The 6th edition of Augusta National Women’s Amateur is here, and there’s no shortage of storylines for the defending champions, experienced participants in the event, and young up-and-coming stars to fight it in one of the sport’s most iconic venues.
Watching the tournament open at Champions Retreat Golf Club on Wednesday and Thursday, there are six players.
Lotty Wood
When Woad secured last year’s Anwa Crown, she did it in a thrilling way, making birdies in three of the last four holes, blocking Bailey Shoemaker with a stroke. The victory was an impressive 2024 in 2024 as she rose to number one in the world’s amateur rankings. She has only had one other victory since last year’s event, but she also had an incredible run with a top five finish (10) and eight straight top three finishes, starting with the Folds of Honor Collegiate event at the Honor Collegiate event last September.
“I think it gave me the confidence that (Anwa) was especially confident that I’d come from behind. “I was riding the waves on it, so I think I set me for the rest of the year. Hopes may have been a little different, but I don’t think that has changed much before that.”
As part of LPGA’s new Leap program, which allows amateurs to achieve LPGA status at various events and milestones, Woad earned two points by winning last year’s ANWA, and could earn two more points if they win again, and two more points to reach the 20 required to get their LPGA Tour Card.
“I’m really focused on playing really good golf and I’m focused on seeing where it places me,” Woad said. “I’ve always dreamed of playing with LPGAs, so I might get a slightly easier way of not having to go to Q-School.
The event didn’t lend itself to repeat the winners in a short history, but Woad’s consistency and experience make her an undeniable favorite and the first consecutive winner.
Bailey Shoemaker
As mentioned earlier, Shoemaker was the author of one of the most exciting ANWA victory, shooting 66 on Sunday.
Shoemaker is ranked 45th in the world’s amateur golf rankings and has yet to win the event, so Shoemaker hasn’t taken the golf world by storm. Her best tournament finish came in sixth in the Leadership and Golf College Invitational last September.
However, USC head coach Justin Silverstein is not worried. Silverstein said Shoemaker couldn’t put it all together in the recent tournament round, but her putting was “best in the miles” and the data of hitting the ball while playing at home was “best in the mile.” This season, she has earned about 0.25 strokes per round in putters.
“Based on all of that,” Silverstein said. “I’ll look for everything to click right away.”
Jasmine Coo
Shoemaker is a name that many remember last year, but also pay attention to her USC teammate Jasmine Coo.
The freshman Koo is currently the No. 1 player in the AJGA rankings and second in the world’s amateur rankings. Starting with last year’s ANWA, where she finished fourth, Koo had a ridiculous finish. With 17 appearances, she won four events, finishing in the top five in seven, with the worst finishing in the US female amateur ranking 17th. But perhaps her most impressive feat was last year’s LPGA Chevron Championship, where she was one of two amateurs making the cut, finishing 13th in the professional event.
Asterisk Tully
Tully was one of Anwa’s surprises last year after finishing eighth at just 15 years old. Talley scored the Anica Invitational in January with five strokes, finishing second in both US women’s junior and US women’s amateurs, proving that she won four balls for US women’s amateurs. Tully is currently ranked 14th in the world’s amateur rankings, earning nine top 10 finishes last year. Perhaps her most impressive feat was to tie down the amateur low honors at the opening of American women last year. Again, she’s only 16 years old!
Lianne Marixi
Tally, a native of the Philippines, is the only player who failed to hit beats last year between a junior American women and an amateur American women. Her victory in both events was the second mark that the players won both in calendar years, and she defeated Talley in match 8 & 7 and 3 & 2 in women’s amateurs.
The 18-year-old is Duke’s commitment to begin his tenure in Durham in 2025, and her rampant run happened after missing out on a cut in her first appearance at ANWA last year. Since then, the player ranked fourth in the world has scored six top five finishes in the last 11 counting events, and this time they are aiming to have a longer, competitive week at Augusta. Her game appears to be ready.
About Mirabelle
Since last year’s ANWA, no one has beaten more events than Ting. She is the number 3 amateur in the world for a reason. Over the past 12 months, Florida players have won six times. Her play this season has been at the top of the NCAA Division I rankings. She has a lead in second place, the same size as the lead, where she is 42nd.
The 65th place finish at the NCAA Championship is the only eyebrows on Ting’s record. However, Ting won the last two events she played this year. You can easily argue that the game for people heading to Augusta is in a better shape than the 19-year-old from Malaysia.