Let’s continue with the review… we come to the most recent of the seven Spanish players who are part of this week’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur. She is not the youngest in the tournament as that recognition falls on Asterisk Talley who participates at just 15 years old. Talley is the tenth player under 16 years old to compete in the history of the tournament. The aforementioned Talley, Gianna Clemente and Mamika Shinchi are the only players who are younger than the Spaniard.
Our young player in question is from Valencia and has not yet made the jump to university, basically because she still has two years left to enrol. She will be the youngest of ours, but despite her young age she is already the thirteenth in the world amateur. Among other achievements last year she stood out for her victories in the German Girls Open, the Solheim Cup Junior and the Ryder Cup Junior. You all know it, but we are obviously talking about Rocio Tejedo.
At 17 years old, the Valencian arrives in Augusta eager to enjoy a unique experience: “I would love to fight to make the cut, although it is complicated since the best players are in this tournament, but above all enjoy and have a good time as it is an unforgettable experience”.
Rocio had an unforgettable 2023 as we have to add the Andalusia Cup, the Portugal International and the Catalonia Cup to the aforementioned victories. A real madness. This year due to studies she has not been able to compete as much as she would have liked but she feels confident and with very good feelings. In these months of a lot of training and little competition she acknowledges that she is “working on shortening the rise and moving my legs less to gain stability”.
Like the rest of the Spanish players, Tejedo will not experience the ANWA alone: “This week my parents and my sister will accompany me, who will be a fundamental support” the Spaniard excitedly tells us. Her sister Carla already knows what it is like to play the tournament, as she participated in last year’s edition and, although she has not qualified for the tournament this year, she will surely be able to help her younger sister with plenty of advice to face what is coming in the next few days.
For the mission of carrying the clubs, Rocio has wanted to put herself in the hands of a local Augusta caddie. There is no one like someone who knows the terrain perfectly to carry the bag: “My caddie’s name is Johny and I am lucky that he speaks Spanish and gives me very good advice about the course as he has been caddying in this tournament for many years”.
Let’s remember that the 72 players of the ANWA will be able to play at least one practice round at Augusta National. When we ask her about what motivates her most about the possibility of playing on the legendary course, Rocio is very clear: “What excites me the most is to go around the course and remember incredible shots from professionals and realise that I am playing on the same course as them” sums up the Valencian, “although if it already impresses on TV it will impress much more in person”.
“With a lot of desire to start”, this desire of Rocio is extended to the whole Spanish golf family less than 24 hours before one of the most important amateur golf tournaments kicks off.
