A sign of things to come in Masters week? Lottie Woad, the 20-year-old from Farnham, has become the first European winner of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. In the kind of moment childhood – and plenty of adult - fantasy is made of, she converted a birdie putt on the 18th green to take the title by one shot from Bailey Shoemaker of the United States.
Woad picked up shots in three of her closing four holes, including the last two. The former Girls’ Amateur champion shot a 69 at the Georgia venue where the 88th Masters will get under way on Thursday. What competitors there would give for Woad’s finish.
“To be in the mix on the back nine at Augusta is something that everyone dreams about,” Woad said. “So I was trying to really embrace it. It’s just really cool to be standing in the same place as the Masters champions have stood and to be following in their footsteps a little bit.”
This marked the fifth playing of this tournament. Three of the previous champions hail from the US, with Japan’s Tsubasa Kajitani prevailing in 2021. Woad is at Florida State University, with temptation to turn professional only likely to increase following this success. “I don’t want to rush anything,” Woad said. “We have a national championship coming up with FSU so we really want to give ourselves a chance in that.”
Shoemaker, who had set the clubhouse target after a bogey-free 66 moved her to seven under, explained why she felt perfectly at ease. Only the final round of this event takes place at Augusta National. “It was more stressful trying to make the cut at Champions Retreat [where the tournament starts],” she said.
“Everybody said the same in the second round. You didn’t know if you were going to lead or if you were fighting to make the cut. I’d get a bogey and move up five spots. It was just a super hectic day, so it was nice to just go out and know you’ve made the cut, you’re walking Augusta National in the final round. It’s just perfect, you can go out and have fun. I’m obviously disappointed but I played about as well as I could have.”
Cameron Smith, meanwhile, is expected to be fit for the Masters despite withdrawing before the second round of LIV’s event in Miami. The Australian was believed to be feeling the effects of food poisoning suffered earlier in tournament week.
