Lottie Woad

As a 14-year-old Lottie Woad was glued to the screen watching one of her heroes win the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.

Now she wants to do it for herself.

Speaking ahead of the landmark 50th edition of the Championship, Lottie told how some of her earliest memories watching golf came in the week of Georgia Hall’s iconic victory in 2018.

“I am a fan of golf history – I’ve watched it over the years. The one that I can remember most watching on TV was the one here where Georgia won.

“I remember watching all the rounds of that and obviously supporting an English player trying to win. I think that was my earliest memory watching it.

“I always looked up to the likes of her and Charley [Hull] and all the other English players.

“When I was younger I was watching them compete and play well, and it was inspiring watching her win that.

“It is kind of weird now playing with them. It’s a little bit different – but it’s great.”

It’s been a meteoric rise for the 22-year-old, who has managed top-10 finishes in her two AIG Women’s Open showings so far.

As an amateur in 2024 she claimed the Smyth Salver for low amateur – ending the week in a tie for 10th – before recording an impressive T8 result at Royal Porthcawl last year.

She turned professional after coming within a whisker of winning the Amundi Evian Championship in July 2025, then immediately followed that up by winning the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open – becoming just the third player in history to win on their third start on the LPGA Tour.

Lottie, who now sits fifth in the Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings, has since also won at the Queen City Championship in May and lost out narrowly to reigning AIG Women’s Open Champion Miyu Yamashita in a play-off at the Meijer LPGA Classic the following month.

A combination of her prodigious talent, fine form and impressive AIG Women’s Open record means she’s dreaming of what might be at Royal Lytham this week.

“I think for any British player this would be the dream one to win. I like playing links golf and I’m sure it will be a good test with the wind. It’s always been my favourite watching, and it would be a dream to win it,” she added.

“[Links golf] can be tricky too. You need a bit of luck out there with some of the bounces and the wind. But I enjoy playing this type of golf.

“I think because you only get to play it a couple of times a year makes it a bit more special, hitting those different shots you wouldn’t really get to hit in the US.”

If Lottie was to end the week as Champion she would be joining an illustrious list of players to have succeeded at the venue.

Prior to Georgia’s heartwarming win in 2018, Catriona Matthew, Sherri Steinhauer (twice) and Annika Sorenstam have won the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham, while Seve Ballesteros, Gary Player, Peter Thomson and Bobby Jones are among the legends to have claimed the Claret Jug there.

“I think when we go back to historic golf courses it's great and attracts more people to come.

“My dad told me about all the shots Seve played on this course. So [there have been] a lot of historic moments, and I think that just makes it more exciting for people to watch us play as well.”

Despite Lottie still being in the early stages of her career, her ascent to the top of the game is already inspiring the next generation.

On Monday, 17-year-old Lauren Crump sealed her place in this week’s Championship via Final Qualifying, afterwards citing Lottie as one of her biggest influences.

“It definitely feels weird," Lottie said in response. "I’ve met Lauren a few times. She’s a little bit younger, and on the England squad, but I guess it’s a cool thing.

“I’m not really sure why she picked me over Charley but I think she is coming through the same system as me with the same coaches I had for England.

“I’ve been told she is a great player, so I’m sure she will have a great week.

“Just try and have fun with it is all I would say. I tried to go through qualifying once when I was an amateur and I lost in a play-off to get into Walton Heath which is quite close to where I live, so I was very disappointed with that.

“So it's really cool if you can get through qualifying. It's just always a bonus if you get to play.”