Systemic Challenges in Golf: Why No African American Women Made the 2025 Augusta Field
The Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) is one of the most prestigious events in women’s amateur golf, featuring top-ranked players from around the world. However, the absence of African American women in the 2025 field raises important questions about representation, access, and opportunity in the sport. In January, invitations to compete in the tournament were sent and, as of February 7, Seventy-two of the world’s top women amateurs have accepted for the Championship which will be held April 2-5 in Augusta, Ga.
Qualifications to compete in the elite event are primarily based on performance. It is the key factor in receiving an invitation. However, systemic barriers may limit the number of African American women who reach these rankings.
To be invited to the ANWA, players must meet one of the following criteria:
1. Reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion
2. Reigning Women’s Amateur champion
3. Reigning Women’s Asia-Pacific Amateur champion
4. Reigning R&A Girls Amateur champion
5. Reigning U.S. Girls’ Junior champion
6. Reigning Girls Junior PGA champion
7. Reigning NCAA Division I individual champion
8. Past champions of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur within the last five years
9. The 30 highest ranked players from the United States of America based on the prior year’s final Women’s
World Amateur Golf Ranking, not otherwise qualified
10. After qualifications 1-8 above, the 30 highest ranked players not otherwise qualified, as listed on the prior year’s (2022) final Women’s World Amateur Ranking
11. Players receiving special invitations from the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Committee
Barriers to Representation
Despite the growing diversity in golf, African American women remain significantly underrepresented at the highest levels. Historically, Black representation on the LPGA Tour has been very low, due to systemic barriers such as financial constraints and lack of access to elite training facilities. Only eight Black women have earned full-time status in the tour’s history. These trailblazers include:
1. Althea Gibson – The first African American woman to play on the LPGA Tour in 1964, breaking racial barriers in professional golf.
2. Renee Powell – The second Black woman to join the LPGA Tour in 1967, later becoming a prominent advocate for diversity in golf.3. LaRee Sugg – Competed on the LPGA Tour in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
4. Shasta Averyhardt – Earned LPGA membership in 2011, becoming the fourth African American woman on the tour.
5. Cheyenne Woods – The niece of Tiger Woods, she gained LPGA status in 2015 and won a Ladies European Tour event.
6. Sadena Parks – Secured her LPGA card in 2015, becoming one of the few Black women to play at the highest level.
7. Ginger (Howard) Gould – A rising talent who earned LPGA membership through Q-School.
8. Mariah Stackhouse – Became the eighth African American woman to earn LPGA status in 2017 and has since been a key advocate for diversity in golf. Stackhouse remains the only full-time Black player on the LPGA Tour
Ashaunta Epps, Class A Member, Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and CEO/Founder, A Perfect Swing, Inc., in Charlotte, NC, said, “It’s unfortunate that we don’t currently have a Black woman in the field, however there is much work being done to push the needle forward in this space. Shyla Brown and Blayne Brown participated in the 75th U.S. Girls’ Junior Championship last year and the winner of that event is invited to the ANWA. In that event, Shyla made it to the Round of 16. As the winner of the 2024 Kathy Whitworth Invitational, receiving 2024 AJGA Rolex All-American honors, a member of the U.S. National Junior Team, as well as a commit to the University of Texas golf team added to her amazing long list of accolades; I would love to see the ANWA Committee extend one of their special invitations to play in the event to Shyla Brown. She’s committed to the game and she’s ready.”
We know that the inequalities consist mainly with the lack of financial support and sponsorship, along with not receiving junior development at the HIGHEST LEVEL (physical training and mental training).
Professional Senior Tour golfer Darlene (Hale) Stowers asserts, “If our young African American female golfers could experience the same level of training and financial support as her counterparts, the flood doors would open and the hue of a new rainbow would light-up the golf industry. So many of our young women are doing very well with very little. Imagine what they could do if the training fields were equal.”
Several factors contribute to this disparity:
1. Limited Access to Elite Junior Golf Programs: Many top amateur players develop their skills through exclusive junior golf programs, which often require substantial financial resources and access to top-tier coaching. The cost of competing in national and international tournaments can be prohibitive for many young athletes from underrepresented communities.
2. College Golf Representation: The NCAA serves as a major pipeline for amateur golf. While historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) have strong golf programs, they do not always receive the same funding or exposure as larger, predominantly white institutions. This can limit the number of African American women who gain recognition in the WAGR rankings.
3. Historical Exclusion and Cultural Barriers: Augusta National Golf Club, the host of the ANWA, only began admitting women as members in 2012. While the creation of the ANWA in 2019 was a positive step for women’s golf, the sport’s long history of exclusion continues to affect opportunities for minority players.
4. Lack of Special Invitations for Underrepresented Players: The ANWA committee has the discretion to issue special invitations. While they have extended invites to international players and top amateurs, there has been no indication that diversity considerations have played a role in selections.
