‘Woad heads to Evian as most exciting emerging talent in women’s game’

With a top-notch performance at this week’s Evian Championship, the fourth women’s major of the year, she can’t improve her bank balance, but Lottie Woad can help her with future professional football.

After defeating a top-notch Ladies European Tour field at the Irish Open last Sunday, the 21-year-old Farnham golfer will be confident.

Madelene Sagstrom and Charley Hull, Solheim Cup stars, walked away with a six-shot victory over Woad in her wake.

She appears to bedestined for a stellar career whenever she decides to become a professional, becoming the first amateur to win on the LET since 2022.

With two top 25 finishes in majors already coming in, Woad is gearing up to compete with the best of the world in France.

Another this week would grant her the two necessary points to become eligible for LPGA Tour membership through their Elite Amateur Pathway.

Nigel Edwards, England Golf’s performance director, said, “She loves the big occasion,” and that he first learned of her talents when she joined their regional squads at age 14 when she joined England Golf’s performance team.

Woad demonstrated this by placing her name in the top 2024 Chevron Championship standings.

At the AIG Women’s Open in St Andrews, she eventually placed 23rd overall before receiving the Smyth Salver for her performance, finishing in a share of 10th place at the end of the competition.

Therefore, Woad’s ability to post another top-25 at Evian, especially given her Irish success, would be in line with her previous performance. She “has such a great work ethic,” Edwards told BBC Sport.

“Lottie has always been positive about learning, coaching, and improving herself. She is always willing to try something new if something doesn’t work out and knows what to put into practice to improve.

She understood her need for strength. She required speed, which she has improved over time. She has always been a very interested and enthusiastic student.

Woad showed impressive golfing maturity as he handled the risky nature of the ultimate links course, which was slammed by seaside winds, around the famed Old Course last summer.

She enjoys the competition, according to Edwards. And she enjoys the performance element more than most people and those who simply love hitting balls.

She’s been a winner right through her career, so she’s never been afraid of it, no matter who she’s faced. “If you look at her all the way up, she’s never been frightened of it.”

Woad has established herself as the most exciting emerging talent in the women’s game after winning the Augusta National Women’s Amateur last year at the men’s Masters.

With those three birdies in those final few holes to win, Edwards said, “I think Augusta probably showed it more.”

Woad has consistently been a contender for the NCAA, where she earned two victories out of ten top-three finishes in 11 tournaments while playing for Florida State. World amateur women’s rankings are top.

She claimed she was tempted to turn professional yet after missing last week’s £58,000 first prize in Ireland. My final two points for the LPGA are still a struggle for me.

“We will see what happens after that, and I’m trying to get those.”

Given her current trajectory, winning should simply result in her playing Evian and the Women’s Open or maintaining her position in the top world rankings.

A top-25 ranking this week gives Woad a first-hand chance to earn LPGA eligibility, though she might decide to stay in the paid ranks for a year while finishing her studies at Florida State.

She is capable of making the transition, as her performance last week demonstrated. She is playing another major, which would have otherwise meant that she would have represented England at the European Team Championships this week.

The sky is the limit, Edwards asserts, “I really do believe that.” She obviously believes that, and I would say that’s one of the most difficult to change your mindset.

She obviously had experience playing with Irish champions, and I don’t believe she was intimidated by my high expectations.

They are high in practice, and she always maintains those standards. Who it is is irrelevant.

The Evian field features world no. 1 Nelly Korda, Olympian gold medalist Lydia Ko, and recent female champion golfer Minjee Lee.