Asterisk Talley and Kiara Romero recognized as leading competitors at the 2026 ANWA.

Prior to the Masters commencing next week, Augusta National will host the seventh installment of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, a tournament that is increasingly recognized as one of the most esteemed amateur competitions of the year.

This year, 48 of the top 50 female amateurs are scheduled to participate in the event, which includes two rounds at the nearby Champions Retreat, followed by a practice round at Augusta National, with the final round taking place there on Saturday.

Here are five players to keep an eye on.

Asterisk Talley

Although Spain’s Carla Martin Escuder emerged victorious at last year’s tournament, Talley’s performance in the final round remains unforgettable. She eagled the opening hole and finished with a score of 68, narrowly losing to Martin Escuder by just one stroke.

The 17-year-old, making her third appearance in the event, is currently well within the top-10 of the world amateur rankings and possesses all the attributes of a potential ANWA champion. Her driving distance is impressive, and she has demonstrated her capability to navigate the slopes and greens of Augusta with considerable skill. It would be surprising if Talley is not in contention during the final round.

Kiara Romero

She holds the No. 1 ranking in the world for a reason. The Oregon Duck has maintained her status as the top-ranked amateur since July of the previous year, boasting five victories and having won the McCormack Medal last year.

This marks Romero’s third ANWA appearance; she missed the cut in 2024 and placed T-7 last year, and her performance has only improved since then. As a junior, she appears ready to turn professional soon; she recorded a final-round 67 in last year’s U.S. Women’s Open and is set to compete in at least two majors this year. An ANWA victory would enhance her already impressive resume.

The Stanford Five

This may be a slight deviation, but it is logical to group these five players together as they are all members of the same college team and occupy the top four positions in the amateur rankings.

Spain’s Paula Martin Sampedro leads the group at No. 2. The junior claimed victory at the 2025 British Women’s Amateur and possesses the skills to excel at Augusta National. Her compatriot, Andrea Revuelta, ranks No. 3 in the world for good reason; the sophomore has already secured three wins and has a knack for quickly finding her rhythm on the course. If she starts making birdies, she could be a formidable contender.

Few, if any, in this field have a professional win, but Sweden’s Meja Örtengren does. The sophomore is the youngest among the Stanford contingent and won a Ladies European Tour event last year. Megha Ganne and Kelly Xu, both seniors, complete the Cardinal group with a combined total of seven ANWA appearances. Ganne, the reigning U.S. Women’s Amateur champion and a four-time Drive, Chip and Putt champion, aims to conclude her Augusta career on a high note.

Rianne Malixi

There was considerable anticipation surrounding Malixi’s potential heading into last year’s ANWA debut, as she had just completed a remarkable year—becoming only the second player in history to win both the U.S. Girls’ Junior and the U.S. Women’s Amateur in the same year, all before even starting school. However, Malixi had to withdraw from the tournament due to a back injury.

Now a freshman at Duke, where she has already recorded a course-record 63, the native of the Philippines is healthy and prepared to tackle Augusta National. Unlike the other players mentioned, she may lack experience, but she undoubtedly possesses the talent to secure a win.

Elia Galitsky

While many recall Talley’s final round from last year, Galitsky’s performance was not only superior but also historic. Her score of 66 was the lowest ever recorded in a championship final round at Augusta National. The Thai prodigy, who won the 2023 Asia-Pacific Amateur Championship at the age of 17, is currently ranked eighth among amateurs in the world, is a sophomore at South Carolina, and has already demonstrated her ability to achieve low scores at this event.