Stars, Stakes, and Augusta: Your ANWA Final Round Watch Guide

AUGUSTA, Ga. — Saturday's are usually reserved for moving day, but this isn't any old weekend in women's golf.

It's the eve of the final round of the 2026 Augusta National Women's Amateur, and there's a lot to understand before things kick off tomorrow morning.

After an emotional Thursday where only the top-30 and ties advance, Friday's closed practice round offers up an opportunity for every player to be able to tee it up at Augusta National. Which, in theory sounds incredible. Because at the end of the day, if you snag an invite into this elite field, you get a chance to play arguably the most iconic course in golf—something so few get to do. But in my second round recap, I explore why the practice round may be a bittersweet consolation prize for those who missed the cut.

But no matter what, it's an honor for these players to gain this experience, and it's such a flex to be able to say that you played ANGC and had the entire place to yourself. (I always love when the players post their disposable camera photo dumps on Instagram.)

As for Saturday...that's the moment that matters.

For one of those players, their entire life is about to change. Women's amateur golf gets the center spotlight on the biggest and grandest stage our game has to offer. When it was Jennifer Kupcho and Maria Fassi dueling it out on the back nine during the inaugural year in 2019, the viewership total reached nearly 1.2 million fans at home! There isn't a ton of data around the 2025 numbers, but across social media platforms and streaming numbers, ANWA is trending to be one of the most-watched events in women's golf, period. For comparison, the 2023 U.S. Women's Open drew in an average of 1.58 million viewers on NBC and Peacock, peaking at over 2.2 million.

If you're not tapping in, you are quite literally missing out. ANWA produces stars—just look at Rose Zhang and Lottie Woad. Two players who won this coveted title and within months, turned pro and both won their debuts on the LPGA. And they both agree, this championship altered their career trajectories. Both Zhang and Woad spoke to Skratch about their memories at ANWA so stay tuned for more from those former champions.

As for this year, there's already a budding star in Asterisk Talley, who is looking to add another notch in her impressive belt.

The 17-year-old has already committed to Stanford so we're likely to see her at ANWA for a couple more years, and at this point I don't think there's anything left for her to prove. If anything, her being at Stanford under the guise of coach Anne Walker will only mature her game.

A title this weekend won't just be her coming out party, it will be her cementing herself as a force in this game and the next one up.

RELATED: Asterisk Talley Just Made ANWA History With Her Fourth Consecutive Round in the 60s

Not far behind Talley is the 10-under duo of Meja Örtengren and Maria Jose Marin. Örtengren is a sophomore at Stanford and has had an impressive 2025-2026 season for the Cardinal, collecting a win and an impressive 11 top-10s.

It'll be interesting to watch the dynamic of the future teammates going head-to-head. I have a feeling it'll be a lot like a match play scenario.

As for Marin, she'll play behind Talley and Örtengren with the ability to push them. Since she'll be first out, with strong scores, she'll be able to set the tone early.

Much like Masters Sunday, everything will come down to the back nine. It's arguably the greatest back nine stretch in golf and the pressure only intensifies with each hole. Those who conquer Amen Corner (Holes 11, 12, and 13), or at least find a way to make it out unscathed will have a serious advantage.

Anything can happen in a matter of seconds at Augusta National, and with the pressure of the crowds and the world watching, we're in for a real treat with it being a bunched leader board.

Tune into the NBC at noon ET to see a champion crowned.