OOLTEWAH, Tenn. — It seems like yesterday that a 16-year-old Anna Davis strolled up the 18th fairway at Augusta National Golf Club, ascending to finish an incredible week at one of golf’s cathedrals on her way to announcing her arrival as golf’s next young star wearing a bucket hat. That was four-and-a-half years ago. Now Davis, 20, is set to begin her senior season at Auburn this fall in what’s going to be a year of lasts in amateur golf.
Last first day of school. Last test taken. Last time to play at Augusta National.
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Perhaps it’s fitting that Davis’ final U.S. Women’s Amateur comes at a place meant to celebrate amateur golf. In this decade, Davis has been one of the biggest names in the women’s game. And at the 126th U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Honors Course, Davis is doing her best to soak it all in.
“It didn’t really click until like maybe couple days ago,” Davis said of this being her final time competing in the oldest women’s amateur event in the world. “My caddie was like, ‘This is like your last one.’ I’m like, ‘damn, you’re right.’ It’s like my last chance to win one.
“Yeah, it’s definitely clicked, but it’s OK. I’ve played in a lot of these. It’s been, I think, a long time coming now, so I’m ready to play the last season of college and get on with it.”
Davis shines after taking a month off
Davis came home in 33 on Wednesday, signing for 3-under 69 in the second round of stroke play and putting her in the clubhouse at 4 under, leading after the morning wave with a chance to claim medalist honors depending on how the afternoon shakes out. She has not played since the Palmer Cup in Ireland last month, and her last time competing in the U.S. was nearly two months ago, when she played all five sessions for Team USA at Bel-Air in California, helping the Americans win the Cup.
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She’ll be plenty comfortable heading into match play, which she has played more of this summer than stroke play. “I feel like all I play is match play,” she joked. But she’s also not far off, especially the last couple months.
Davis’ stardom in amateur golf erupted overnight after her ANWA win, elevating expectations from others – and herself – sky high. At 16, those lofty expectancies didn’t become a burden, but they were always lurking. That one win changed everything for Davis, and she had to learn how to adapt to her new reality.
More: U.S. Women’s Amateur live updates: Scores, second-round tee times, highlights at Honors Course
“She’s had those times of comparing herself or needing to chase something; that’s not her,” Auburn assistant coach Kim Hall said. “But in all of this time in amateur golf and the success she has had, she’s really found out who she is, not only as a person but also as a golfer.”
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With six career victories, she’s atop the Auburn record books with a season to go. This past season, she really came into her own, winning three times, including carding the second-lowest 54-hole score in program history at Tar Heel Invitational, one of her three victories. She owns the two lowest single-season scoring averages in program history and is a three-time All-America selection.
The same girl who initially juggled trying to deal with those elevated expectations has lived up to every one of the, even if there have been valleys amongst all the peaks.
Anna Davis plays her tee shot on the third hole during the second round of stroke play of the 2026 U.S. Women’s Amateur at The Honors Course in Ooltewah, Tenn. on Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2026.
“I feel like maybe I was younger so I felt a little bit more of like an underdog, even though my name was out there,” Davis said. “I did feel like I was just kind of young and I was like, whatever, like I don’t care what I do. But, yeah, I think obviously developed more as a player.
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“Other than that, still the same competitive vibe.”
Augusta caddiemaster has helped Anna Davis
Also helping her strong start this week is caddie David Reynolds, the caddiemaster at Augusta National who became friends with Davis after her ANWA win and has looped a handful of times for her since.
But heading to Thursday, Davis will once again have a target on her back as one of the top seeds heading into match play. It’s a position she has grown comfortable with, though that doesn’t make the task at hand easier.
In her previous three U.S. Women’s Amateurs, Davis has lost to the eventual champion twice (Megan Schofill, 2023 quarterfinals, Megha Ganne, 2025 Round of 32) and the medalist the other time (Maria Jose Marin, 2024 quarterfinals).
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Perhaps this is Davis’ year to break through and conclude her U.S. Women’s Amateur career on top, the same way she started it right after her 16th birthday.
“Golf comes with a lot of highs and lows, and you’re not always going to feel like this is the greatest game ever. Like sometimes it’s going to be like, wow, this really sucks,” Davis said. “Just being really level-headed through those moments, which I feel like I’ve done well. It’s not always going to be like a piece of cake.”
Cameron Jourdan is an assistant editor of Golfweek, covering college and amateur golf, the PGA Tour and plenty more. Follow Cameron on X/Twitter (@Cam_Jourdan) or Instagram (@GolfweekJourdan).
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Anna Davis cherishes one last U.S. Women’s Amateur as senior season awaits
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