Brigitte Thibault has had an extra year of personal growth, on-course effort, and, oh yes, adding to her trophy case.

Now she’s once again ready to take on one of the biggest events in women’s golf – the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Thibault, who hails from Rosemère, Quebec (just outside Montreal) will once again be the lone Canadian representative at the limited-field amateur event taking place the week prior to the Masters.

The first two rounds of the 2021 Augusta National Women’s Amateur takes place on March 31 and April 1 at Champions Retreat Golf Club in nearby Evans, Georgia (about 30 minutes from Augusta). After the first two rounds there will be a cut, and the final round will take place at the famed Augusta National.

Even if golfers don’t make the cut, all those in the field get a chance to tee it up at the Georgian masterpiece.

Thibault was set to join the field in 2020 before the event was cancelled due to COVID-19 restrictions. She was the only Canadian who participated in the inaugural event in 2019.

“Knowing Augusta National, I know they tried everything they could to make it happen. Unfortunately, ours got taken away, but I know it was for good reason – just to make sure everyone stays safe. It’s obviously unfortunate but I’m looking forward to this one,” said Thibault. “Especially since I played in the inaugural one and even with COVID, I feel like this one is going to be pretty special. I try to look at it as a positive.”

LEARNING AND GROWING

 Thibault shot 79-75 to miss the cut in 2019, however, she has been on an improved trajectory ever since. She attends Fresno State University and was named part of the First Team, All-Mountain West conference and finished in the top-10 six out seven tournaments she played in 2019-20. She was the 2019 Mountain West Conference Individual champion – an event that took place at Mission Hills CC in Rancho Mirage, California (the same course where the LPGA Tour’s ANA Inspiration is played every year. And yes, Thibault got to do the iconic leap into Poppie’s Pond) – and Thibault has already lifted trophies in amateur events both in the United States and her native Quebec.

All that to say, she’s more prepared than ever to tee it up in Georgia – and thrive.

“We know what to expect and the types of shots I’m going to hit,” says Thibault. “We weren’t sure how it was going to be set up, each course, in the first year so that was a bit trickier. To have lived the nerves, to have seen what it is and how to get more ready on it… the last few months I’ve been training just to settle in with the right habits for me to perform my best out there.”

Given how many cancellations and changes there were to the college golf schedule through 2020 Thibault says she’ll be returning to Fresno State for a fifth year. She says she’ll compete in collegiate events plus other amateur events while doing Q-School for the Symetra Tour at the same time.

The 22-year-old says last year was important for her self-worth and growth on the mental side of the game.

“The growth of being ‘OK to be me’ made a huge difference and it was reflected in my golf. That’s going to propel me to greater levels for sure, Augusta being one of them,” says Thibault. “I definitely believe that my state of mind is straight and strong for me to perform my best out there.”

 HOPING FOR SUCCESS

Thibault says she’s been working with her coach, Tristan Mullally on refining her basics as she gets ready for a big year on the course.

She says getting her basics cleaner – Thibault has only been playing golf for six years after growing up a cheerleader in Montreal – and improving her mobility has been key to her recent growth.

The Augusta National Women’s Amateur has gained worldwide notoriety and Thibault says while there will still be a crunch on some things due to COVID, some traditions are set to live on.

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley will still host a Chairman’s Dinner – Thibault says she got to meet and speak with Ridley in 2019, who she calls “super kind” – albeit with no guests allowed.

Thibault says in 2019 she was able to, with her pass as an Augusta National Women’s Amateur participant, see many of her heroes up close for the first time – including Tiger Woods. She had only watched one golf tournament in person before, and the Masters was the first time she got to see Woods practice and play. She counts the 15-time major winner and Kobe Bryant as big influences for her and her processes on the course.

But does Thibault think this year she can have the same kind of winning success at Augusta National that Woods knows about intimately? One thing is for certain: she’s going to be giving it her all.

“I’m trying to get myself as ready as I can. I definitely believe that my mind is ready for anything. If anything, my mind is probably the strongest part of my game. I definitely know I could be in contention. I approach any tournament to go out and win it, but it’s just a matter of whether the cards are going to settle in for me this year,” says Thibault. “I wouldn’t step into an event thinking that I can’t win. It definitely is a thought in my mind.”