Like so many Australians living overseas during the Covid-19 pandemic, Emily Mahar has not been able to see her family for about two and a half years.

This week Mahar will finally be reunited with her parents, James and Katie, as they have made a mad dash from Brisbane to Augusta, Georgia to possibly see their daughter play on the hallowed turf of Augusta National.

Mahar is in her fifth year of university at Virginia Tech and her stellar collegiate golf performances have raised her to number 45 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings - which resulted in an invitation for the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

That invite did not come until late last week however, so her parents had to rush in action to get over there.

“They’re getting on the plane on their way here,” Mahar told the press at Champions Retreat - which will host the first two rounds of the tournament before play moves to Augusta National for the final round - yesterday.

“It’s really cool just to share the experience with them. We’ve all been golf fans, so we know a lot about The Masters and Augusta and now to share that moment with them is super special.”

Irrespective of how she fares on the course this week, Mahar is simply thrilled to see her family face-to-face once again and catch up on all the moments they have not been able to share together like her major debut at last year’s US Women’s Open and her wedding.

“It’s been really difficult. Social media, FaceTime, everything’s been really helpful,” Mahar said.

“I got married to a Virginia Tech grad, so I have a new family now. That’s been really helpful. I think probably the best thing about being away from my immediate family is now having my second family in Virginia.”

The Keperra Country Golf Club member has also missed the tastes of home, specifically Vegemite, but her parents bringing her some did not go according to plan.

“They didn’t pack properly and it got taken at security,” Mahar said.

“I’m a big Vegemite person, and my husband really likes this special sauce that we have over there. They decided to put it in their carry-on bag, and it got taken. But they were able to buy it on the other side.”

Mahar will be joined by West Australian Kirsten Rudgeley in the field this week and you can follow the scores here.

The final round will be broadcast live on Fox Sports 505 from 3am - 6am AEST on Sunday morning.