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'I Thought It Was a Scam': Amateur Golfer Nearly Ignored Augusta Invite Before Stunning Start

Originally posted on DailyClubGolf | By Sneha Abraham | Last updated Apr 2, 2026 7:23 PM ET

Augusta has seen plenty of Cinderella stories, but the 18-year-old Raegan Denton’s run in the tournament wouldn’t have started because she almost ignored the invitation.

The Australian golfer opened her Augusta National Women’s Amateur debut with a 5-under 67 on Wednesday at Champions Retreat Golf Club. In fact, that’s two shots off the leader, Maria Jose Marin’s pace. But the most interesting part of getting there, though, actually required opening an email she was convinced was fraudulent.

What arrived first was a UPS delivery notification email, and that’s where things nearly went wrong. “I ended up getting an email from UPS, which, coming from Australia, I thought was a scam,” Denton told Golf Channel‘s Steve Burkowski. “I didn’t order anything from the U.S., so I almost didn’t open it just in case.”

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However, she opened it anyway, and what happened next was a full household moment.

“I just flew out of bed to go tell… and I had both my mom and my dad staying with me, and it was an amazing feeling,” the 18-year-old said. “I was shaking, I think my mom and dad may have cried a little bit. It was awesome.”

That email arrived the morning of her second round at the Australian Master of the Amateurs, and she went out and won the whole thing.

Denton’s Red-Hot Form Made Augusta Notice

Denton’s victory wasn’t just luck by chance. Since early 2025, Denton has won the Australian Girls’ Amateur and the Victorian Women’s Amateur. The 18-year-old joined LSU recently and came to the Augusta with strong form, not just hope.

Wednesday showed that clearly. She didn’t make a single bogey, which she thinks is the first time she’s done that in a tournament. She made four birdies in just five holes, between holes 7 and 11.

“I didn’t put too many expectations on myself and didn’t freak out if I had a poor shot or anything,” Denton said. “I just kept my cool really well.”

After Round 1, Denton is tied for sixth. She is not just keeping up at one of golf’s biggest events. She is showing she truly belongs there, even after the earlier spam folder scare.

This article first appeared on DailyClubGolf and was syndicated with permission.

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