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New Straits Times
a day ago
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Lottie Woad rides wave of momentum into AIG Women's Open
WALES: As the world of women's golf prepares for the final major of the year, an English prodigy has seized the limelight. Lottie Woad is the hottest player in the game and will be among the favorites to land her first major championship when the AIG Women's Open tees off at Royal Porthcawl on Thursday in Porthcawl, Wales. Woad's litany of accomplishments dates back to last year, when she won the Augusta National Women's Amateur, rose to No. 1 in the world amateur rankings and tied for 10th at the Women's Open at St Andrews for low-am honors. But July has seen the 21-year-old truly dominate the sport. Woad had a six- shot win at the Women's Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour, then tied for third at the most recent major, the Evian Championship, all before officially turning pro. Then came the Women's Scottish Open last week, where Woad matched Rose Zhang's feat in 2023 by winning her first start as a professional, three strokes clear of the field. "I've really been just enjoying myself," Woad said this week. "Enjoyed being in these events and competing and being in contention, just try to have fun with it and not add too much stress, really." Woad is the odds-on favorite to win this week at BetMGM and FanDuel Sportsbook. And she's certainly caught the eye of her peers. "Absolutely amazing," said Nelly Korda, who played with her at the Scottish Open. "I was very impressed with her composure, her process. "I think, when it comes to her shot routine, especially under pressure and in the heat of the moment, sometimes people seem to fidget and kind of doubt themselves. But she stuck to it, she stuck to her process every single time, and I think that's one of the main things that I noticed is how mature she is for her age and how comfortable she was in the heat of the moment." Korda remains atop the world rankings, but her winless season has come as a surprise after she won seven times in 2024. "I feel like I don't really have anything more to prove to people ever," Korda said. "For me it's just I'm passionate about the game. I love the game. I love playing in these kind of conditions, testing my game, and getting to play against the best players in the world." Royal Porthcawl has hosted three Senior Open Championships since 2014, but this marks its first time hosting the women's major. It is a par-72 course that will play 6,580 yards this week. Lydia Ko of New Zealand is the defending champion thanks to her two-shot win at St Andrews last year, shortly after she won the Olympic gold medal and clinched her place in the LPGA Hall of Fame. "I think it was just fun for me, and I was just trying to have more of an open mindset and just trying to be free rather than hit perfect shots," Ko said. "I think that's really important on these links-style golf courses. You could hit a really solid shot and be so far away from the pin, and that could be vice versa. It's just more about creativity, and I hope that will be kind of the strategy that I'll take towards this week." Three of the first four major winners this season were first-timers: Japan's Mao Saigo at the Chevron Championship; Sweden's Maja Stark at the U.S. Women's Open; and Australia's Grace Kim at the Evian, where she had a comeback for the ages. Kim finished her final round birdie-birdie-par-eagle to force a playoff, where she beat Jeeno Thitikul of Thailand. "I think just knowing that my game is there and good enough," Kim said of this week's test. "Just mentally preparing whatever could happen." --AFP
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- Sport
- Irish Examiner
Woad golf's latest sensation but caution advisable
History suggests caution is advisable when assessing female golf phenoms. Michelle Wie won just a single major. Charley Hull has reached the age of 29 while scaling golfing heights, but it is fair to say wild excitement about her career when a teenage amateur has not been borne out by subsequent results. For a multitude of reasons, promise can outweigh reality. If it were at all her style – and it is not – Lottie Woad could claim to have already justified the hype. Winning last year's Augusta National Women's Amateur was a statement of intent. Recent weeks have been rocket fuelled for the 21-year-old; Woad won the Irish Open and challenged for the Evian Championship while still an amateur. One professional start, at the Scottish Open, saw Woad lift the trophy on Sunday. She is the name on everyone's lips as the Women's Open lands at the glorious links of Royal Porthcawl today. 'She's playing great golf,' said Lydia Ko, the defending champion, of Woad. 'I've seen her swing. My coach has sent me a video of her swing as well because there's aspects that I'm kind of going for that she has.' High praise. There was more, lots of it. 'I think what Lottie Woad has done is absolutely unbelievable,' said Hull. 'I played with her in the practice rounds in Ireland and in the first two rounds last week. At the minute I feel like she's playing with such confidence she can't miss a shot. I think it's great to see. She's a breath of fresh air for the game. I'm actually really proud of Lottie for what she's done. That's like goosebumps kind of stuff.' Hull's own buildup has been beset by illness and a back injury. 'I'm not hitting it the best, which is very frustrating because it's an event I've been looking forward to playing all year,' she said. Woad will have Ko and Lilia Vu for company in the marquee grouping for days one and two. 'I don't feel too different, to be honest,' Woad said. 'I got a lot of confidence from the last month, really. I am just trying to continue to ride that. There's always pressure. I don't think there's any more than there was, like from my perspective, before any of the last few weeks. I was still wanting to contend and that's still the aim.' Like Scottie Scheffler, who is dominating the male game, Woad will not talk in headlines. Like the American, Woad's swing can be unorthodox. She has something in common with another icon of this sport; Woad is managed by the same agency as Tiger Woods. Woad serves as the latest example of how the American college circuit prepares golfers for life as a professional. The Surrey athlete excelled at Florida State University amid a rise to the summit of the amateur world ranking. 