THERE will probably be a rush of female golfers looking to get their amateur status back. Fred Ridley, the Masters chairman, yesterday announced the creation of the

Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship.

The tournament, which will come into being next year, will see the best 72 amateur players in the world compete at Augusta in the week before the Masters itself.

There have been increasingly loud calls for a full-blown women’s Masters to be created as part of the professional calendar. This may just be a step in that direction

although asked if an event for professional players had been considered, Ridley said: “The focus on amateur golf is consistent with our history and our co-founder Bobby Jones and we feel that’s the way we can make the greatest impact in growing the game.

“The Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship embodies that principle. We thought that’s the best way to go, but over time we think it will also be of great benefit to the professional game as well.”

This latest development signals something of a change in tune from the Augusta high command. When the subject of the storied Georgia course hosting another tournament

was touched upon with the previous chairman, Billy Payne, a couple of years ago he said: “We have a very short member season at Augusta. It’s only seven months.

“The time we dedicate to the preparation and conduct of the (Masters) tournament is already extensive. I don’t think we would ever host another tournament.”

The field for the 54-hole strokeplay tournament will be determined by the winners of

various worldwide events and the Women’s World Amateur Golf Ranking.

The first two rounds will take place at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Augusta, with the leading 30 players then contesting the final round at Augusta National on Saturday April 6.

The winner will not receive an iconic green jacket, but Ridley added: “We plan to have a trophy that will become iconic as well, we just don’t know what it is yet.”

The winners of both the British Ladies’ Amateur Championship and the British Girls’ Amateur Championship will gain automatic entry to the Augusta showpiece.