TAMPA, Fla. – For many golfers, the thought of stepping onto Augusta National’s hallowed grounds is a dream, a distant one that’s realized only by the very best. While most associate
the course with The Masters every April, Augusta National is also home to a number of other highly anticipated events, including the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA).
The ANWA, a 54-hole stroke play event, first debuted in 2019 and showcases the top female amateur golfers from around the world. Among the talented field is five women who have also been highly successful throughout the FSGA. Sofia Cherif Essakali, Gianna Clemente, Maria Jose Marin, Bailey Shoemaker, and Casey Weidenfeld are all set to make an appearance at the ANWA from April 2-5.
We had the chance to catch up with Casey Weidenfeld, making her second appearance, to talk about her experiences at Augusta and what she is looking forward to this year.
Casey Weidenfeld
Last year, Weidenfeld burst onto the scene with a stellar debut, but the magic of Augusta National goes far beyond teeing it up. The first time she drove down Magnolia Lane, she was with her caddy, Russell, and a bus full of fellow competitors. She remembers the surreal silence in the vehicle as they passed the magnolia trees lining the iconic road. For her and the others, it was like stepping into history, “I remember everyone in the van just stopped talking when we got on property and we were all just like…silent,” Weidenfeld recalled.
That wasn't the first time Weidenfeld had been left in awe during this process. In 2023, she was on the cusp, missing the cut by just three or four spots.“I was really eyeing the rankings last year like, am I gonna get in? Is it gonna be close?” she questioned. In an almost absurd twist for such an important moment, it was USPS that delivered the news she’d be teeing off at Augusta, “I officially got in through an email from USPS saying something from Augusta National was coming to my dorm room. That’s how I found out.”
When asked about her first time playing Augusta, which was during her practice round the day before competition started, she stated “For me, it was more business in the practice round. I was trying to learn the course like any other and of course, there were moments, I'm like oh my gosh, I'm on this or that hole,” she recalled, “But I was more business, just trying to treat it like any other course and practice round.”
This was consistent with her mindset going into the ANWA, there had been no special adjustments to her routine, as she didn’t want to put too much pressure on herself. “I didn't give it
any special treatment in terms of preparation because I wanted to treat it like any other tournament,” Weidenfeld said, “I pretty much prepared exactly how I would any other tournament.”
Yet, despite this mindset, her competitive spirit shone through as she found herself in the hunt during the final round, making a dramatic push on the back nine. The birdies kept coming, but she wasn’t aware of how close she was to the top of the leaderboard, “I had three birdies in a row at that point, but I didn’t realize I was actually in contention.” She was able to stay in her process, even when things were looking up.
A year later, she’s returning to Augusta with more experience under her belt. When asked if her mindset had changed as a returning contender, she replied, “I’m trying not to really change my mindset, despite having played well last year.”
Though playing at one of the world’s most prestigious courses is an immense challenge, Weidenfeld has learned the importance of managing expectations. “My goal is to just make the cut,” she admits. “That’s the goal. But even being here is such an honor. I just want to take it all in.”
When asked to give one sentence to describe her experiences, she stated “the ANWA is a dream come true for female golfers and I'm so grateful to have played such an iconic golf course and competition.”
For more information on the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, or to view the full field, visit the following link: https://www.anwagolf.com/en_US/players/player_list.html
