Lottie Woad made a triple bogey in the AIG Women’s British Open, but she was able to overcome that gaffe to still finish at two-under 70 on Friday.
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The English phenom, who is making her first start as a professional in a major, tripled the par-4 16th hole, but her six birdies ensured she’s still on the fringe of contention at Royal Porthcawl in Wales at two under through 36 holes. The second-round clubhouse leader as play continued was Japan’s Miyu Yamashita at 11 under after her impressive round of 65.
On the 16th, Woad hit her tee shot in the fairway, but misfired on her fairway metal approach into thick grass and a search for her ball ensued, with playing partner Lydia Ko eventually finding it. “Got a pretty unlucky lie. Wasn’t too thick around there apart from where I was. So couldn’t really do much with that,” Woad said.
Woad attempted her third shot but barely moved the ball. Believing that her ball might now be embedded, Woad called over a rules official. He determined it was not embedded. Then she called for a second opinion. The answer was the same. “It wasn’t embedded is the opinion,” Woad said.
“Much to her disappointment?” Woad was asked.
“Yes,” she said.
No doubt fearful of whiffing again, Woad took an unplayable lie and dropped on a hardpan cart path. She put her fifth shot on the green and two-putted for the triple.
Woad won her first professional start at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open on Sunday, becoming just the third player in LPGA to accomplish that feat. Rose Zhang was the last player to win her first start as a pro in the 2023.
Woad seems unflappable, and she showed it by not letting the triple bogey trickle into the following two holes, both of which she parred.
“I knew 18 was a good birdie chance,” Woad said. “It was kind of just getting through 17, which is a tricky hole. I just had to forget about it as quickly as possible.”
Woad three-putted hole No. 11 for her other bogey, but her six birdies saved the day, including four on the back nine. The birdies and bogeys made for a solid—albeit adventurous—round.
“Yeah, I’d certainly take it now, but not when I was standing on the 16th tee,” Woad said. “Just got to try to play well over the weekend. It’s pretty packed, so I can move up a bit.”
Woad entered the tournament as the oddsmakers favorite after a terrific stretch in which, as still an amateur, she won the Women’s Irish Open and tied for third in the Evian Championship. The latter result earned Woad her LPGA Tour card and she won the Women’s Scottish Open last week in her pro debut.
This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