The Importance of Inclusion
The Augusta National Women’s Amateur is a highly visible event that could serve as a platform to promote greater diversity in golf. The absence of African American women highlights the need for broader efforts to support young Black female golfers through:
• Expanded junior development programs that focus on minority communities.
• Increased financial support and sponsorship opportunities for competitive young golfers.
• Greater outreach and recruitment of African American players into elite amateur and collegiate golf.
Reneé Fluker, Founder & President, College Career & Beyond-Midnight Golf Program, believes the reason there are no African American women in the field for this Championship and what could change that, she stated, “The absence of African American women in the 2025 Augusta National Women’s Amateur isn’t just about this one tournament, it is part of a much bigger issue in golf. Too many young Black girls don’t have early access, exposure, or long-term support in the sport.” Fluker began the Midnight Golf Program (MGP) 23 years ago, in 2001.
Fluker, a social worker and singe mother founded Midnight Golf Program in Detroit, Mi., in 2001. “Golf isn’t just about talent and hard work, it also takes resources, quality coaching, financial investment, and competitive opportunities from an early age. The reality is, African American women have historically faced barriers to entry, from the high cost of equipment and training to a lack of representation in junior and collegiate programs. Without access to these key opportunities, it is tough to break into the sport at an elite level.”
“So, how do we change that? We have to invest in the pipeline. At College Career & Beyond-Midnight Golf Program, we introduce young people to the game, provide mentorship, and equip them with life skills that help them succeed on and off the course. But change needs to happen at every level, including junior programs, college recruitment, sponsorships, and professional tours, so that African American women aren’t just included but actively developed and supported in golf,” Fluker said. “Representation matters. When young Black girls see women who look like them competing at Augusta, they will know they belong there too. But to make that happen, we need real, systematic change and greater access to the opportunities that lead to elite competition.”
LaJean Gould, president/founder, Women In Golf Foundation in Atlanta, Ga., believes that “While programs like the First Tee and HBCU golf initiatives provide valuable opportunities, they often lack the funding and competitive exposure necessary to produce players who reach the sport’s highest amateur levels. Greater investment is needed in grassroots programs, competitive pathways like the Women in Golf Foundation’s National Women’s Collegiate Golf Championship and Southwest Showcase, and initiatives that foster skill development, mentorship, and media representation.” Gould established the Women in Golf Foundation 33 years ago, in 1991.
“Ultimately, increasing funding, sponsorship, and high-level training opportunities for young Black female golfers is essential for breaking down barriers and ensuring a more inclusive future in the sport. It takes a community to collectively work to break down these barriers and move up the world rankings!,” said Gould.
Jacquelyn M. Shields is president of Sisters Across America, Inc., a non-profit organization based in Orlando, Fla., which supports and mentors young women golfers who pursue professional careers in golf, many who are first generation golfers. Shields says “Sisters Across America, Inc. is extremely pleased to note that two of the eight African American women who attained LPGA membership were SAA’s mentees. Shasta Averyhardt was Sisters Across America’s first mentee and only the fourth African American woman to attain LPGA tour status. Ginger Howard was our second mentee and the seventh African American woman golfer to gain LPGA membership.”
“It’s mind boggling to think that Althea Gibson was the first to earn LPGA membership in 1964 and Shasta, the fourth, got her tour card in 2011. Our resources were limited, but we mentored and encouraged our mentees on their journey. Your support and investments into our mission are greatly appreciated and are available year-round. Our mission is to support and mentor young minority women who pursue a professional career in golf.“
“Our women mentees have excelled through junior and collegiate levels but encounter significant challenges as they strive to reach the next level. Sustained funding beyond traditional fundraisers is a critical component for the success of these efforts. Innovative approaches to sponsorships will help our programs bridge the gaps imposed by systemic barriers. The origins of golf are closely associated with private country clubs which denotes exclusivity and elitism. Historically, these spaces have not been welcoming to golfers outside of the traditional “club,” states Shields. Sisters Across America was founded 18 years ago, in 2006.
Looking Ahead
While the ANWA is designed to feature the best amateur golfers in the world, its current qualification system does little to address historical inequalities in golf. A more inclusive approach, such as offering special invitations to underrepresented players or expanding pathways for qualification, could help bridge the gap and ensure a more diverse field in future tournaments.
The absence of African American women in the 2025 Augusta National Women’s Amateur is not just a reflection of rankings but of broader systemic challenges within the sport. Addressing these barriers will require a long-term commitment from golf institutions, sponsors, and governing bodies to make the game more accessible to all. The Augusta National Women’s Amateur, which has hosted the top women amateurs in golf since 2019, will celebrate its sixth Championship in 2025.
Tickets to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur are sold out following an online ticket application process. No tickets will be available at the gates. For more information visit ANWAgolf.com
