Augusta glory for wonder Woad
FARNHAM GOLFER BIRDIES FINAL TWO HOLES FOR VICTORY
FARNHAM golfer Lottie Woad birdied the final two holes to win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
The 20-year-old Florida State University student, who is a member of Farnham Golf Club, had led going into the final round at Augusta National but was overtaken by American Bailey Shoemaker, who shot a bogey-free 66.
Heading down the 17th Woad was one shot behind, but a birdie three drew her level and she showed nerves of steel on the 18th to hole a lengthy putt for a round of 69.
That gave her a three-round total of eight under par, one shot clear of Shoemaker and four ahead of Sweden’s Ingrid Lindblad in third.
Woad also birdied the 15th, but she told reporters: “I feel like the three birdies I got were probably not as important as my par save on 14. I think if I had gone three back at that point it would have been pretty difficult.
“Teeing off only having a two-shot lead, I knew someone was probably going to overtake me. I was prepared for someone to go low and they did.
“When I was two back, I thought ‘OK, I’ve got the birdie chances they had,’ and just gave myself the chances at the end and luckily holed some putts.
“I was hoping it was going to be a nice stress-free day but it was far from that. But in the end it was a cooler way to finish.
“To be in the mix on the back nine at Augusta is something everyone dreams about. I just tried to really embrace it. It’s really cool to be standing in the same place as the Masters champions have stood and just follow in their footsteps a little bit.”
Woad’s victory earns her a place in the field for the Women’s Open and the US Women’s Open, and she said: “I want to be a professional and be playing in these events.
“To get this experience so early on will be great for me. I’ve never played in a major before, I’ve played in a couple of pro events but never a LPGA event. It’s going to be really exciting for me.”
She added: “There was a lot of pressure but I was generally just having fun. I had a great caddy with me – my England Golf coach (Steve Robinson, England Women’s Coach) who helped me stay in the moment and I just enjoyed it and embraced it.
“I had a lot of my family come and support me but particularly my nan who is 85 and came over from England to watch me – I think she had fun today.
“It means so much to be a part of August National history. I’ve watched this event when I was younger and I’ve always wanted to play in it and try and contend, but to win it is just really special.”
Luke Donald and Justin Rose were among those to send their congratulations on social media.
Sky Sports pundit and former DP World Tour player Mark Roe said: “She dug so deep and I don’t think we’ll see a better finish all season, amateur or professional.
“When she had a pitch into the par-five 13th, she knocked it long, and then knocked it through the back of 14 and I thought she’d lost it, but the up-and-down there was superb. I don’t know how the putt didn’t go in at 16 and what a putt it was on 18, the hardest of the lot.
“You’ve got no right at 20 years of age to be that calm in that situation. The patrons, the fans, the atmosphere and also the TV cameras – you’re being watched around the world and you know that. She’s so humble. When she sits back and reflects on this, the confidence she gains and the experience she’s going to get in playing those (major) events is going to be immense for her.
“It was dramatic and stunning, and I am the latest member of the Lottie Woad fan club.”