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EVANS, Ga. (WJBF) – The stage is set for the 2026 edition of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) as the competition kicks off.
Among the contenders are the top 20 from the Amateur World Golf Ranking (AWGR), alongside 48 of the top 50, who will compete on Wednesday and Thursday. Their goal is to secure a place among the top 30 plus ties, which will earn them a spot in Saturday’s final round at the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club.
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Diana Murphy, left, Blake Walker, center, and Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament Fred S. Ridley during the first round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Wednesday, April 01, 2026. -
Brooke Biermmann of United States plays her stroke from the No. 1 tee during the first round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Wednesday, April 01, 2026. -
Ai Goto of Japan plays her stroke from the No. 1 tee during the first round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Wednesday, April 01, 2026. -
Ai Goto of Japan and Brooke Biermmann of United States walk from the No. 1 tee during the first round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Wednesday, April 01, 2026. -
Ai Goto of Japan plays her stroke from the No. 1 tee during the first round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Wednesday, April 01, 2026. -
Detail of the No. 1 hole marker at sunrise ahead of the first round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Wednesday, April 01, 2026. -
Detail of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Trophy on the No. 1 tee ahead of the first round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Wednesday, April 01, 2026.
Seventeen-year-old Asterisk Talley, who claimed the runner-up position in 2025, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “It means everything. The courses, the level of competition—everything about this event is what makes it extraordinary. Everyone here is so talented, and you’re striving to win. Holding that title is an incredible feeling.”
Spain’s Paula Martin Sampedro, currently ranked No. 2 in the AWGR, is making her third appearance at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She has successfully reached the final round at Augusta National in her previous two attempts.
Reflecting on the tournament after her practice round on Tuesday, she remarked, “This event is special for numerous reasons, not least because we get to play at Augusta National. It’s been a privilege to play the final round here the last two times, and it’s an incredible experience. However, this venue at Champions Retreat also offers a formidable and exciting challenge.”
“Playing in this great of a field, I feel like I just need to take it one shot at a time, and now we’re here on this course for a couple of days, so I just look forward to focusing on just competing here and playing my best and then hopefully enjoy the last couple of rounds at Augusta National.”
Farah O’Keefe, a junior at the University of Texas, enters her third ANWA as the top-ranked American in the field, No. 4 in the AWGR.
“I’m trusting myself. I’m trusting my game,” O’Keefe said. “I feel like I have a lot of belief in what I’ve been working on, so I’m just going to go out there and see if my game stacks up against the best in the world, and if it happens to be my week, then it’s my week.
“Otherwise I’m going to learn from it and I’m going to walk away and I’m going to build some confidence and go to the next one, and we’ll be back next year.”
For first and second round groupings and start times, click here. Following Thursday’s second round the field will be cut to the top 30 plus ties that advance to Saturday’s final round at Augusta National Golf Club. The entire field will play a practice round there on Friday.
Golf Channel will provide live coverage of Wednesday’s first round beginning at 1:30 p.m. Eastern.
This story will be updated throughout the day.