Photos courtesy of Augusta National Golf Club
There’s no doubt the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) has changed the women’s amateur landscape since its launch in 2019, bringing the hallowed grounds of the world’s most beloved course into play for young women golfers across the world. It’s given girls with a club in their hand a marquee event to strive toward in the same way their male counterparts have long dreamed of standing over a putt on the 18th green at Augusta National Golf Club.
And, as the tournament’s presence and scope continue to grow, so does the lore of the Duke women’s golf team in Augusta as scores of talented young golfers make what is a seemingly annual trek from Tobacco Road to Magnolia Lane every year.
It’s hard to talk about ANWA without bringing up the Blue Devils’ impact on the event. Since its inception, Duke has sent a whopping 21 golfers to what has rapidly become one of the most prestigious amateur tournaments in the world.
“It’s been a fantastic event, and we build our spring around it,” Duke Women’s Golf Head Coach Dan Brooks says. “It’s something we have to keep in mind if you’re going to have players in it, and you’re not totally sure if you’ll have players in it.”
When 72 of the nation’s top amateurs convene during the first week of April, Duke-affiliated players will take six of those spots. Recent graduates Phoebe Brinker and Emma McMyler, current players Andie Smith and Katie Li, and incoming freshmen Avery McCrery and Rianne Malixi accepted invitations to the event, ensuring there will be plenty of royal blue scattered across Augusta’s well-known palette of green.
“It’s really almost like a Duke golf reunion in a sense,” Smith says. “It’s really special – I haven’t seen my teammates who have graduated in a while, and I only met the incoming freshmen on their visits. It will be a really great week and experience to combine all of the different years of Duke golf into one. Even though it is an individual sport, we do have each other as teammates and friends.”
One of those teammates is McMyler, who competed in the 2024 event for the first time. For her, the shared commonality of being able to call Duke home connects these players and brings them into a larger community of support.
“It means a lot and shows a lot to the Duke name and amateur golf,” McMyler says. “The presence we have in amateur golf is quite strong. It’s awesome to be able to represent Duke. It’s pretty cool to come together — everyone knows each other and we’re all friends — so it will be cool to come together in one event and compete against each other representing Duke.”
Writing ANWA History
Five Duke participants have tallied top-25 finishes at ANWA, including Jaravee Boonchant’s T-12 finish in 2019. Her 2-over 218 was the best finish for a Duke player, while Erica Shepherd finished T-23 (2019), T-16 (2021) and T-22 (2023) during her three made cuts, the most of any Blue Devil.
While the team doesn’t dedicate much preparation time to the event — Brooks says the event is more of a “personal discovery” for players — there is a slight edge to having seen the way the courses play. Malixi and McMyler will make their second appearance, while this year’s event will be Brinker’s fourth.
“Champions Retreat is a really good golf course,” Brooks says. “Anytime there are good golf courses involved, the more you play them, the better. Obviously, you can’t play Augusta National enough, and you hear that from the pros. There’s a lot to learn, and Champions Retreat is no different. It’s a great course, so it’s a great benefit to have played in it.”
McMyler, a transfer from Xavier University, will look to improve her 75-79 scorecard from last year, relying on the experience the three-time BIG EAST Golfer of the Year gained during her time last year.
“At the end of the day, it’s just golf,” McMyler says. “We’re trying to hit the ball in the hole as fast as possible. I think you’re just preparing like any other event. You just show up and play the game that you’ve been playing pretty much your whole life.”
Smith plans to take a similar approach in her preparation. The junior is no stranger to success – Smith’s two best finishes were top-10 placements in NCAA Regionals – and she’s getting ready for the ANWA like any other tournament.
“The biggest thing is not letting the moment affect my preparation or routines,” Smith says. “I can say for me and probably most, if not all female amateur golfers, from the time the event was established, it was the ultimate goal of getting invited to play at Augusta. Obviously, every golfer dreams of getting to play Augusta at least once in their lifetime, even recreational golfers. They just want to experience Augusta, and for me as a junior at Duke, it means the world to me.”
McMyler acknowledged the honor it was to receive an invitation, and she noted the impact the ANWA has had on developing young golfers and growing the women’s game.
“It’s kind of elevating the game of women’s golf,” McMyler says. “Being on TV the week before the Masters, it’s super awesome to get that exposure and show young kids that if they chase their dreams, they can really achieve some cool things.”
A Larger Community
As former, current and future Blue Devils come together to compete, they bring with them the people and situations from the different stages of their amateur careers. McMyler, for example, plans to hit the Epson Tour shortly after, dropping the (a) from her name on the scoreboard.
“My plan is to treat it like any other event and just have fun with it,” McMyler says. “It’s going to be my last amateur event — I’m turning pro after the event — so I’m just going to enjoy it with my family.”
McMyler’s father, Brian, who coaches her, will also be her caddie for her second appearance. Her mother and sister will make the trip, too, and McMyler is excited to share the moment with them in early April.
“I didn’t earn this invitation alone,” McMyler says. “They have sacrificed a lot for me, so it means a lot to have them there. I know this isn’t just for me, it’s for all of us, for my family, and it’s a super cool experience to be able to share it with them knowing they’ve put in a lot of work to help me get here.”
The ANWA invitation transcends program and sport for Smith. Her father, Jeff, passed away when she was 12, and she’ll be playing in the crown jewel of women’s amateur golf for him, along with her brother and mother who will be walking the ropes with her.
“For me, golf was always a family affair — it was always my brother, my parents and me on the golf course.” says Smith. “My dad won’t be there, but he’ll be there in spirit. When I got that invite, it meant the world because I know he would be so proud of me, and he’ll be watching over me and my family as we’re there.”
Seen in the 2025 April issue of Augusta magazine and the Augusta magazine Tournament Guide
Have feedback or a story idea? Our publisher would love to hear from you!
5 + 5 =
The post In A Sea of Blue (Devils) appeared first on Augusta Magazine.
