21-year-old Anika Varma, a former top Indian amateur who moved to California and became a U.S. citizen in 2024, has earned playing rights on two minor pro tours in her first year as a pro which gives her the opportunity to show her talent around the world in 2026.
Fresh out of college after graduating from the University of Oregon, Varma went through both LPGA Qualifying School and Ladies European Tour (LET) Qualifying School, securing partial status on the 2nd run Epson Tour in America and conditional status on the LET and LET Access Series.
Varma came through the first stage of LPGA Qualifying School in September but couldn’t advance beyond Stage 2 which earns her partial status on the Epson Tour — the LPGA’s primary feeder circuit . She may earn the odd start there.
She then travelled to Morocco for the LET Qualifying School, where she moved from Stage 1 to finish 66th at the Final Stage earning conditional status on both the LET and the lower rung LET Access Series.
Varma will have to make the most of her limited playing opportunities on both the minor tours in order to have a successful rookie season as a pro.
In comparison, Aditi Ashok won the LET Qualifier in 2015 at age 17, then earned full LPGA status a year later and went on to become India’s first female Olympic golfer in 2016, while also winning the Hero Women’s Indian Open later that year.
Photo – Oregon
