Anna Davis has decided where she wants to play college golf. (If she ever does.)
Anna Davis has decided where she wants to play college golf.
The 16-year-old who won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur in April announced Monday she has committed to the Auburn women’s golf program via her Instagram account. Davis posted a photo with Tigers’ coach Melissa Luellen and assistant Kim Hall.
Last week, Davis’ twin brother, Billy, committed to play for the Auburn men.
However, whether Davis ever makes it to Auburn remains to be seen. She could turn professional before ever teeing it up for the Tigers. The early signing period for her class is next November.
She’s the second-ranked golfer in the Class of 2024, behind Yana Wilson, and fourth among all amateurs in the American Junior Golf Association’s rankings. She’s seventh in the World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Davis earned exemptions into several professional events following her victory at Augusta National, including three majors. Her best finish is a T-50 at the LPGA’s Palos Verdes Championship.
“I’m not that nervous,” said Davis, who is competing in this week’s Palos Verdes Championship presented by Bank of America on a sponsor exemption.
“I’m kind of just trying to treat it as any other event. Just trying to have fun out here.”
Anna Davis of the United States plays her third shot on the second hole during the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 02, 2022 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)
Davis, 16, said she didn’t expect to be competing in an LPGA event this young. But a victory at Augusta opens all kinds of unexpected doors. She also had an invite to the Cognizant Founders Cup next month as well as as the U.S. Women’s Open, Amundi Evian Masters and AIG Women’s British Open at Muirfield. Davis said she’ll fill in other events around the majors.
On Monday, Davis took part in the Bank of America Play It Forward Clinic and said it’s surreal that young players now look up to her.
“I remember being young and I looked up to Alexa Pano and Megha (Ganne), people like that,” said Davis. “Now I have girls like on Instagram DMing me and asking me questions. It’s cute. I’m glad that I can be that person now.”
Davis goes to a public school online and said friends lit up her phone after she won at Augusta. Growing up learning the game alongside twin brother Billy, she said, was a huge advantage.
“I mean, ever since we were little we were very competitive,” said Anna. “There would be like temper tantrums on the golf course and we would fight. As we grew older it turned into a friendly competition.
“It keeps you focused and keeps you practicing deliberately, so I would say that was a huge advantage growing up.”
With such different schedules, they don’t practice together as much these days, but do when they can.
“My brother goes to the school my dad works at, which is like a private school,” said Anna. “He’s getting a really good education so that’s good. He’s so good. He doesn’t get to practice as much as I do, but I would say he’s probably better than I am.
“For the confidence, we’ll say he’s not.”
As a member of the Junior Solheim Cup team last year, Davis had already met most of the top Americans on the LPGA prior to this week. She was also well-known to college coaches long before she won at Augusta. Davis said she never had a dream school and will see how the recruitment process starts to shake out this summer.
Augusta National sent Davis a copy of the NBC broadcast of the ANWA. Her main takeaway?
“I’m like, that putt should have gone in,” she said. “That should have gone in, too.”
At only 16, there’s plenty of time left for a repeat.
The 16-year-old high school sophomore will make her LPGA debut in her home state.
Anna Davis, the bucket hat-wearing teen whose chill demeanor made her an instant favorite at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, will take her California cool to the professional ranks next week as she competes on a sponsor exemption in the inaugural Palos Verdes Championship.
It will be her LPGA debut.
Davis, 16, came from two back to win at Augusta National earlier this month with a final-round 3-under 69. The high school sophomore from Spring Valley, California, was the only player in the field who finished under par for the tournament.
The LPGA is hosting back-to-back events in the Los Angeles area, offering an “LA LPGA Dual Ticket” – a weekly grounds pass that provides access to both Palos Verdes and this week’s DIO Implant LA Open at Wilshire Country Club.
Davis, who now ranks 47th in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, will first try to Monday qualify for the LA Open, where two spots are up for grabs.
Prior to winning at Augusta, Davis won the Girls Junior PGA Championship by seven strokes, which also happens to be where she first started wearing a bucket hat.
Davis joins Wake Forest junior Rachel Kuehn, winner of the 2022 Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge at Palos Verdes Golf Club in March, as sponsor exemptions for the new LPGA Palos Verdes event.
