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Gophers star golfer Bella McCauley headed to Augusta Women's Amateur
Gophers star golfer Bella McCauley has accepted an invite to play in the Augusta National Women's Amateur in April, a week for the Master's in Georgia.
MINNEAPOLIS (FOX 9) - Bella McCauley was in Arizona last week and had quite the surprise waiting for her when she got back home.
The University of Minnesota women’s golf star and Inver Grove Heights native found out she had been invited to the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She’s headed to Georgia in the first week of April to compete among the world’s best amateurs, ahead of the Master’s, the first major on the professional golf circuit.
McCauley came home to the white envelope from the Augusta National committee with the official invitation. She’s the first Gopher ever to get the invite.
"Just really like no words. My dad left it up on our mantle waiting for us to get home, it was just so cool ripping it open," McCauley said Wednesday at Athletes Village. "I think it’s just the mecca of golf. "It’s honestly a bucket list item for even non-golfers, for a true golfer it’s another level. To have that experience, even to just go is amazing. To be able to play there has been a dream since I was little."
‘This is No. 1 for me’
Why it matters: McCauley won a Big Ten individual title last year and qualified for April’s event by being one of the top-30 U.S. players in the women’s amateur rankings. The tournament will be 54 holes, with a cut to the top-30 and ties after 36 holes.
McCauley is one of just 72 players across the world in the field. She’s played in a U.S. Women’s Open, and in the U.S. Women’s Amateur, but calls this tournament the best of the best.
"This is No. 1 for me. I was talking about this with my family, I would say this takes the cake," McCauley said. "Playing a women’s event at Augusta, that’s a new thing in the last couple years. To be a part of making history and be able to play as a woman at Augusta, that just takes the cake."
Previous experience with Augusta
What we know: This will be McCauley’s first time ever playing Augusta National. She’s been on the grounds once before, competing in the Drive, Chip and Putt competition back in 2017.
She’ll take high expectations into the tournament, but soak in the experience at the same time. Even the most die-hard golf fans often never get to Augusta. She’ll also have her fiancée on the bag as a caddie.
"I’m going into it just to have a really good time, that’s the No. 1 priority, to make memories. Once you’re there, you just try your best.