Augusta National hopeful misses cut after slow play penalty

For a second straight year, a rules infringement has cost a former champion dearly at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. 

Anna Davis, who won the prestigious tournament in 2021 at age 16, was struck with a devastating slow-play on Thursday to miss the cut by one shot at this year’s renewal.

Playing alongside leader Lottie Woad and Maria Jose Marin, Davis was warned numerous times that her group was out of position in the second round at Champions Retreat.

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The 18-year-old was assessed with a one-shot penalty on the 17th hole after recording a bad time with her second shot, resulting in a bogey.

After failing to birdie the par-5 18th in blustery conditions in Georgia, Davis posted a six-over-par 78 to finish on four-over-par for the tournament, agonisingly missing the cut by one stroke.

“Anna Davis was assessed a one-stroke penalty for violation of the Tournament’s Pace of Play Policy,” a statement from rules committee chair Jim Hyler read.

“Her group, which included Lottie Woad and Maria Jose Marin, was notified that they were out of position multiple times during their second round. While being timed, Davis received her first bad time after playing her second stroke on hole No. 5 and received her second bad time following her second stroke on hole No. 17.

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“She was subsequently assessed a one-stroke penalty, which was applied on hole No. 17.”

The top-30 players and ties play the final round at the famed Augusta National Golf Club just days before the start of The Masters.

But Davis will miss out on that chance once again. In last year’s tournament, the American was struck with a four-stroke penalty on the opening hole of the event after after twice marking and cleaning her ball in the rough, assuming it was preferred lies everywhere.

The rules stated that preferred lies can only be used in  “areas cut to fairway height or less,” and Davis missed the cut by two strokes.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.