Albane Valenzuela: the amateur golfer who refused Augusta | Ewan Murray | sport

TThe green marketing machine went into action earlier this year. Masters can wait. Saturday will be the closing round of the first edition of the Augusta National Women's Amateur on the sacred soil of Georgia. It is, according to those who will preside, "a historic event that promises to shine the spotlight on women's golf and inspire a new generation of players."

According to your vision, there is a case of unfortunate timing or Augusta National demonstrating – not for the first time – that the greatest good does not really concern him.

As the event progresses from the champions' retirement to the Masters, a major women's tournament will take place from Thursday to Sunday in Mission Hills, California. ANA Inspiration, the first major tournament of the golf year, has undoubtedly been overshadowed by Augusta's latest showcase of diversity.

The ANA had already been affected by the growing frenzy of the Drive, Chip and Putt championship, where excited children and stunned parents head to Augusta National, live on television, the Sunday before Masters Week.

Needless to say, the LPGA tour, which runs ANA Inspiration, is lukewarm in private – to say the least – about the whole affair. This has also put some competitors in a difficult position.

Paphangkorn Tavatanakit, world number 2, Freda Kinhult, fourth, and Albane Valenzuela, currently number 5, Jennifer Kupcho, the best amateur in the world, will play in Augusta.

The story of Valenzuela is perhaps the most interesting and she tells it in an impressive way. Born in the United States, she spent her childhood in Mexico before the Valenzuela family moved to Geneva for 15 years.

She is now in the final year of a degree in Political Science and Communication at Stanford, the California University that counts among her former golfers Tiger Woods and Michelle Wie.

Valenzuela, 21, has no bad luck towards Augusta, who she says offers an "incredible" opportunity to amateur fans this week. She admits it was a "tricky" decision to reject the advances of the Green Jackets when accepting an invitation for a return from the ANA.

"He's a special commander for me," she says. "I had the opportunity to play in 2016 for the first time and I did it. When I did that, my dad pointed out that I might have a chance to participate in the Olympics because of the points situation.

"I have had invitations to tournaments, is one of the top five, I have had other good performances, played in a US Open and I was able to participate in the Olympics, so I've always been very grateful for this original opportunity. It was a turning point in my career. "

Two years ago, Valenzuela had received a call from the ANA only for a bike accident the day before she was due to leave for the tournament, which required her to retire. Her main seat was offered again for 2018, when she finished 59th. She was selected this time.

"I do not think many amateurs have had so many opportunities from the ANA," she adds. "I can not say no, they have always been so supportive. This is the first major of the year and I love the course. It's a very important thing happening at Augusta, so I'm sad to miss it but I'm very excited to go back to the ANA. I do not think there was a "bad" choice, it's just my point of view. I could not say no to ANA. "

Plan A of Valenzuela A is to become a professional at the end of her university studies in 2020. "Now that I have this copy of license Stanford, I think I'll go a little more freely," she said.

Photo: Chesnot / Getty Images Europe

A bigger picture concerns an Olympic comeback after representing Switzerland in Rio. The men's portion of Golf's return to the Games was hit by a series of withdrawals; the feminine aspect, however, seems quite positive.

"I think the guys have committed one of the biggest mistakes of their lives," Valenzuela said. "I have never had so much fun. You are surrounded by the best athletes in the world, it is not just golf. It is the highest reference for the sport. For me, it meant that the world is walking in this stadium, just behind the flag bearer. "

A new Olympic recognition seems inevitable. For the moment, a major championship is of better quality for the reciprocal appreciation of Valenzuela.