2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur: Everything you need to know about this year's event

The night before the final round of last year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur, Carla Bernat Escuder confidently confided with her instructor that she was going to emerge as the winner. The 21-year-old, a relatively unknown senior at Kansas State, proved prophetic when she shot a closing 68 to outpace Asterisk Tally by a shot and become the first Spaniard to claim the title.

Self-assurance will most certainly be helpful for anyone in the field of 72 who wishes to emerge as this year’s winner. To get you ready for the championship—the seventh time Augusta National Golf Club will host this premier amateur competition—here’s everything you need to know about the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

When is the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur?

The 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur will take place April 1-4. The final round is played on a Saturday, with Augusta National hosting the Drive, Chip and Putt National Final on Sunday (April 5) and then the 90th Masters Tournament the following Monday through Sunday (April 6-12).

When did the ANWA start?

The first Augusta National Women’s Amateur was played in 2019 and has been held every year except 2020, when it was cancelled due to COVID. Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley announced the event in 2018 during his press conference at the Masters. The event was created with hopes to continue the growth in interest of the women’s game and give a pathway for these athletes to chase their dreams.

“This championship will become an exciting addition to Masters Week, and it furthers our effort to promote the sport and inspire young women to take up the game,” Ridley said in 2018. “Now, just imagine the 40 girls who come here each year for the Drive, Chip and Putt national finals will be able to dream about returning here one day to compete on a much grander stage for another impressive title.”

Interestingly, 10 players in this year’s ANWA field previously were DCP national finalists, including 2014 Girls 7-9 winner Kelly Xu and 2018 Girls 10-11 winner Vanessa Borovilos.

Where is the ANWA played?

The ANWA is contested on two courses. Round 1 and 2 of the ANWA are played at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, Ga., about 15 minutes from Augusta. The final round is played at Augusta National Golf Club.

What’s the format of play at the ANWA?

The tournament is a 54-hole event, but it’s a bit unique compared to other women’s amateur events. The first two rounds are played on Champions Retreat’s Island and Bluff nines on Wednesday and Thursday. After the first 36 holes, the top 30 players and ties will make the cut and advance to the final round at Augusta National. All competitors get to play a practice round on Friday before Saturday’s final round. If there is a tie after 54 holes, the winner is decided based on a sudden-death playoff.

So everyone gets to play at Augusta National?

Yes, at least a practice round.

Who is eligible to compete in the ANWA?

The 72-player field for the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur is filled of players based on these qualifications:

1. Reigning U.S. Women's Amateur Champion
   2. Reigning Women’s British Amateur Champion
   3. Reigning Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific 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 Women’s 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 (2025) 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 (2024) final Women's World Amateur Ranking
   11. Players receiving special invitations from the Augusta National Women's Amateur Committee

Who is in this year’s field?

The seventh Augusta National Women’s Amateur will have players representing 23 countries and all six inhabited continents competing. Forty-eight of the top 50 from the World Amateur Golf Ranking are competing this year, including World NO. 1 Kiara Romero and two players who are making their sixth ANWA start (Megha Ganne and Amanda Sambach). Bernat Escuder, last year’s champion, has turned pro so she is not back to defend her title, but two past champions who remain amateurs are all playing: Tsubasa Kajitani (2021) and Anna Davis (2022). Six of the top eight players from last year’s event are also returning: Talley (second), Eila Galitsky (T-4), Catherine Park (T-4), Andrea Revuelta (T-4), Ganne (T-7) and Romero (T-7).

Out of the 72 players in the field, 35 are first-time competitors at Augusta. Thirteen players in the field have advanced to the final round at the ANWA at least twice. Ganne and Sambach have advanced three times, while the other 11 who have done it twice are: Davis, Cayetana Fernandez Garcia-Poggio, Eila Galitsky, Jasmino Koo, Maria Jose Marin, Paula Martin Sampedro, Farah O’Keefe, Meja Ortengren, Catherine Park, Andrea Reuelta and Talley.

You can see a complete list of the 2026 field here.

Who has won at the ANWA?

Carla Bernat Escuder broke the ANWA 54-hole scoring record by two shots when she posted a 12-under 204 total to claim the 2026 title. She was one off the lead entering the final 18 holes, then shot her third-straight 68 making a testy five-footer for par on the 18th hole to hold off the charging Asterisk Tally.

Lottie Woad was third to Bernat Escuder in 2025 as she was attempting to become the first player to successful defend her title. In 2024, the Englishwoman birdied three of her final four holes to edge Bailey Shoemaker by one stroke.

Rose Zhang won the 2023 Augusta National Women’s Amateur in a two-hole playoff against Jenny Bae. Zhang had previously won the U.S. Women’s Amateur, U.S. Girls’ Junior and the NCAA Championship. She went on to win a second NCAA title for Stanford in May 2023, before deciding to turn pro after a history-making amateur career.

Anna Davis won the 2022 ANWA at 16 to become the youngest champion to date. Tsubasa Kajitani won in 2021 when she beat Wake Forest’s Emilia Migliaccio with a par in a one-hole playoff. Kajitani became the first winner from Japan at Augusta National in any tournament; a week later Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters. The 2020 ANWA was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jennifer Kupcho was the first ever ANWA winner in 2019 when she played her final six holes in five under par including an eagle on the par-5 13th hole.

What does the ANWA winner get for her victory?

Provided the winner remains an amateur, the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion will receive an invitation to the next five Augusta National Women’s Amateurs, the 2026 U.S. Women’s Open, the 2026 Women’s Open, the 2026 Chevron Championship, the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship and any USGA, R&A and PGA of America amateur championships for which she is eligible for one year.

How can I watch the ANWA?

The first and second round (April 1-2) of the 2026 Augusta National Women’s Amateur from Champions Retreat will be broadcast live on Golf Channel from 1:30-3:30 p.m. EDT. The final round from Augusta National will be broadcast live April 4 on NBC Sports from 12 noon to 3 p.m. Additionally, Golf Channel’s “Live from the Masters” coverage will begin April 3 at Augusta National to provide coverage of the ANWA.