Lottie Woad rarely takes a day off.
When she wins – which, as the world's top-ranked amateur, is a lot – it's quickly back to the range to prepare for the next tournament.
No wonder Woad's Augusta National Women's Amateur trophy, made of sterling silver and 24k yellow gold vermeil, sits in her room back in Farnham, England, still in its box. Woad says she doesn't want it to rust, but in reality, she doesn't compete for trophies but rather the personal satisfaction of winning – and what it took to get there.
Woad is known as a workhorse, at Florida State's practice facility every day, so much so that Seminoles head coach Amy Bond helped create the narrative that the soccer-loving Woad had never attended a college football game, opting instead to spend her Saturdays refining her craft.
It's a white lie, Woad asserts, though it's not far off – she's never sat through a whole game. And why would she? Florida State went 2-10 last season.
The same cannot be said of the golf teams, both ranked in the top 11 nationally with each claiming the top-ranked amateur – Woad and Luke Clanton – as well as the No. 1 player in women's college golf, junior Mirabel Ting, who has five wins this season in six starts. Woad has been somewhat overshadowed, which is hard to do when one considers she has not finished outside the top 3 in eight events. Her last finish outside the top 10 in a non-pro event came in July ... of 2023.
Woad's success could now be rewarded with an LPGA card – and without the stress of Q-School. The tour officially rolled out its LEAP program last November, and Woad has already earned 16 of the required 20 points needed to take up membership. The final four points seem inevitable, though when they come could determine Woad's future as an amateur. Should she reach the 20-point mark before July 1, she could accept her card immediately for the current season only, or defer until after July 1 and receive membership all the way through next season.
If she does nothing else but remain No. 1 in WAGR at summer's end, she'll earn the four points as a repeat winner of the McCormack Medal. Then she'll need to determine if she wants to return to Florida State for a senior year or go pro.
Decisions, decisions.
But for now, Woad is enjoying the ride, which takes her into her title defense in Augusta.
GolfChannel.com sat down with Woad during last month's Moon Golf Invitational. Here's that conversation, which has been slightly edited for clarity:
AUGUSTA, GEORGIA - APRIL 06: Lottie Woad of England and her caddie Steve Robinson celebrate on the 18th green after her birdie putt to win during the final round of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur at Augusta National Golf Club on April 06, 2024 in Augusta, Georgia. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)
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BRENTLEY ROMINE: The last time you finished outside the top 10 in a non-professional event, do you know when the last time that was?
LOTTIE WOAD: A while ago.
BR: 2023 European Ladies. How do you explain that?
LW: Yeah, I don't really know how. I guess just being consistent with what I'm working on and, you know, I feel like my bad rounds have got a lot worse, so like if I don't play ...
