As the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur (ANWA) approaches, England’s Lottie Woad stands on the cusp of history. One year after her landmark victory at Augusta National Golf Club, the 21-year-old from Surrey is once again tied for the lead and in prime position to become the first golfer to successfully defend the prestigious amateur title.
Woad, a junior at Florida State University, captured the attention of the global golf community in 2024 when she became the first European winner of the ANWA. Her composed final-round performance, capped by three birdies in her final four holes, edged out American Bailey Shoemaker, despite Shoemaker’s record-setting 66. The winning moment came via an 18-foot downhill putt on the 18th green—an image now etched into Augusta’s growing gallery of unforgettable finishes.
Her win triggered a breakthrough season. Woad competed in four of the five women’s major championships, finishing T23 in her debut at the Chevron Championship and claiming the Smyth Salver as low amateur at the AIG Women’s Open, where she placed T10. Her consistent excellence saw her rise to the top of the World Amateur Golf Ranking, making her the first Englishwoman to win the Mark H. McCormack Medal as the world’s leading amateur.
Speaking before this year’s tournament, Woad described the previous season as transformative, noting that the win at Augusta had set the tone for everything that followed. She reflected on the pivotal moment at the 12th hole during last year’s final round, calling it a “pinch me” moment that crystallized the gravity of the occasion.
Woad’s reputation for level-headed composure in high-pressure situations has become a hallmark of her game. That same quality will be essential on Saturday as she enters the final round at 9-under par, tied with Kiara Romero. With 18 holes remaining at Augusta National, Woad faces a field stacked with elite competition, including NCAA standout Mirabel Ting and 16-year-old rising star Asterisk Talley, who defeated Woad in the singles at the 2024 Curtis Cup.
If successful, Woad would join the company of golf legends Jack Nicklaus, Nick Faldo, and Tiger Woods as one of the few players to win consecutive titles at Augusta. No woman has ever achieved a back-to-back victory at the ANWA, which has rapidly become one of the most prominent events in women’s amateur golf since its inception in 2019.
Beyond the potential for history, a win would bring significant practical rewards. Victory would secure Woad’s exemptions into four major championships on the LPGA Tour and award her two points in the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway—a system designed to help amateurs transition to professional status. With 16 points already earned, two more would place her just one shy of the 20-point threshold required to obtain an LPGA Tour card.
Turning professional is likely on the horizon, though Woad has stated that she intends to make that decision only when the time comes. For now, her focus remains on finishing the collegiate season with Florida State, where she has posted eight consecutive top-three finishes. She also finished runner-up at last year’s NCAA Women’s Golf Championship behind Texas A&M’s Adela Cernousek.
The final round promises high drama and elite competition on Augusta’s storied fairways. With her familiar England Golf coach Steve Robinson once again serving as her caddie, Woad will draw upon both experience and poise as she attempts to secure a second title on golf’s most iconic stage.
Whether or not she lifts the trophy again, Woad has already left an indelible mark on Augusta National and elevated her standing as one of the most promising talents in the game.
