Augusta National Women’s Amateur – innovative but no surprise

The news today that Augusta National Golf Club (ANGC) and the Masters Tournament Foundation are the founding partners in establishing the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship comes as no real surprise.

Having seen first-hand their just how much tangible support the Masters Tournament provides for not only the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, but also the Latin America Amateur Championship and the Drive Chip and Putt event, which culminated last weekend at Augusta National, has opened my eyes to the preparedness the ANGC have displayed to give back to the game.

“I think that goes back to really the inception of Augusta National,” said recently appointed ANGC Chairman Fred Ridley. “I read a lot in the past few months about things our founders said about really what our role and obligation was in the game of golf, and it’s been a consistent theme and part of our culture that we have an obligation to give back to the game.”

It would be very easy look at the amazing dollar number the Masters Tournament generates in terms of ticket and merchandising sales and broadcasting rights and wonder just where this money goes but the manner in which they support the development of the game, sometimes in many less obvious golfing regions of the world, is there for all to see.

The success of the Asia Pacific Amateur Championship, which is run as well as nearly any professional event this writer has attended, led then to the creation of the Latin America Amateur Championship. With little expense spared in providing a tournament experience like no others for participants, both events have been a must play event for amateurs from countries through those respective regions as a prelude to a potential professional career or as part of developing their own game or golf in such regions.

Now, another event is added to that list of events which the ANGC and the Masters Tournament support via dollars, expertise and manpower with the announcement of the inaugural event by Ridley during his media conference today ahead of this week’s first men’s major of the year.

“We certainly plan to have this event televised globally,” added Ridley. “We have not had any specific discussions with our television partners, but — as you know, we have great relationships with those television partners, and I wouldn’t be surprised to have a couple messages on my desk when I get back in a few minutes.

The Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship, a 54-hole, stroke play tournament will feature an international field of 72 players. Invitees will be determined by awarding winners of other recognized championships and using the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking.

The opening two rounds are to be played at the Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans in the suburbs of Augusta in Georgia, the final round taking place on Saturday, April 6, 2019, at Augusta National Golf Club.