EVANS, Ga. — Augusta National Women’s Amateur defending champion Anna Davis might face a severely uphill climb in her title defense as the potential of a four-stroke penalty looms. Davis reportedly picked up her ball twice from the rough on the first hole at Champions Retreat to lift, clean and place, according to reporting from Golf Channel’s Brentley Romine.
Davis recorded a bogey on the hole, but could actually wind up with a nine, if two penalty strokes are applied to each infraction. Romine reported that Davis was informed of the potential violation on the fourth tee and proceeded to double-bogey the hole.
Augusta National sent out a memo to players on March 28 noting that due to heavy rains earlier in the week, the committee opted to adopt Model Local Rule E-3 “preferred lies” for the first two rounds of the tournament.
The rule restricts the use of preferred lies to “areas cut to fairway height or less.”
Davis will meet with officials after the round before making a ruling.
Defending ANWA champ Anna Davis is looking at potential 4-shot penalty after lifting, cleaning and placing her ball in rough twice on 1st hole, per multiple witnesses. Made 5, could now be 9. Informed of violation on 4th hole, live scoring not updated, likely review after round.
— Brentley Romine (@BrentleyGC) March 29, 2023
The top 30 players and ties advance to the final round, held at Augusta National. Davis won the third edition of the tournament last spring at age 16 and came into this week’s tournament fresh off a victory at the nearby Junior Invitational at Sage Valley.
