EVANS, Ga. (WJBF) – The 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) is underway.
The top 20 in the Amateur World Golf Ranking (AWGR), and 48 of the top 50, will spend Wednesday and Thursday battling to make it into the top 30 plus ties that advance to Saturday’s final round at Augusta National Golf Club.
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.
“It means everything,” said Asterisk Talley, 17, who finished runner-up in 2025. “Not only the courses, but I think just the field, too. It’s just kind of what makes this event so special is just obviously everyone here is so good and you’re especially just trying to win. And if you get that title under your belt, it makes you feel pretty good.”
Asterisk Talley of United States plays a stroke on the No. 12 hole during a practice round prior to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Champions Retreat Golf Club, Tuesday, March 31, 2026.
Paula Martin Sampedro of Spain enters her third Augusta National Women’s Amateur ranked No. 2 in the AWGR. She has advanced to the final round at Augusta National in each of her first two starts.
“This tournament is very special for a lot of reasons,” she said after Tuesday’s practice round. “But we get to play Augusta National. I’ve been lucky enough to play there the last round the past two years that I’ve played here, and it’s amazing. But honestly here at (Champions Retreat), this is also a great test of golf and an amazing 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.”
Paula Martin Sampedro of Spainplays her stroke from the No. 12 tee during the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club, Saturday, April 05, 2025.
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.”
Jasmine Koo of United States, Lauren Kim of Canada and Farah O’Keefe of United State stand for a photo together in front of Eisenhower Cabin prior to the Chairman’s Dinner ahead of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club, Tuesday, March 31, 2026
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.
