Augusta National Golf Club went nearly 80 years before having female members. Now the club is inviting its first female competitors.
The Augusta National Women’s Amateur begins next year, a 54-hole event for top amateurs from around the world who will become the first women to play a tournament at the home of the Masters Tournament.
Fred Ridley, who took over as club chairman in October, said the new tournament will expand Augusta National’s goal to inspire young people, following in the footprints of the Asia-Pacific Amateur, the Latin America Amateur and the Drive, Chip and Putt competition for children.
He said the Augusta National Women’s Amateur was for a ‘segment of our sport that is … vital to the future of golf.’
‘We believe this event will have a long-lasting impact on the game,’ Ridley said.
Women have long played at Augusta National, but it wasn’t until the fall of 2012 that the club invited its first women as members ― former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and South Carolina financier Darla Moore. The latest member is former USGA president Diana Murphy.
‘I’ve said many times that our country is a story of our great institutions evolving and becoming more inclusive over time,’ Rice said. ‘This is one of the great institutions, not just American institutions but international institutions, so it’s evolved and it’s become more inclusive, and that’s very exciting.’
Ridley said the opening two rounds would be held at Champions Retreat in Augusta, with the final round moving to Augusta National on Saturday, 9 April, extending the week at the Masters. The finals of the Drive, Chip and Putt would be on Sunday, followed by practice rounds for the Masters.
But the announcement caused one conflict.
The first LPGA Tour major of the year, the ANA Inspiration, typically is the week before the Masters in Rancho Mirage, California. The tournament invites leading amateurs, meaning they would have to choose between playing with the best on the LPGA Tour or a tournament with a final round at Augusta National.
He said he has spoken to LPGA Commissioner Mike Whan, who he says ‘understands our motivations for doing this.’
Whan was at Augusta National and did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.
The 72-player field will be determined by winners of recognized amateur events around the world and by the women’s world amateur ranking. There will be a 36-hole cut to the low 30 scores before moving over to Augusta National.
Ridley said tickets would be sold by lottery, which is sure to attract a large crowd for an amateur event who will have the opportunity to walk the grounds of Augusta National in the spring.
The winner will get a five-year exemption to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, provided she remains an amateur.
But she won’t get a green jacket.
‘The green jacket certainly is an iconic part of the Masters,’ Ridley said. ‘We plan to have a very distinctive award for the winner of this event, and we think in time that will become iconic. I can assure you it will be very, very nice.’
Annika Sorenstam was among those in the audience when Ridley announced the new tournament.
‘Look at the big picture,’ Sorenstam said. ‘Little girls knowing they have a chance to play on the biggest stage? That would send me to the range.’
