Lottie Woad admits it is a totally different expertise heading into the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice as defending champion, a 12 months on from her dramatic victory on the house of The Masters.
The Englishwoman got here again from two behind with 5 holes to play to grab a outstanding victory within the 2024 contest, with three birdies in her final 4 holes seeing her end one forward of Bailey Shoemaker.
Woad took benefit of the par-five fifteenth and birdied the par-four seventeenth to drag stage with Shoemaker, who had set the clubhouse goal with a bogey-free 66, earlier than holing an extended putt to birdie the final and develop into the primary European winner within the event’s historical past.
The 21-year-old is among the many favourites for her title defence, beginning on Wednesday and stay on Sky Sports activities, with two rounds performed at Champions Retreat Golf Membership earlier than the main 30 gamers and ties progress to Saturday’s ultimate spherical at Augusta Nationwide.
“It’s definitely different compared to last year,” Woad instructed the Sky Sports activities Golf podcast. “I’ve had much more media stuff and stuff like that, that I did not must do final 12 months, so simply getting my head round that slightly bit.
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“I believe final 12 months I discovered quite a bit about that, as I hadn’t actually been uncovered to it. I am ensuring I am leaving time for every thing I must do for the week to be ready.
“It feels great to be back. This is probably our favourite event of the year, and it’s always such a joy to play both courses. Feeling good about my game and I’m excited to get going.”
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Sky Sports activities Golf’s Sarah Stirk and Mark Roe have a look at Lottie Woad’s ultimate spherical on the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice
When requested how a lot she has watched again that career-changing win, Woad added: “Honestly, not that much actually, but I’ve seen the 18th part quite a lot, I will admit that!
“Clearly, I did not suppose I would get a chance to play Augusta, not to mention gap a putt to win a event there. There have been so many individuals there. I truthfully cannot fairly keep in mind the second it went in, however I simply understand it was very loud!
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Lottie Woad’s native golf membership celebrated her being the primary British participant to win the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice
“I think just coming from behind and knowing that I’m not really out of it, definitely gave me a lot of belief and confidence in my game. It kind of set me up for the rest of the year really.”
One other large 12 months forward for Woad?
Woad’s win earned her invitations into 4 of the 5 majors final 12 months, with the Florida State College pupil posting a top-25 on the Chevron Championship the week after her victory earlier than ending as main newbie on the AIG Girls’s Open because of a top-10 at St Andrews.
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Lottie Woad holed out for eagle on the final gap of her third spherical on the AIG Girls’s Open, the place she registered a top-10 end
“I’m not looking to really compare [to last year] and I’m just trying to push on really,” Woad insisted. “Obviously last year was amazing, and set me up
“Obtained some nice alternatives this 12 months to once more play some iconic programs, so simply actually wanting ahead to that. I am already within the US Open and The Open this 12 months, so I am simply wanting ahead to taking part in in some extra majors as effectively.”
Lottie Woad returns as defending champion on the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice
Woad mentioned after final 12 months’s victory that she wasn’t in any rush to show skilled, with the world girls’s newbie No 1 nonetheless sticking with that mentality heading into the most important season.
“I’m just not looking to think about it [turning professional] really right now,” she admitted. “I am simply attempting to deal with this week after which I’ve received the remainder of the faculty season with FSU.
“I’m just looking to kind of focus on the present and just playing good golf really, as that will put me in good stead. I’ve been playing well at college and our team’s been doing great, so a lot of momentum going into this week.”
Take heed to the total Lottie Woad interview on the newest version of the Sky Sports activities Golf podcast, hosted each week by Jamie Weir. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Spreaker, whereas vodcast editions will be discovered on the Sky Sports activities Golf YouTube channel.
Who else is taking part in within the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice?
The 2025 championship will characteristic 49 of the top-50 gamers within the World Novice Golf Rating and three previous champions, as Woad is joined by 2021 winner Tsubasa Kajitani and 2022 winner Anna Davis.
There will likely be 33 gamers making their debut and 39 returning rivals, with England’s Persistence Rhodes, Scotland’s Hannah Darling and Eire’s Beth Coulter among the many European curiosity within the area.
Woad’s Florida State teammate Mirabel Ting is among the many favourites, after registering 5 collegiate wins in six begins this season, with world newbie No 2 Jasmine Koo additionally anticipated to impress.
Who will win the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Novice? Watch stay all through the week on Sky Sports activities. Reside protection begins on Wednesday from 6.30pm on Sky Sports activities Golf. Get Sky Sports activities or stream with no contract on NOW.
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