'She's been in a lot of those kind of tougher moments,' Ko added. 'Obviously it's different than being an amateur and playing collegiate golf to as a pro, but I think she's been there and done really well in those pressure conditions no matter what kind of environment she's been in. So I think there's a little bit more experience under her belt than what people probably give her credit for. 'When I've seen the coverage or how she composes herself, she doesn't seem like she rushes into things or gets like overly emotional. I'm sure that's going to help her with that transition as well.' Ko's analysis is valid. Woad's greatest strength is appearing totally unflustered when placed in tricky golfing scenarios. Her display of front-running at Dundonald Links on Sunday made a mockery of supposed rookie status. In Ireland, she won by half a dozen shots. 'Absolutely amazing,' said the world No 1, Nelly Korda, in adding to the chorus of commendation for Woad. 'I was very impressed with her composure, her process [in Scotland]. When it comes to her shot routine, especially under pressure and in the heat of the moment, sometimes people seem to fidget and kind of doubt themselves but she stuck to it, she stuck to her process every single time. I think one of the main things that I noticed is how mature she is for her age and how comfortable she was in the heat of the moment. 'You can see that she's put a ton of hours in. Her putting is very solid, her game's solid, she hits it pretty far off the tee. She grew up in this kind of weather too, so I feel like she's kind of comfortable.' It would seem a shock if Woad is not in Porthcawl contention. The R&A has increased the prize fund for this major, by $250,000 to $9.75m, with the winner collecting $1.4m. The male equivalent had its purse frozen for 2025. The scale of growth in the Women's Open is shown by the fact golfers were competing for $3.25m as recently as 2018. It was confirmed on Wednesday that the 2027 edition of the tournament will take place at Royal St George's, which has staged the men's Open 15 times. A rare stop for elite golf in Wales has seen players assess the local culture. 'When I drove from Scotland after I missed the cut last week, I saw all the road signs,' said Grace Kim. 'It went from like English to, not in a rude way, like gibberish.' Ouch. Out in the afternoon today is Ireland's Anna Foster, who qualified for Royal Portcawl in final qualifying at Pyle & Kenfig on Monday, and hopes to enjoy her latest experience of the event more than her first: "I played in the AIG Women's Open in 2023 at Walton Heath and it was quite an overwhelming experience as an amateur but now I feel I have more confidence in myself.' The other Irish contenders, Leona Maguire and Lauren Walsh, are both out this morning. Guardian
The Star
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Star
Golf-Britain's Woad ready to take women's Open by storm
FILE PHOTO: Golf - Augusta National Women's Amateur - Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, United States - April 6, 2024 England's Lottie Woad hits off the third tee during the final round REUTERS/Mike Blake/ File Photo (Reuters) -Britain's Lottie Woad said she will block out the noise ahead of the Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl this week after being installed as the favourite despite it being her first major since turning professional. The 21-year-old former Florida State University student marked her entry into the paid ranks by cruising to a three-stroke victory at last week's Scottish Open. She also won the Irish Open by six strokes as an amateur in July before just missing out on becoming the first amateur to win a major when she was beaten by one stroke by Australia's Grace Kim at the Evian Championship. So it is hardly surprising that Surrey-born Woad, who turned professional after the Evian Championship, has found herself in the spotlight as she arrived in South Wales. Asked about the growing expectation, Woad said it was all part of the learning process. "I don't think you can ever really fully handle it. I definitely feel like I've got a lot better at it," she told reporters. "I just try and block out the noise as much as possible really." Woad finished tied 10th at the Women's Open last year at St Andrews, but said Porthcawl presents a tough challenge. "I think it will be a really good test. We'll see; weather is always a factor in links golf. A lot more to mind off the tee than St Andrews last year. Definitely got to keep in play," she said. "A lot of holes, par is a good score, and then you've got to take a chance on the par-5s really." Amongst a high-quality field standing in Woad's way is defending champion Lydia Ko from New Zealand. "She's kind of come out with a bang, and I'm sure she's going to keep continuing to play well," Ko said of Woad. "I don't know a lot about her game personally, but the little that I've seen, she seems super impressive and has that kind of cool, calm, collected demeanour, and that's, I think, pretty important as a player." Olympic champion Ko is playing in Wales for the first time and said she is ready for the elements. "I would rather it be tough than be calm. As much as I love sunny weather, when I'm coming to play the Women's Open, I expect it to be rainy, windy, and that's what I've gotten to really enjoy about this Championship," she said. "I hope it brings all those elements." World number one Nelly Korda is bidding to win her first British Open after coming tied second last year. She is also expecting big things from former amateur world number one Woad. "Golf is a game of confidence, and she's definitely high up there right now, so she's going to be trusting everything," Korda said. "Her worst finish in the past three events is theoretically second or third. I think she's also riding a confidence high too with how well she's playing." (Reporting by Martyn Herman)
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Who is Lottie Woad? And how did she become the hottest player in women's golf?
