KUALA LUMPUR: National golfer Mirabel Ting is relishing the prospect of competing against the world's best women's amateurs at the prestigious Augusta National Women's Amateur (ANWA) Championship, which begins on Wednesday.
Mirabel, 18, will get her first taste of action at the famed Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, the home of the Masters Tournament — one of the four majors in men's professional golf.
Established in 2019, the ANWA serves as the prelude to the Masters Tournament, taking place a week prior.
Mirabel has earned a coveted spot in the exclusive 72-woman field, reserved solely to winners of the major amateur championships, 30 highest-ranked American golfers and 30 highest-ranked international players based on last year's final World Amateur Golf Ranking.
Mirabel, currently the world No. 16, was ranked No. 46 at that time.
"This coming week will be a week to be remembered for a lifetime," said Mirabel, as quoted on the Florida State University athletics website, referring to the collegiate golf team she plays for in the United States.
"I'll definitely have some nerves, but to be able to do it with my sister, our Florida State coaches, (teammates) Charlotte (Heath), and Lottie (Woad) will be even more special.
"I can't wait for the week, just being out there soaking up and enjoying all those moments I'll have."
Mirabel will enter the competition brimming with confidence following her recent victory at the Valspar Augusta Invitational, her second collegiate golf title, held at Forest Hills Golf Club in Georgia three weeks ago.
She is the fifth Malaysian to qualify for the event since its inception in 2019.
Loy Hee Ying and Alyaa Abdulghany participated in the 2019 event, with the latter returning for last year's edition.
Ashley Lau featured in the 2022 edition, while Jeneath Wong competed last year.
However, none of them managed to make the cut.
The tournament will unfold over 54 holes of stroke play, with the initial 36 holes set to take place at the Champions Retreat Golf Club.
Only the top 30 players will progress to the final round at Augusta National on Saturday.
Even for those who do not qualify for the final round, there is still an opportunity to savour a round at Augusta National, as the entire field will partake in an official practice round on Friday.
The ultimate prize for the winner is an invite to all four women's major championships this year namely the US Women's Open, the British Women's Open, the Chevron Championship, and the Evian Championship.
