Players to Watch at The 2026 Augusta National Women's Amateur

The best two-week stretch in golf has finally arrived.

Since 2019, the Augusta National Women's Amateur (affectionately referred to as ANWA) has been the prelude to everybody's favorite week in golf, but with each passing year, the event grows more into itself and has become the premier event on the amateur golf calendar.

And not just for the players who are invited! This will be my second ANWA and I'm practically chomping at the bit to see the top 72 amateurs in the world live out there dreams.

This week and this championship are testaments to how far our game has come, and how the future of golf is in the best, most capable hands.

Carla Bernat Escuder of Spain is presented with the trophy by Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club Fred Ridley during the final round of the Augusta National Women's Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 5, 2025 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

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The seventh edition of the championship is set to feature possibly the greatest amateur field in history. With 48 of the top 50 players in the world competing, 23 countries being represented, two past champions looking to make history with possible repeats, and a college program that hold four of the world’s top six spots—this week will be nothing short of epic.

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How To Watch

Competition begins this Wednesday, April 1, with coverage beginning on Golf Channel from 1:30-3:30 p.m. EST. Both the first and second rounds will be live on Golf Channel during that TV window. Saturday's final round will be shown on NBC Sports from noon to 3 p.m. EST.

Now on to the players we're paying extra close attention to.

Key Players to Keep an Eye on

Kiara Romero

The top-ranked amateur in the world is making her third trip to Augusta, and all eyes are on her to do something great.

With former World No. 1s like Rose Zhang and Lottie Woad capturing their ANWA titles, the Oregon Duck who has been on a bit of a heater lately, winning her sixth collegiate title, has some big shoes to fill. Will the precedent set by previous winners be a blessing or a burden?

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Farah O'Keefe

O'Keefe is the hottest player in college golf right now with three wins in 2026 already.

This will be her third time at the championship. She has advanced to the final round in each of the past two years. And I really, really like her odds heading into the week.

Maria Jose Marin

Following Maria Jose Marin last year was a bunch of fun. Her entourage, consisting of her family and friends who traveled all the way from her home country of Columbia, cheered their hearts out for the 19-year-old, despite her rough showing last year.

As the reigning NCAA individual champion, I think she's poised for a little redemption and has the potential to be a serious threat.

Asterisk Talley

I think like most of you, Asterisk Talley is a player I've really loved watching mature into her game. When we met her at the 2024 U.S. Women's Open and she was just 15 years old and she was so poised despite the stage being so large, I just knew she'd be a player we'd see again and again.

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In just two short years, she's proven to be on of the top contenders in the game, and hammered that point home with her commitment to further her golfing career at Stanford.

The 2025 ANWA runner up has also won three straight events leading into ANWA, and is coming off an impressive top-30 finish at the latest LPGA event in Arizona.

UPDATE: Talley was meant to have her good friend, and fellow top-amateur Miles Russell on her bag this week but due to his stellar finish on Korn Ferry last week, she'll be looking for another caddy. Russell's top-25 result earned him a spot in this week's KFT event in Florida, and as of this morning Russell was listed in the field on the Korn Ferry Tour's website.

It would've been cool to see this duo, but I have a strong feeling we'll see them again, and soon.

Rianne Malixi

Another player who I'm hoping has a redemption arc at this year's championship is Duke standout Rianne Malixi.

She was unable to play in last year's ANWA due to a back injury, but since her return she earned her first collegiate win and finished T-3 in the Women's Amateur Asia-Pacific in New Zealand earlier this year.

The 19-year-old is my dark horse pick for the week.

Anna Davis

The 2022 ANWA champion really solidified herself as one of my favorite players when she won in her bucket hat with that nice and easy lefty swing. She became a champion at just 16 years old, and now four years later Davis is crushing it at Auburn, picking up two wins last fall.

She's one of two past champions in the field this week and will have an opportunity to make history as the first repeat winner.

Tsubasa Kajitani

The Japanese star was crowned ANWA champion in 2021, the same year that Hideki Matsuyama won the Masters.

This will be her fourth championship start, and at 22 years old she's one of the more seasoned veterans in the field, and like Davis has the potential to become the first repeat winner in ANWA history.

Emily Odwin

Remember the name Emily Odwin because I have a feeling she'll be pioneer in this game. Already breaking barriers for her country as the first player from Barbados to get invited to the coveted championship, Odwin is making history as one of the few Black women to tee it up in this event.

The SMU senior landed on my radar when she made her U.S. Women's Open debut last summer at Erin Hills, and despite missing the cut last June, she's shown steady improvement in her game. She's coming off a runner up finish in her latest collegiate start, and I think her story is definitely one that you should get to know and admire this week.

Stanford Women's Golf

Rounding out the list is the entire Stanford line up.

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This shouldn't come as a surprise. As the best women's team in college, there's a strong likelihood that the player hoisting the trophy on Saturday will be from the Cardinal.

But be sure to keep an extra eye on senior Megha Ganne, who is making her sixth championship start. After winning the U.S. Women's Amateur at Bandon Dunes last summer, Ganne is entering this year with a 'go big or go home' mindset. This is likely her final ANWA, and a win this week would be a true storybook finish.