Australia’s Julienne Soo is among the group of women who will make history at Augusta National when the fabled Georgia club hosts its first-ever women’s tournament in April.
Soo, 21, a Melburnian who has spent the past three years studying on a golf scholarship at Oklahoma University, received the invitation today on campus in Oklahoma City.
Today she told Golf Australia's 'Inside The Ropes' podcast that she was “already practising”, she was so excited at the chance.
"The official list got announced this morning and I was lucky enough to get on that list," she said. "I was seriously excited when I got the call. I couldn't believe it. It's such an opportunity and I can't wait to get out there in April."
Sixty-six of the 72 players who will compete in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur Championship were named today, with Soo as the only Australian.
There are six remaining spots to be announced.
The catch is that the first 36 holes of the 54-hole tournament are to be played at the nearby Champions Retreat. Then there will be a cut, after which the leading players will compete at Augusta National, writing their own little bit of history.
"It'll be really cool if I get to actually play Augusta, but just the fact that I get to play the tournament, honestly, it's awesome."
Growing up in Melbourne, she was an avid follower of the Masters. "I'm sure every kid when they were young has always dreamed of going to the Masters. Me, I would always wake up at these God-early hours just to watch the live coverage in Australia. I'lve always wanted to see the Masters; I've always wanted to see Augusta, see what it's really like, even just inside the ropes. So to even get the chance to play is an honour."
Soo won two state junior titles as a teenager in Melbourne. She is one of the most decorated players in Oklahoma Sooners' history.