1. Kupcho, Fassi put on the duel of the century
Down the stretch in the final round of the 2019 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi delivered exactly the kind of performance the world needed to see to back up a bold decision by Augusta National.
Kupcho, 21, went 5 under over her final six holes, surging abruptly ahead of runner-up Maria Fassi, also 21, in a back-nine horserace that was reminiscent of Sunday at the Masters. It was a scene unlike anything that women’s amateur golf had ever seen. People on the ground pinched themselves. Kupcho and Fassi became heroes, even appearing on talk shows.
“I think that’s what women’s golf should look like every Sunday in the last group,” Fassi said afterward.
The image of Fassi and Kupcho walking together off No. 12 tee, Amen Corner in the background, certainly did more to advance amateur golf – not to mention women’s golf – than any other moment of the decade. It could even be the most impactful moment for decades to come.