But if you were given the chance to play the famed course down Magnolia Lane, what would you be willing to give or spend? Earlier this year the folks at Time 2 Play asked more than 1,000 golfers – 79 percent male and 21 percent female – from various income brackets and some of the answers are bound to surprise.
Players who earn more $100,000 a year would pay, on average, $3,189 for a round. On the flipside, players who earn less than $20,000 per year would pay $388 on average, which is short of what it would cost for a round at two of the other popular PGA Tour stops, Pebble Beach and TPC Sawgrass.
Enough about money. What else would the participants give up?
Almost half would shave their heads (only about 12 percent of the women, though)
36 percent would give up drinking for a year, while 21 percent would do so for three years
17 percent would get a visible tattoo
Nearly 10 percent would give up TV and movies for three years
3 percent said they would miss the birth of their child, and we hope the 2 percent that said they’d put their kids up for adoption were kidding
And if they got to pick who to play with? A friend was the top answer at nearly 23 percent. In second place were fathers just above 16 percent, followed by Tiger Woods in third. Two percent of participants want to play with the likes of Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Jack Nicklaus, Rory McIlroy and Phil Mickelson.
When you win at a place like Augusta National, you’re bound to make a few fans.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion Anna Davis first rocked a bucket hat last July at the 2021 Girls Junior PGA Championship because it was hot and she was getting sunburnt (and her dad told her to).
Davis won the title by seven shots that week at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, and the bucket hat has been her thing ever since. Before her final round at Augusta National Golf Club on Saturday, Davis’ family went to the shop while she was on the range and came back with a handful of bucket hats.
“I try to wear it at least once a tournament just to please everybody,” said Davis with a laugh in her victory press conference. “Every golf course I go to I try to collect them. I have a few now.”
When you win at a place like Augusta National, you’re bound to make a few fans, even PGA Tour professionals. A fellow member of the “bucket hat brigade,” Joel Dahmen sent Davis a video message congratulating her on the win.
— Augusta National Women's Amateur (@anwagolf) April 2, 2022
“Hi Anna, congratulations on winning at Augusta, that’s awesome,” said Dahmen. “I see you’re a huge part of the bucket hat brigade and I just wanted to tell you awesome job and wish you the best going forward. Hopefully we’ll see you down the road.”
Making her first appearance at the ANWA, Davis became the second teenage winner following Tsubasa Kajitani in 2021.
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Patrons returned in full-force on Saturday for the final round of the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, and the players did not disappoint.
Playing in the third-to-last group, 16-year-old Anna Davis turned in the second lowest round of the day, a 3-under 69, to post a number at 1 under, two shots behind then-leader Latanna Stone. After Stone made a costly double-bogey on the par-4 17th thanks to a three putt, the two were tied for the lead with just the 18th remaining for Stone. The LSU junior had a putt to force a playoff that missed wide left, earning Davis the win.
Making her first appearance at the ANWA, Davis became the second teenage winner following Tsubasa Kajitani in 2021. Currently ranked second in the AJGA Rolex Rankings, Davis won the Girls Junior PGA Championship last July and was a member of the 2021 U.S. Junior Solheim Cup team.
— Augusta National Women's Amateur (@anwagolf) April 2, 2022
Five shots off the lead, Rachel Kuehn got off to a hot start with three straight birdies on Nos. 2, 3, and 4, as well was No. 7 to make the turn at 4 under on the day. With a chance to put up a number and apply pressure to the leaders, Kuehn made bogey on 18 to sign for a 69, ultimately finishing solo-seventh.
“I was very nervous. Definitely the most people I’ve played in front of. Got on the first tee, and I turned around and Annika Sorenstam sat there, and I thought, ‘Oh my gosh, I have to hit the fairway.’ Didn’t hit the fairway,” said Kuehn with a laugh, “but it really is cool to see so many people out here supporting women’s golf. It’s just incredible. I think it’s a testament to what Augusta is doing here.”
Stone’s teammate Ingrid Lindblad, who finished T-3 at last year’s ANWA, shot the low round of the day, a 4-under 68 aided by a pair of eagles on the par-5 8th and 15th holes. The LSU junior finished T-2 alongside Stone at even par.
