Avery Weed
Mississippi State junior Avery Weed鈥檚 return to the Augusta National Women鈥檚 Amateur this spring has done more than elevate her national profile. She鈥檚 finally settling a long-running family rivalry.
In a house once split between MSU and the University of Mississippi, there is no more debate. The Ocean Springs native has tied the choice together in a maroon and white bow.
鈥淢y grandfather played golf at Ole Miss, my mom went there, but I鈥檓 pretty sure my dad had it in his marriage contract that we would be Mississippi State fans,鈥 Weed said with a laugh.
As Weed has risen to No. 3 in the NCAA rankings and become one of the nation鈥檚 elite collegiate golfers, even her Ole Miss family members have softened into full-fledged Mississippi State support. Now, she returns to one of golf鈥檚 grandest stages representing the Bulldogs for the second consecutive year.
April 1-4, Weed will compete in the Augusta National, one of the most prestigious events in women鈥檚 amateur golf. With only 72 players invited from around the world, the tournament features two rounds of stroke play, after which the top 30 advance to the championship round at Augusta National Golf Club.
A testament both to Weed鈥檚 consistency and to the MSU golf program鈥檚 rising national profile, this marks the fourth consecutive year Mississippi State has had a representative in the field. Last year, as a sophomore, Weed said the invitation alone felt surreal.
鈥淚 was just excited to be there,鈥 Weed said. 鈥淭o get invited was an incredible honor. If you had told me maybe six months before that I was going to get invited, I wouldn鈥檛 have believed you. But I had a really good fall, and it allowed me to move my ranking up.鈥
Growing up in a country club, Weed knew she would eventually pick up golf. When she finally did at 8 years old, she was an instant natural and walking the green of one of the most illustrious courses was exactly like she envisioned Augusta would be.
鈥淕etting to play that golf course was a dream come true,鈥 she said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what every golfer hopes to do one day.鈥
But this year with ANWA, she is teeing off with a different mindset.
鈥淟ast year I was just grateful to be there, and everything was really new,鈥 she said. 鈥淏ut this year I鈥檒l be familiar with the course and how the tournament works. I鈥檒l be a lot more focused on attacking the course and going out there and playing well.鈥
With calm, deliberate focus, she closed this past fall season with 18 career rounds in the 60s, moving her into third place in MSU program history. She has captured individual titles at the Blessings Collegiate Invitational in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and Ally and Mason Rudolph Championship at Old Waverly in West Point, proving she can win against some of the deepest collegiate fields.
鈥淓verybody is so good at this level,鈥 Weed said. 鈥淚f you have a bad hole and you can鈥檛 get over it, you can drop far in the rankings. For me, I have to not let a big moment like this get in the way. I鈥檓 going to focus on what I do well and treat this like any other golf tournament.鈥
Augusta was always the goal. Now, with the MSU emblem stitched across her chest, the moment carries an entirely new meaning.
鈥淚 want to leave this golf program better than I found it,鈥 Weed said. 鈥淚 think I鈥檝e done a good job with that.
鈥淢ississippi State is always where I wanted to play golf, and it has lived up to all of my expectations,鈥 she continued. 鈥淢y teammates and coaches are all amazing. Our facilities are amazing. They are actually underappreciated. Every time we have players compete here, they are always impressed with what we have.鈥
ANWA will broadcast on Golf Channel 12:30-2:30 p.m. and NBC Sports broadcasts the live final-round coverage 11 a.m.- 2 p.m.