Lottie Woad is the betting favorite to win the AIG Women's British Open in only her second week as a touring professional. If it seems like Woad's success happened overnight, it's really been more like a 15-month climb. The 21-year-old Englishwoman is the talk of Royal Porthcawl after becoming only the third player in the LPGA's 75-year history to win in her first start as an LPGA member, joining former world No. 1 Jin Young Ko (2018) and Beverly Hanson (1951). How did Woad become the hottest player in women's golf? Here's a look back: Woad finds spotlight at Augusta National The first time most golf fans heard the name Lottie Woad was at the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur, when the lion-hearted college sophomore delivered a finish for the ages. After USC's Bailey Shoemaker posted a course-record 6-under 66 to take the clubhouse lead at 7 under, Woad birdied three of the last four holes to overtake her. The Augusta National Women's Amateur is unique in that the 36-hole leader must sleep on the lead not one but two nights. The quietly confident Woad embraced it all. Success at Florida State Florida State coach Amy Bond recently looked back on the first email Woad ever sent FSU, back in 2020, when she was ranked 1,151st in the world. Known for her complete game and tireless work ethic, Woad first rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in June 2024. Her 70.42 career scoring average after three seasons at Florida State set a school record. A five-time winner at FSU, Woad's 27 top-10 finishes set another record, highlighting her consistent play. Woad, who didn't have a car or driver's license at Florida State, would typically call an Uber on Saturday mornings around 7:30 a.m. to get a lift to the golf course. While most college students her age were hitting snooze, Woad hit the practice facility. 'You think you work hard, and she works 10 times harder,' former teammate Charlotte Heath once said. 'We have pros at our club, and Lottie outworks them all.' First professional title Before Woad turned professional, she became the first amateur in three years to win on Ladies European Tour, storming to victory at the Women's Irish Open by six shots over two-time LPGA winner Madelene Sagstrom. Woad, whose game is highlighted by strong wedge play and clutch putting, finished the tournament at 21 under par. "'You can't control what anyone else does. It was Lottie's week; it was wonderful to watch her play," said Sagstrom. "I played a bunch of golf with her. I'm really happy for her and she's going to take European and American golf by storm very soon.' The following week, Woad nearly won a major. Woads gets an LPGA card Late last year the LPGA announced its new LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program, which awards a full card to an amateur who reaches 20 points. Woad needed a top-25 finish at the Amundi Evian Championship to earn her LPGA card and almost won the tournament in the process, falling one stroke shy of a playoff in France after a final-round 64, taking a share of third with Minjee Lee. 'It seems effortless to her,' said fellow Englishwoman Karen Stupples from the broadcast booth. The following week, Woad accepted tour cards from both the LPGA and LET, making her eligible for the 2026 Solheim Cup. She planned to make her professional debut the next week in Scotland. Woad wins pro debut Woad's magical July run continued at Dundonald Links, where the newly-minted played alongside Nelly Korda and Charley Hull in the first two rounds and was unfazed by the star power, taking the title by two shots. The victory secured Woad's tour card through 2027 and moved her to No. 24 in the Rolex Rankings. Now a combined 55 under in her last 12 rounds on the LPGA and LET, Woad boasts a scoring average of 67.3 in the last month. "I don't really know how to describe it," said the humble Woad of her recent stretch of brilliance. "Just been shooting low scores, which is always nice." Former British Open champ Catriona Matthew captained Woad at the Curtis Cup last year at Sunningdale and compared her to a young Karrie Webb. 'She's not out there for the glitz and the glam,' said Matthew, 'she just wants to be as good a golfer as she can be and go out and beat everyone.' Woad at the majors The first LPGA event Woad ever played was the Chevron Championship almost immediately after winning the ANWA. In fact, Woad's first seven LPGA starts were all major championships, with her first non-major coming at last week's Scottish Open, which she won. Last year at the British Open at St. Andrews, Woad won the Smyth Salver for low-amateur honors with a T-10 performance in her championship debut. The highlight of the week at the Old Course had to be the hole-out for eagle on the 18th Saturday. Woad has a flair for the dramatic when the stakes are high. 'All the players out there can hit the shots,' said Matthew, 'but what makes her special is that she can do it when she has to.' This week's start at Royal Porthcawl will be her eighth major, and she'll have longtime teaching pro Luke Bone on the bag once again as a sort of final hurrah. She won the Scottish last week with veteran pro caddie Dermot Byrne. Woad is represented by Excel Sports Management, as she was as an amateur, and joins a list of stars that includes Lydia Ko, Rose Zhang and Michelle Wie West. As an amateur, she had NIL deals with Titleist/FootJoy, Novellus and Upper Deck. 