Lottie Woad has grown accustomed to the pressure of playing in the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
Look no further than last year, when she sat atop the leaderboard through 53 holes at 7-under par and in a tie with Bailey Shoemaker. Woad then calmly found the 18th fairway, fired a terrific wedge into the green, and drained her 12-footer for birdie to win the tournament.
She arrived back in Georgia this year as the defending champion and received plenty of fanfare for holding that distinction. Pressure comes with that too, but so far this year, Woad has been immune. Through 36 holes of this year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur — the first two rounds are held at Champions Retreat — Woad sits atop the leaderboard at 8-under par. She is tied with the University of Oregon’s Kiara Romero with 18 holes at Augusta National left to play.
“I think just experience,” Load said when asked how she plays well under pressure.
“Just playing this event last year, being in the final group, and playing the majors and stuff like that. I think when you expose yourself more to it, you get more used to it.”
Woad almost gave last year’s tournament away, though.
She began the final round at Augusta National with a two-shot advantage, but by the time she reached Amen Corner, Shoemaker had taken the lead.
Woad then bogied the par-5 13th to drop back to 5-under for the championship while Shoemaker sat at 7-under overall. Having teed off well before Load, Shoemaker signed for her 6-under 66 about an hour before Woad finished.
But then Woad put forth a Charles Schwartzel-2011-type charge. She made birdies on the 15th, 17th, and 18th holes to eclipse Shoemaker by one and win the title.
“I think I can definitely use last year, you know,” Woad added.
“I had the lead and then lost it. [Saturday] if that happens again, then I’d know that I’ve come back from there before. So I guess it’s positive memories.”
Woad, who plays for Florida State, knows how to win. But trying to become the first player ever to successfully defend their title at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur makes for a mentally exhaustive 48 hours. And yet, Woad is going to treat the next two days just as she did last year.
“I did it last year, so I’ve got that experience,” Woad said.
“Yeah, not going to do too much different.”
Consistency is key for both professionals and amateurs alike. Let’s see if Woad can continue her consistently strong play and make history among the Georgia pines.
Jack Milko is a golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through. Follow him on X @jack_milko.