Playing in the final group alongside Stone, Beatrice Wallin finished with birdies on two of her final three holes to finish T-4 alongside Benedetta Moresco and Amari Avery. The Florida State senior is the only player to play in all three editions of the ANWA and finish inside the top 10 (T-7 in 2019 and T-10 in 2021).
AUGUSTA, Ga. — After a long week down the road at Champions Retreat Golf Club, all 72 players in the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur field made the famous trip down Magnolia Lane on Friday to play a practice round at the famed course between the Georgia Pines.
For some it was a return to the picture-perfect gem that hosts the Masters every year. For others it was their first time. Sure, they’ve watched previous versions of the ANWA and Masters, but teeing it up is a whole new experience.
The practice round at Augusta National is open to the entire field, creating new stories and experiences for all.
Whether practice or competition, a round at Augusta National is a round at Augusta National.
Many of the 30 remaining players in the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur field got their first taste of the course during Friday’s practice round. Before the scores count Saturday, it was a great opportunity to experience the nuances the legendary course has to offer.
For those who had no experience coming in, it’s easy to build preconceived notions about a course after seeing it on television for many years. Last year, for instance, some pointed out the broadcasts don’t necessarily do the rapid elevation changes any justice.
Augusta National is something that can only be experienced firsthand. Oftentimes, this is where switching to a local caddie comes in handy. University of Southern California’s Amari Avery used her coach on the bag at Champions Retreat Golf Club for the first two rounds, but opted for an Augusta National caddie for Friday and Saturday.
“I’ve got a new caddie. I’ve got an Augusta caddie, local caddie,” she said. “I think it’s a smart decision. He knows everything about the course. (USC head coach Justin Silverstein) is obviously a very good caddie, but I need some more experience.”
It was a veteran move, as Avery is in her second ANWA start. Although she made an appearance here in 2021, it doesn’t mean she isn’t still learning about the course.
“I played last year in the practice round, so I kind of knew what to expect, but I mean, every time, I think every time anyone comes here, there’s always something that throws them off,” she said. “Larry, my caddie, will just tell me some things about the greens, and I’m like, ‘I’m not seeing that.’ But I hit the shot where he tells me, and he’s definitely right.”
Not all the memories are great. Stanford’s Rose Zhang was asked about her triple-bogey on the par-5 No. 13 in 2021, pushing her off the top of the leaderboard late in the third round. A year removed, she remains positive about her experiences at Augusta.
“I feel like I have good memories regardless of that triple,” she said.
Zhang went on to excel as a freshman for the Cardinal, winning her first three events last fall, and remains the top-ranked amateur in the world.
Rose Zhang of the United States plays her stroke from the No. 13 tee during a practice round for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club, Friday, April 1, 2022. (Photo: Augusta National Women’s Amateur)
For LSU’s Latanna Stone, Friday was her first experience at Augusta National. While taking time to learn the course, she spent much of her round soaking in the moment, stopping for a photo on one of the most-storied holes in the game.
“Oh, I really like 12 because we got to take a photo over there,” she said. “It was really cool walking up the bridge. It was just so beautiful right then and there. Picture perfect.”
History fills every nook and cranny of this golf course. While many appreciate the great shots and moments in Masters Tournament history, something that’s become evident throughout this event is that rather than taking too much time to dwell on the immense history, this generation’s talent is looking to use that time to make its own mark.
“There’s a few shots I remember, like Bubba Watson, I think he hit the snap hook or something. Dustin Johnson one year did something like that. Of course a lot of Tiger’s highlights I remember,” University of Kentucky’s Jensen Castle said. “But I don’t really remember those when I’m playing myself, like, oh, that’s where he was standing or something like that.”
And that’s more than enough. While the history is there and should be revered, Castle and her peers are also cognizant of another generation of little girls watching the ANWA.
“I hope they know that they too can do this as well,” she said. “It is a dream for everyone, but if they work hard enough, like they can achieve this as well.”
With millions of those little girls watching, Saturday’s third round begins with the first pairings teeing off at 8 a.m. ET.
