottie Woad
Lottie Woad`s victory at last year`s ANWA was nothing short of dramatic. She birdied three of her final four holes to narrowly defeat Bailey Shoemaker by a single stroke. This win propelled Woad to the top of the world amateur rankings in 2024. Since then, she has secured one more victory and achieved an impressive streak of top-5 finishes (10), including eight consecutive top-3 finishes starting from the Folds of Honor Collegiate in September.
Reflecting on her ANWA win, Woad shared, “I think [ANWA] gave me a lot of confidence, especially coming from behind. Knowing that I`m never out of contention.” She added, “I rode that wave of confidence, and it set me up for the rest of the year. Expectations might have shifted slightly, but I had high expectations even before, so it wasn`t a drastic change.”
As part of the LPGA`s LEAP program, which offers amateurs a path to LPGA status through various achievements, Woad earned two points for her ANWA victory. Another win this year would bring her within two points of the 20 required for an LPGA Tour card.
Woad stated, “My main focus is on playing good golf and seeing where it leads me. Playing on the LPGA has always been my dream, so having a slightly easier route that bypasses Q-School would be incredible.”
Despite the tournament`s history of no repeat winners, Woad`s consistent performance and experience make her a strong favorite to become the first to win back-to-back.
Bailey Shoemaker
As previously mentioned, Shoemaker nearly clinched an exciting ANWA victory last year. Her Sunday score of 66 seemed sufficient for a playoff, but Woad`s remarkable finish kept her just ahead.
Shoemaker`s performance since then has been steady, currently ranking 45th in the world amateur golf rankings, though still seeking an event win. Her best finish was sixth place at the Leadership and Golf College Invitational last September.
USC head coach Justin Silverstein remains optimistic. He noted that while Shoemaker hasn`t fully clicked in recent tournaments, her ball-striking during home practice has been “the best it`s been by a mile,” and her putting is at a Tour-level. This season, she`s gaining approximately 0.25 strokes per round with her putter.
Silverstein concluded, “Based on all of that, I expect everything to come together for her soon.”
Jasmine Koo
While Shoemaker may be memorable 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 in the world amateur rankings. Starting with last year`s ANWA, where she finished fourth, Koo has had an impressive series of results. In 17 counted appearances, she has won four events, finished in the top 5 in seven, and her lowest finish was 17th at the U.S. Women`s Amateur. Notably, at last year`s LPGA Chevron Championship, she was one of only two amateurs to make the cut, finishing 13th in this professional event.
Asterisk Talley
Talley was a standout surprise at last year`s ANWA, finishing tied for eighth 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 also winning the U.S. Women`s Amateur Four-Ball. Currently ranked No. 14 in the world amateur rankings, Talley has achieved nine top-10 finishes in the past year. Her most remarkable achievement might be tying for low amateur honors at last year`s U.S. Women`s Open. She is still only 16 years old!
Rianne Malixi
Hailing from the Philippines, Malixi 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 time a player has achieved this in a calendar year. She won decisively, defeating Talley 8&7 in match play at the Junior and 3&2 at the Women`s Amateur.
The 18-year-old Duke commit, set to begin her studies in Durham in 2025, has achieved this impressive run after missing the cut in her first ANWA appearance last year. Since then, the world No. 4 has secured six top-5 finishes in her last 11 counted events and aims for a more extended competitive presence in Augusta this year. Her game seems primed for success.
Mirabel Ting
Mirabel Ting has won more events than anyone else since last year`s ANWA. As the world No. 3 amateur, her position is well-earned: she 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 that is as significant as the gap between second and 42nd place.
A 65th-place finish at the NCAA championships is the only blemish on Ting`s otherwise stellar record. However, Ting has won her last two tournaments this year, making a strong case that no one enters Augusta in better form than this 19-year-old from Malaysia.
Adrian Whitmore