Amateur tradition takes year off at LPGA's ANA Inspiration

LPGA’s 1st major championship of season loses in conflict with Augusta National Women’s Amateur, according to Golfweek report

Absent: For this year’s ANA Inspiration, amateur competitors, according to a report Thursday by Beth Ann Nichols on Golfweek.com. Amateurs traditionally have been part of the history at the first major championship of the LPGA season. Since the advent of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2019, the world’s top female amateurs have had a tough decision: the LPGA major or the allure of competing at Augusta National Golf Club. For most, the appeal of driving down Magnolia Lane won out over the chance to leap into Poppy’s Pond at Mission Hills. The ANWA was not played last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. With the 2020 ANA Inspiration rescheduled from its customary early-April dates to September, amateurs made a strong showing, with five making the 36-hole cut, including two – Rose Zhang (T-11) and Gabriela Ruffels (T-15) – appearing among the contenders. This year, only Zhang, the reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion, and Aline Krauter, the 2020 British Women’s Amateur winner, were invited to the April 1-4 LPGA event. Neither accepted, opting instead for the ANWA on April 1-3. The first two rounds will be played at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, Ga., before a cut to the low 30 scorers who will advance to the final round at Augusta National on the Saturday before Masters week.

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