Fred Ridley admits growth of ANWA was 'beyond my expectations'

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Ask any of the 72 competitors in last week's Augusta National Women's Amateur field, they'll tell you it's the event they want to win the most on the calendar. The ANWA has quickly grown to become arguably the greatest amateur event on the calendar.

In just its seventh year, the competition features the strongest field in women's amateur golf and concludes at one of the most historic places in the game, the same storied venue that hosts the Masters . There have been many memorable moments crafted, too, from Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi's epic battle in the inaugural event to Rose Zhang's playoff victory in 2023. Last Saturday, Maria Jose Marin added her chapter to the ANWA's growing legacy , as she became the first Colombian champion.

She celebrated with Rory McIlroy, who has kept his eye on the event for years. Last year, McIlroy said he watched Carla Bernat Escuder's winning putt on the 18th hole, and in the playoff to win his first Green Jacket faced a similar one and remembered what he saw only eight days before. "It's certainly gratifying, both with regard to the Augusta National Women's Amateur and the following day with the kids, how many of our current players really are very engaged with what's going on there," Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said Wednesday.

"I think that most of the players on the PGA Tour are really interested in what's going on in women's golf. I think they have friends that are playing on the LPGA. I know that certainly is the same thing in collegiate golf, where the men's and women's teams really show a lot of interest in each other and how they're doing.