LPGA and Solheim Cup star calls on Augusta National to host a professional women’s golf tournament

Gemma Dryburgh speaks to the media ahead of the AIG Women's Open 2024

Ahead of the 2024 AIG Women’s Open in St Andrews, Scottish star Gemma Dryburgh calls on an equally famous venue – Augusta National – to host a women’s professional event.

With the LPGA and LET tournaments venturing to more and more iconic courses throughout the golfing calendar, I can’t help but notice that there’s one big name missing from the circuit. Speaking to the media after her practice round at The Old Course this week, Scotland’s number one female golfer Gemma Dryburgh says it would be great to see Augusta National host a professional women’s event.

Dryburgh was born in Aberdeen and turned professional in 2015 after a college stint playing for Tulane University in Louisianna. She grew up idolising Mexico’s Lorena Ocoha, and when the Scot saw her win the Women’s Open at Sunningdale in 2007, she knew golf was the path she wanted to go down. Now she’s following in Ochoa’s footsteps as she chases her maiden major title around The Old Course at St Andrews.

“I would say when Lorena won, that’s probably like one of the most inspirational moments from my childhood watching women’s golf. Lorena was a hero of mine growing up. I just loved the way she played and her attitude and obviously, when she won at St Andrews, it doesn’t get more iconic than that.”

Dryburgh has competed in four Women’s Opens so far, her first being Royal Troon in 2020, and she says she aims to get her game in peak performance at this time of the year ready for the final major of the women’s golfing calendar.

“My first one was Troon a few years ago. We had a lot of wind there, as well, and weather, and then Muirfield and Carnoustie, so it’s been amazing to play all these great venues. Obviously Walton Heath was a bit different last year. But you’re just getting more and more used to playing in it every year.”

Iconic courses are becoming a regular feature on both of the tours that Dryburgh plays on, the LET and LPGA, and these historic venues add a unique and special dimension to the competition, making it even more meaningful for the players.

Dryburgh highlighted the significance of these esteemed locations not only for the sport, but also for the players who now have the opportunity to create their own memorable moments at venues known for their rich golf history. The men’s game has long been associated with these famous tracks, and it’s thrilling to see women’s golf gaining similar recognition and the chance to compete at such prestigious locations.

“I was in the Dunvegan (a bar in St Andrews) two weeks ago and I saw Stacy Lewis’ photo right in front of the bar. It’s just so cool to have those moments in women’s golf, and I think women’s golf going to more venues like St Andrews and Pebble Beach last year, just iconic places where people know all these shots and all these moments, and it’s just great that we can make our own history.”

But what about the one incredibly notable course missing from the women’s Open rota?

Until 2012, Augusta National Golf Club did not admit women as members. Despite allowing women to play as guests or spouses of members, it wasn’t until 2012 that the club officially welcomed its first female members, Condoleezza Rice and Darla Moore.

In 2018, new Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley announced the introduction of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur tournament. To date, the ANWA is the only tournament that allows women to drive up Magnolia Lane ahead of competing there, and whilst there doesn’t appear to be plans to change that any time soon, Dryburgh is positive that it will happen.

“I always think that we will get there eventually. I don’t think it will be when I’m still playing; that’s my prediction. But it would be great to have a women’s professional event there. It’s obviously a nice step in the right direction that we’ve got an amateur event there now but yeah I would love to see a professional event there.”

Women’s golf still feels like it’s a few holes behind the men’s game, and seeing the ladies tee off at high-profile venues such as Augusta would be a huge leap for women’s golf in gaining the equality it deserves.

Drybrugh mentioned that women’s professional golf also deserves better prize funds, with the men’s $17million Open prize fund dwarfing the $9million up for grabs at the Women’s Open, but she does still feel privileged to play for the amounts on the table, as it has come on a long way in recent years.

“It’s a good time to be playing women’s golf. Obviously ten years or so ago, it wasn’t quite as lucrative, but yeah I would agree that we obviously deserve even better.”

Could Augusta make an appearance on the US Women’s Open rota? Or will it hold a stand-alone LPGA event like the ANWA? Only time will tell, but one thing’s for sure, women’s golf will make history in Georgia one day.

About the author

Sarah Pyett – Deputy Digital Editor

Sarah Pyett is the Deputy Digital Editor of todays-golfer.com. She plays off a handicap of 4, and specializes in ladies’ equipment reviews, including drivers, irons, and golf balls.

After a career in a golf professional shop, and earning a qualification in golf club management, Sarah joined Bauer in 2014 as a Web Producer for Today’s Golfer. She has since worked across multiple brands in a mixture of digital marketing and paid media roles, before returning to focus on golf full-time as Deputy Digital Editor in 2024.