The Augusta National Women’s Amateur is bringing families together as well as expanding the game.
Last week, Virginia Tech senior Emily Mahar was playing her practice round for the Clemson Invitational when she received word that she needed to pack her belongings and fly to Augusta, Georgia, because she was a late addition to the 72-player field. Mahar immediately called her parents, James and Katie, in Brisbane, Australia, after hanging up the phone; they, too, needed to swiftly pack their belongings.
“They’re on their way here,” Mahar said Tuesday at Champions Retreat, where the event will be held for Rounds 1-2 before moving to Augusta National for the final round on Saturday. “… It’s fantastic just to be able to share that experience with them. We’ve all been golf fans, so we know a lot about the Masters and Augusta, and it’s incredible to be able to share that experience with them.”
It will be even more poignant because Mahar hasn’t seen her parents in person in nearly two and a half years as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Remember Cameron Smith’s emotional victory at The Players earlier this month, when he was reunited with his mother and sister? The Mahars have an opportunity to write a similar feel-good story this week.
“It’s been quite challenging,” Mahar remarked. “Everything has been quite helpful, including social media and FaceTime.” I married a Virginia Tech grad, so I now have a new family in Virginia, which has been quite beneficial…”
But nothing matches a face-to-face meeting with her parents, who tried to bring Vegemite on the plane for their daughter, who is a big fan of the Australian delicacy, only to have it confiscated by TSA.
“They were fortunate enough to be able to buy it on the other side,” Mahar said.
That Vegemite will taste even better if Mahar performs well this week. Even if she doesn’t, the next several days will be well worth the effort.
