Jess Baker has had a remarkable year. It is hard to imagine an amateur enjoying a greater number of opportunities. As a 19-year old, the UCF junior won 119th British Women’s Amateur. A few weeks later, she was at the 150th British Open. She was playing alongside Collin Morikawa (Celebration of Champions at St. Andrews).
Next week, the 20 year-old Englishwoman will travel to Georgia to compete in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Between, major starts were made at the Amundi-Evian Championship at Muirfield and AIG Women’s British Open at Muirfield.
Baker recalled her summer at the Old Course, saying that she would have been busy milling about and Rory McIlroy would have sat down there.
Collin Morikawa and Jess Baker pose for a photograph on the 18th during The Celebration of Champions Challenge. This was taken during a practice round before The 150th Open At St Andrews Old Course, July 11, 2022, in St Andrews. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Baker was able to play Augusta National last November and met the caddie she will be using. Baker began to work on her short game last year with Gareth Raflewski. Raflewski has been a mentor to many top-ranked LPGA players over the years.
Baker stated that while her length off the tee was always a strength, her putting skills have really improved over the past year. Baker realized how important it is to have local knowledge about Augusta greens so she decided to inform her dad that he would not be there next week.
She said that “He is a bit upset that he’s no longer in the boiler suit at Augusta.”
The first round at the ANWA starts March 29 at Champions Retreat Golf Club. The final round will take place at Augusta National onApril 1. The final round will be played by the top 30 players as well as ties.
Baker’s dad still has plenty to look forward too, however. Baker is also exempt from the U.S. Women’s Open in July at Pebble Beach, as well as next month’s Chevron Championships in Texas.
shared this post (@jessbaker21_).This will be a more difficult challenge as both the Chevron practice rounds and the American Athletic Conference Championship Championship will overlap. Baker requested an afternoon tee-time for the opening round of the LPGA’s first major this year, which will be held in Brooksville, Florida on Wednesday, April 19.
She said, “That’s what you have to do.” “I would rather do that than not having the chance to play.”
Davis is not the only one facing this type of problem. The Pac-12 Championship ends April 19, while the Big Ten and the Big 12 end Sunday, April 23. The names of the amateur participants have not yet been released by Chevron.
Baker will travel to Texas along with her father to see The Club at Carlton Woods in The Woodlands. It’s then back to Florida for college postseason.
Baker said, “As logistically challenging as it is,” but he would do it every single time.