EVANS, Ga. — With 72 of the best women’s amateur golfers in the field it was no surprise that 36 holes weren’t enough to determine the top-30 players to make the cut at the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Following a 7.5-hour weather delay on Thursday, second-round action rolled over to Friday morning at Champions Retreat Golf Club, host of the first two rounds of play, and featured a 4-for-1 playoff for the last spot in Saturday’s final round. After making par on Nos. 10, 11, and 17 on the first three playoff holes, Paula Schulz-Hanssen emerged victorious with a fourth par on No. 18, dispatching Virginia’s Amanda Sambach, who made bogey. Arizona State senior Alexandra Forsterling was eliminated with a bogey on No. 11, with Vanderbilt senior Auston Kim doing the same on the 17th.
As if qualifying for the final round at Augusta National Golf Club wasn’t good enough, Schulz-Hanssen did so on her 19th birthday.
“I was so nervous, but I just tried to not think too much about it, and Charles, my caddie, and I was just like, ‘Just trust your game. Just do your own thing,’” explained Schulz-Hanssen, who missed the cut at last year’s ANWA. “Yeah, I didn’t make any big mistakes. So I think that was the key.”
Florida State senior Beatrice Wallin – the lone player to shoot under par in the second round – and LSU junior Latanna Stone are tied atop the leaderboard at even par entering the final round.
Wallin is no stranger to the weekend at Augusta National after finishes of T-7 in 2019 and T-10 in 2021. Knowing it’s her last time at the event, the 22-year-old from Sweden is just soaking it all in one last time.
“So I’m just going to go out there with a big smile and see, whatever happens, happens,” said Wallin.
Stone has some Augusta National experience as well, having been a national finalist at the 2014 Drive, Chip & Putt.
“I’m really pumped to play Augusta. I’ve never played it before, so it’s going to be a real treat,” said Stone. “I’ve just been trying to keep it simple – fairways, greens, two-putt, and kind of get off. I’m not trying to do anything special. I know there’s not a lot of birdies out there, and I’m just trying to stay patient.”
The Riverview, Florida, native remembers watching Bubba Watson’s famous shot from the Woods at the 2012 Masters and even had the chance to go in the PING vault and see his wedge. Would she try to recreate that shot during Friday afternoon’s practice round?
“I don’t know about that,” she said with a smile. “I’m just going to try to hit the fairway.”
“I really had to grind through every single golf shot that I hit on this golf course.”
It’s rare when Rose Zhang isn’t at the top of the leaderboard.
After all, the two-time USGA champion is currently the world’s No. 1 women’s amateur, won her first three starts, and hasn’t finished worse than T-10 in seven appearances for the top-ranked Cardinal. But the Irvine, California native self-admittedly didn’t have her A-game or B-game this week at the 2022 Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
She can thank a freak incident to her toe for that.
“In December a person dropped a dumbbell on my foot in the gym, so that was not intended, and it didn’t heal until like recently,” explained Zhang after finishing her second round on Friday at Champions Retreat Golf Club. “So I just haven’t been practicing much. Then it’s just like the normal stress of college and the adjustment of lifestyle. So it was a little bit of everything. So I really just didn’t have much time to practice and just not being able to have those fundamentals that I usually try to have, it was definitely hard on this course.”
“I think it might be a little fractured. I actually don’t know,” Zhang said of the injury to her left pinkie toe that is starting to “feel a lot better.”
Sitting outside the cut entering Friday’s continuation of the second round following a 7.5-hour weather delay Thursday, Zhang made birdie on her final three holes to sign for a 1-under 72, good enough for T-9 on the leaderboard before Saturday’s final round.
“I really had to grind through every single golf shot that I hit on this golf course,” explained Zhang. “Just being able to come from below the cut line to being in the cut line, I think that it really showed that I have the grit and I have the perseverance to just being able to execute regardless of where I am. So I think that really proved a lot to me.”
Zhang will have her father as her caddie for Friday afternoon’s practice round and Saturday morning’s final round at Augusta National Golf Club. The two also worked together when Zhang won the 2020 U.S. Women’s Amateur.
“It will be so cool,” she said of the shared experience at Augusta National. “It will be my first time having him on the bag here, so I think it’s a memory that will last a lifetime. But I think we’re just going to sink in and try to have the best time we can on Augusta National.”
