New Zealand's top amateur golfer Amelia Garvey will finally get the opportunity to play at Augusta National, the home of the Masters, after missing out last year due to COVID-19.
Garvey's been invited through her ranking of 21 in the world to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship held from 31 March to 3 April.
The Canterbury native recently turned heads with an impressive first round during her Major debut at the US Open in December in Texas - a feat she's taken confidence from.
"Just knowing that I can play with the world's best and on tough courses and Augusta is known to be one of the toughest golf courses out there so I'm excited to be tested and being on the world's biggest stage again," Garvey says.
"That's what every elite golfer dreams of doing and being able to walk down Augusta and get to walk down the holes."
The 20-year-old made a scintillating start to her Major championship career finishing under par and among the leaders after the first round of the US Women's Open before falling away and missing the cut by one shot.
She is hoping that she can turn heads again and go deeper in the tournament at a venue she's only dreamed of playing at.
"It would be a dream come true to be in contention at Augusta National, so I'm excited for it," Garvey says.
"It's been a long past year and I think it's going to make it even sweeter. The build-up to play, Augusta National will be really cool so I think the wait is going to be worth it and now I'm just counting down the days."
Following the tournament at Augusta, Garvey is planning to turn pro and attend Ladies PGA Tour qualifying school later in the year once she's graduated from the University of Southern California.
