Augusta to crown its first female champion

AUGUSTA, Georgia - Augusta National Golf Club, an all-male enclave from its 1933 formation until 2012, will crown a historic first female tournament champion on Saturday ahead of next week's 83rd Masters.

This week's inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur will conclude with 30 players driving down fabled Magnolia Lane and competing over the legendary 18-hole layout.

Two earlier rounds at nearby Champions Retreat started on Wednesday, with a global field of 72 fighting for the chance to play at Augusta National on the weekend.