Augusta National Women's Amateur Championship announced

Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, announced today the establishment of the Augusta National Womens Amateur Championship, which will be held annually the week prior to the Masters and will culminate with the final round taking place at Augusta National.

"Bobby Jones and Clifford Roberts left behind a legacy of always trying to contribute meaningfully to the game of golf," Ridley said.

"The Augusta National Womens Amateur Championship embodies that principle, and we believe this event will have a significant and lasting impact on the future of the womens game. Our hope and expectation is that this event will further energize those who already love the sport and inspire others through the dream of competing at Augusta National."

The 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 Womens World Amateur Golf Ranking.

In 2019, the first two rounds will take place at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta. After a cut to the low 30 scores, the final competitive round will take place at Augusta National on Saturday, April 6, when an amateur champion will be crowned for the first time ever at the home of the Masters.

The event is expected to be televised and will be distributed on digital platforms around the world. Daily tickets onto the grounds of Augusta National for the final round will also be made available through a random selection process that will be announced at a later date.

The Augusta National Womens Amateur Championship is now the latest effort announced by the Masters to inspire interest and participation in the game of golf, joining the Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship, the Latin America Amateur Championship and Drive, Chip and Putt, all of which are actively supported by the Tournament.

Augusta National Womens Amateur Championship Facts

Format

An international field of 72 women amateurs will compete over 54-holes of stroke play. A cut will take place after 36 holes, advancing the leading 30 players to the final round at Augusta National Golf Club. In the event of a tie after 54 holes, the winner will be decided by sudden-death playoff.

Schedule

The first 36 holes will be contested over two days at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, Ga. Following the 36-hole cut, the final competitive round will take place at Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday, April 6.

Qualifications for Invitation

Invitations will be provided to the winners of the following recognized events: U.S. Womens Amateur, Ladies British Open Amateur Championship, Womens Amateur Asia-Pacific, U.S. Girls Junior, Girls British Open Amateur Championship, Girls Junior PGA Championship.

Future champions of the Augusta National Womens Amateur Championship will also receive an invitation for the following five years.

The top 30 players from the United States of America will be invited who are not otherwise qualified, based on the Womens World Amateur Golf Ranking.

After the previous qualifications, the next 30 highest ranked players not otherwise qualified will receive invitations, as listed on the Womens World Amateur Golf Ranking.

Remaining positions filled by invitation of the Augusta National Womens Amateur Championship Committee.

Note: All players who qualify must retain amateur status to compete in the Augusta National Womens Amateur Championship.

For the Winner

Provided she remain an amateur, the 2019 Augusta National Womens Amateur Champion will receive an invitation to the next five Augusta National Womens Amateur Championships, the 2019 U.S. Womens Open, the 2019 Womens British Open, and any USGA, R&A and PGA of America amateur championships for which she is eligible for one year.

- This story has been automatically published using a media release from Golf NZ