The Augusta National Women's Amateur is off for 2020, but invitations will carry over

When the Augusta National Women’s Amateur was postponed March 13, many of the 72 women in the field breathed a sigh of relief at the verbiage.

“I was thrilled to see the word postponed and not canceled,” Vanderbilt senior Abbey Carlson said.

Now, the week after the tournament was supposed to have been played, the event has come off the 2020 calendar. When Augusta National Golf Club announced on Monday it would aim to host the Masters on Nov. 9-15, it also announced the cancellation of this year’s ANWA.

“After careful consideration and following an extensive review process, we also have made the difficult decision to cancel the 2020 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Ultimately, the many scheduling challenges with NCAA tournaments, the World Amateur Team Championships, the LPGA Q-Series and other events when women’s amateur golf resumes led to this decision,” Augusta National Chairman Fred Ridley said in a statement.

There was, however, a bit of hope in the announcement. The club also revealed that it would honor invitations for the 2020 field in the 2021 ANWA, provided a player remains amateur.

That decision is in line with Augusta National’s decision to cancel the 2020 Drive, Chip and Putt National Finals but exempt this year’s field into next year’s tournament.

The NCAA has already approved an eligibility extension for spring student-athletes that might make it more feasible to delay turning professional. At least some of the 2021 ANWA field, however, won’t be sticking around that long. Texas senior Emilee Hoffman and Duke senior Ana Belac announced last week that they would continue with plans to turn professional. It remains to be seen how many others will follow suit.

For the players in the field who are at the end of their college eligibility, the decision is likely tied to whether or not an extra year of eligibility is in the cards.