If you’ve been keeping an eye on the amateur women’s golf, you already know the name Lottie Woad. The 20-year-old English sensation made headlines in 2024 as the first British winner of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, birdieing the final three holes at the legendary course like it was just another casual round. That win, paired with her poised debut at the Chevron Championship, where she tied for 23rd alongside seasoned names like Charley Hull and Georgia Hall, firmly stamped her as the one to watch in the women’s game. And she’s just getting started.

Currently ranked No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking, Lottie’s journey to the top has been anything but accidental. Beyond the grind and talent, it’s also a family affair—especially when it comes to the quiet but steady support from her parents, Nick and Rachel Woad, who have played an enormous behind-the-scenes role in shaping their daughter’s meteoric rise.

Let me take you back to the 2020 lockdown season. While most of us were baking banana bread or binge-watching “The Last Dance,” the Woad family made a power move: they installed a custom Huxley Golf putting green in their garden near Farnham, Surrey. Not a makeshift mat or DIY net setup—this was a legit 15 ft by 20 ft green with three pin positions and a deep fringe surround.

“We took the decision to install a home green during the Covid lockdown, and it was clearly the right thing to do,” said her father, Nick Woad, in a 2024 interview. “Lottie’s win goes to show just how realistic the Huxley Golf surface is that it helped prepare her for the major competitions that she’s now playing in.”

And it’s not just about facilities—it’s about belief. Lottie’s longtime coach, Luke Bone, who began training her when she was just seven at Farnham Golf Club’s junior academy, recalls that she wasn’t exactly a prodigy. “She wouldn’t be in the top 10, maybe not even in the top 20 in terms of golf swing,” he admitted. But what set her apart? “She certainly has a talent for hard work, determination, focus… She had a very competitive nature, was very disciplined.” He credits her transformation to an almost lightbulb moment after shooting level par at age 12—“From that day she was like, ‘this is what I’m going to do.’”

And her parents were right there with her, providing not just support, but structure. Today, as Lottie splits her time between Farnham and Florida State University, she still trains under Bone’s guidance—even if it’s through online sessions from thousands of miles away.

With a resume that already includes the Girls Amateur Championship, gold and silver medals at the European Ladies Team Championship, and helping Team Europe clinch their first-ever Patsy Hankins Trophy, it’s safe to say Lottie Woad is built for greatness.

But behind every great golfer is a family that believed—and invested—in her vision long before the world saw it coming. Nick Woad said it best: “We’re very proud! It was an amazing week! All that work on her Huxley Golf green definitely paid off on those last five holes!”

And something tells me it will continue for the next 500 as well.

Woad tied at the top, ready to defend the ANWA crown

Fast forward to April 2025, and Lottie Woad is right where she left off—at the top of the Augusta National Women’s Amateur leaderboard. After two rounds at the notoriously tricky Champions Retreat, she sits tied for the lead at nine under par. Her opening round? A dazzling 65. Her second? A calm and calculated 70, showcasing patience and control.

Beside her is American standout Kiara Romero, who fired rounds of 67 and 68 to match Woad at nine under.

“I think the pins were definitely a lot harder, so I had to adjust a little bit on that,” Woad said after her round. “Some holes you kind of had to play away from a little bit, whereas yesterday, I feel like I could really attack every pin. So, I had to be a bit more patient today.”

Saturday’s final round at Augusta National promises to be electric. And for Woad, the stakes are personal. “I think I can definitely use last year, you know,” she said, referring to her comeback in the 2024 final. “I had the lead and then lost it. Tomorrow, if that happens again, then I’d know that I’ve come back from there before. So, I guess it’s positive memories.”

It’s a champion’s mentality—shaped by relentless work, patient parents, and yes, a backyard green that turned into a proving ground. One year later, she’s not just defending a title. She’s defending a legacy in the making.