Seaside golf can meddle with the most patient of characters. Lottie Woad had played herself firmly into the second-round mix at this Women’s Open at five under par, but the 16th at Royal Porthcawl was to bite back at English golf’s golden girl.
Woad’s second shot found trouble – it took Lydia Ko, one of Woad’s playing partners, to find the ball – and her third swing barely caused any movement whatsoever. Woad called for a referee, plus a second opinion, in her belief that her ball was now embedded and worthy of free relief. With the claims refused, she had to declare the ball unplayable. This grisly affair eventually culminated in a triple-bogey seven and a round of 70 which for so long had looked like further demonstrating Woad’s rapid ascent to the summit of her sport.
