HYDE-BORN golfer Amelia Garvey will get to walk the fairways and play Augusta National, arguably the world’s most famous course, days before the Masters.
The 20-year-old is competing in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) which will feature many of the world’s leading amateur players.
Amelia, who will have her cousin Jamie Tipper, PGA professional and director of golf at Werneth Low on her bag as caddie, received an invite to the 2020 event which was cancelled due to Covid-19.
However, to Amelia’s delight it was transferred to this year’s event which was held between
March 31 and April 3.
And Amelia, who is studying at the University of Southern California (USC), will be heading into the tournament in fine form with five top five finishes and a top 10 in her last six college tournaments in PAC-12 which is for the top 12 colleges. USC is the ranked number one for golf.
The opening two rounds of ANWA are held at Champions Retreat which has three nine-hole course designed by Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and Gary Player.
The entire field then gets to play a practice round at Augusta National where the top 30 women from the first 36 holes will play the last round of the 54-hole tournament.
Jamie, who was on Amelia’s bag when she made her debut in the United States Women’s Open in December, her debut in a major, left on March 25 to link up with Amelia.
He said: “It is the dream of most golfers to go and watch the Masters.
“I am no exception, but I get to go inside the ropes and on to the course and on to greens.
”And with ANWA taking place days before the Masters, Augusta National will be in pristine condition.”
Jamie added it will be challenging, both on and off the course.
All the competitors and caddies will be in a bubble and not allowed to leave their hotel other than going to the golf courses.
As for Amelia’s prospects, he said: “Obviously Amelia will be aiming to win but she will be looking at the bigger picture.
“Like the US Women’s Open, it is about using it for experience for when she turns professional.”
Amelia, whose parents moved to New Zealand when she was aged five, only missed the cut for the US Women’s Open at Champions Golf Club, Texas, by one shot and was on the leaderboard in second place after 10 holes.
After graduating this summer from USC, Amelia’s wish is to turn professional and go to tour school to qualify for the America-based LPGA Tour.
If she is unsuccessful, there are options for other US-based tours or maybe trying to qualify for the Ladies European Tour.