Lottie Woad: From Amateur Star to Favorite at the AIG Women’s Open
A stunning ascent has seen 21-year-old Lottie Woad emerge as the bookmakers’ favorite to win the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl just one week after turning professional. The British golfer’s rapid success is a testament to her maturity and skill, quickly establishing her as one of the most exciting prospects in the sport.
Woad arrives in Wales fresh off a victory at the Scottish Open on Sunday, capping a remarkable month that included winning the Irish Open and a third-place finish at the Evian Championship – the most recent women’s major.
A Rookie’s Odds Defy Expectations
The speed of Woad’s rise has not gone unnoticed by those who assess risk. Bookmakers are offering odds as low as 6-1 for her to win the tournament, a figure typically reserved for established champions like Tiger Woods in his prime and, more recently, Scottie Scheffler. To see such favorable odds for a player so early in her professional career is truly exceptional.
Observers note that Woad is performing with the poise of a seasoned veteran, demonstrating a level of golfing maturity that belies her age. The question now is not if she can compete, but if she can secure a victory this week.
“Yes, absolutely,” stated a former Women’s Open champion and NBC commentator. “She came 10th last year as an amateur and she almost won at Evian.”
Unfazed by the Spotlight
Despite the intense attention, Woad appears remarkably composed. She acknowledges that her swift success has been somewhat surprising. “I don’t think you can predict that,” Woad told reporters. “I obviously was playing pretty well. But you can never expect to win an event, especially your first one. I was just looking to have a good experience that we could learn from and just try to play good golf, and that’s how it happened. And then I guess I got the win.”
Woad added that her previous experience competing in professional events as an amateur has helped prepare her for the current challenges. She recently played alongside world number one Nelly Korda and top British player Charley Hull at Dundonald, noting that the experience didn’t feel drastically different from previous professional appearances.
Maturity Beyond Years
Maintaining momentum will be key as Woad transitions from the top-ranked amateur to a prominent figure in the professional game. “I know what I need to do to perform well and there are always areas you need to tie up on and maintain,” she explained. “So just having good prep and, I mean, knowing that you can’t expect to play well all the time – especially on a tough course out here.”
This perspective is a hallmark of Woad’s game, according to those who have observed her closely. “Lottie Woad is the most matter-of-fact golfer that I’ve ever really come across,” said a 2004 Women’s Open winner. “If you tell her she needs to make three birdies to win, she’ll say: ‘Oh, OK, I’ll just make three birdies then.’ And if she does it, great; if she doesn’t, it’s not going to affect her one way or the other. It’s as basic as that to her.”
This golfer possesses “intangibles that other players don’t have,” the champion continued. “She’s not afraid to look at her goals and say: ‘OK, what do I have to do to achieve them?’ And she accepts everything about achieving them. Most players are a little scared of looking at a leaderboard. They’re a little scared of what their reaction is going to be. She’s not scared of that in any way, shape or form. And it’s amazing.”
Endorsement from the World’s Best
Nelly Korda, the world number one, echoed this sentiment after playing alongside Woad. “Absolutely amazing,” Korda said of the newcomer. “I was very impressed with her composure, her process. 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. You can see that she’s put a tonne of hours in. Her putting is very solid, her game’s solid, she hits it pretty far off the tee.”
Woad has been paired with Lilia Vu and Lydia Ko – the last two champions – for the first two rounds, a draw that represents a significant opportunity for the young English player.
“I definitely love golf,” Woad said. “There’s so many elements to it and you can practise so many things and improve in so many different ways. I just love practising and just love being very competitive.”
As she traveled with her first professional trophy last Sunday night, Woad listened to the radio coverage of England’s Lionesses’ victory, a moment of national pride. Now, in Wales, she stands on the cusp of potentially adding to the success story of English women’s sport. The bookmakers, and many others, believe she has the potential to do just that.