'I've always loved being under pressure and under the gun,' said Woad, calling the experience of those major starts invaluable. What the pros are saying Korda played alongside Woad in the first three rounds of the Scottish Open and was impressed with her composure and process, noting that while others tend to fidget and change things in the heat of battle, Woad stuck to her routine and looked comfortable. The elder Korda, who turned 27 on Monday, called Woad 'absolutely amazing.' Meanwhile Ko, the most recent inductee of the LPGA of Fame who won last year's British Open, noted in her pre-tournament presser that she's looking forward to seeing what she can learn from Woad while playing alongside her in the first two rounds in Wales. 'Just because you're a higher-ranked player doesn't mean that there's something that I can't learn from somebody else,' said Ko. 'She's obviously playing great golf. I've seen her swing, and my coach has sent me a video of her swing as well because there's aspects that I'm kind of going for that she has.'
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Britain's Woad ready to take women's Open by storm
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Golf - Augusta National Women's Amateur - Augusta National Golf Club, Augusta, Georgia, United States - April 6, 2024 England's Lottie Woad hits off the third tee during the final round REUTERS/Mike Blake/ File Photo Britain's Lottie Woad said she will block out the noise ahead of the Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl this week after being installed as the favourite despite it being her first major since turning professional. The 21-year-old former Florida State University student marked her entry into the paid ranks by cruising to a three-stroke victory at last week's Scottish Open. She also won the Irish Open by six strokes as an amateur in July before just missing out on becoming the first amateur to win a major when she was beaten by one stroke by Australia's Grace Kim at the Evian Championship. So it is hardly surprising that Surrey-born Woad, who turned professional after the Evian Championship, has found herself in the spotlight as she arrived in South Wales. Asked about the growing expectation, Woad said it was all part of the learning process. "I don't think you can ever really fully handle it. I definitely feel like I've got a lot better at it," she told reporters. "I just try and block out the noise as much as possible really." Woad finished tied 10th at the Women's Open last year at St Andrews, but said Porthcawl presents a tough challenge. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Water supply issues during Toa Payoh blaze affected firefighting operations; SCDF investigating Singapore MHA to support HSA's crackdown on Kpod abusers and help in treatment of offenders: Shanmugam Singapore Tampines, Toa Payoh BTO flats most popular among first-time home buyers in July HDB launch Singapore Bukit Panjang LRT to shut on 2 Sundays to facilitate tests; some upgrading work nearing completion Singapore Jail, fine for man linked to case involving 3 bank accounts that received over $680m in total Singapore Provision shop owner who raped 11-year-old gets more than 14 years' jail Singapore School, parents on alert after vape peddlers approach primary school pupil Business S'pore's economic resilience will face headwinds in second half of 2025 from tariffs, trade conflicts: MAS "I think it will be a really good test. We'll see; weather is always a factor in links golf. A lot more to mind off the tee than St Andrews last year. Definitely got to keep in play," she said. "A lot of holes, par is a good score, and then you've got to take a chance on the par-5s really." Amongst a high-quality field standing in Woad's way is defending champion Lydia Ko from New Zealand. "She's kind of come out with a bang, and I'm sure she's going to keep continuing to play well," Ko said of Woad. "I don't know a lot about her game personally, but the little that I've seen, she seems super impressive and has that kind of cool, calm, collected demeanour, and that's, I think, pretty important as a player." Olympic champion Ko is playing in Wales for the first time and said she is ready for the elements. "I would rather it be tough than be calm. As much as I love sunny weather, when I'm coming to play the Women's Open, I expect it to be rainy, windy, and that's what I've gotten to really enjoy about this Championship," she said. "I hope it brings all those elements." World number one Nelly Korda is bidding to win her first British Open after coming tied second last year. She is also expecting big things from former amateur world number one Woad. "Golf is a game of confidence, and she's definitely high up there right now, so she's going to be trusting everything," Korda said. "Her worst finish in the past three events is theoretically second or third. I think she's also riding a confidence high too with how well she's playing." REUTERS
