The famed fairways of one of the most prestigious golf courses in the world are set to welcome female competitors at the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Culminating on April 6 at Augusta National Golf Club, home of the Masters Tournament, where Rolex is an International Partner, the event has been established in line with the vision of the club’s revered founders Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts to create an exciting pathway for current and future amateur players to fulfill their dream of playing elite-level golf.
With a shared, long-standing commitment to the development of golf worldwide, Augusta National and Rolex have worked together as partners since 1999. Beyond the exciting addition of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, this 20-year partnership has seen the development of the influential Masters Tournament Foundation. A charitable extension of the year’s first men’s Major, the Foundation has co-founded the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship and Latin America Amateur Championship – all of which are supported by Rolex.
Rolex is a long-term partner of golf, with an unwavering commitment that permeates every facet of the game, and Augusta National Women’s Amateur competitors may qualify through the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking, of which Rolex is an Associated Presenting Sponsor. Thirty of the top-ranked United States golfers and 30 of the next highest ranked players at the end of 2018 not otherwise qualified were also invited to compete.
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Annika Sorenstam wearing the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date Rolex watch.
Among those invited to play at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, some will qualify through Rolex-sponsored amateur tournaments around the globe, including the U.S. Women’s Amateur, the Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship, the Women’s Amateur Asia-Pacific, the U.S. Girls’ Junior and the Girls’ British Open Amateur Championship.
Rolex Testimonee Annika Sörenstam, a legend of the women’s game and winner of 10 Majors, is an avid supporter of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. “As a little girl, knowing you have a chance to play on the greatest stage, it would have sent me to the range,” she said. “It’s heaven on earth, there’s no doubt about it. Now you get these young girls who will have their dreams come true.”
Fellow Rolex Testimonees and ambassadors of the women’s game, Lorena Ochoa and Nancy Lopez, have echoed Sörenstam’s sentiments and given their seal of approval by committing to attend the inaugural event to support amateur golf’s rising young talents.
About the Augusta National Women’s Amateur
The Augusta National Women’s Amateur was announced on Wednesday, April 4, 2018, by Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley during his annual press conference at the Masters Tournament. The event was established to inspire greater interest and participation in the women’s game by creating a new, exciting and rewarding pathway for these players to fulfill their dreams.
The field is limited to 72 of the leading women amateurs in the world, who will compete over 54 holes of stroke play. The first 36 holes will be contested over two days at Champions Retreat Golf Club. Following the 36-hole cut, the final competitive round will feature the top 30 players and will take place at Augusta National Golf Club the Saturday prior to the Masters Tournament.
Provided she remains an amateur, the Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion will receive an invitation to the next five Augusta National Women’s Amateurs, the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2019 Women’s British Open, and any USGA, R&A and PGA of America amateur championships for which she is eligible for one year.
NBC Sports will produce and broadcast three hours of live final-round coverage of the event, which is being supported by five presenting partners: AT&T, Bank of America, IBM, Mercedes-Benz and Rolex.
