AUGUSTA, Ga. – Lottie Woad doesn’t like condiments. Give her a sandwich, preferably ham and cheese, with nothing on it. No sauce for her steak. She loves spaghetti but likes her pizza white. 

“I can’t convince her that the sauce in spaghetti is the same that’s on a pizza,” said Florida State coach Amy Bond, who calls her star player “particular.” 

“She knows what she wants,” said Bond, “and she’s not afraid to tell you.”

That particular approach applies to the way the No. 1 player in the world goes about her business on the golf course. Bond calls her the hardest worker she’s ever coached. She’s used the same ball marker since the age of 12. 

She’s funny, in a dry sort of way, and while she’s more comfortable speaking to the media than she was a year ago, it’s still not her favorite thing. The reserved Woad is interested in one thing: being the best. And, as Bond has said, she’s got the stomach for it.

“She’s not afraid to take chances on the golf course,” said Bond, “she’s aggressive, and she’s not afraid of failure.”

Defending champion Lottie Woad tied for lead after 36 holes

That much was on full display at last year’s Augusta National Women’s Amateur, where Woad stormed to the title with birdies on three of the last four holes. 

Now she’s in position to do it again, holding a share of the lead with Kiara Romero heading into Saturday’s final round at Augusta National. Given how short the window is to win this event, back-to-back ANWA victories should prove to be an exceptionally rare kind of feat. 

“I think I can definitely use last year,” said Load. “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.”

The Woad highlight reel includes victories at Carnoustie, Augusta National, Baltusrol and a top 10 at the AIG Women’s British Open at St. Andrews. She returns to Augusta National a better player in a number of ways, said Luke Bone, her swing coach since age 7. She’s faster and stronger, hitting it 10 yards farther off the tee with a 260-plus carry. Her wedge game, Bone gushed, is now world class. 

Then there’s the experiences she’s had, playing in four LPGA majors. While the hole-out on the 18^th at the Old Course is the highlight everyone remembers, Bone, who was on the bag, said the opening 72 in outrageous wind – starting on the back nine – was the most impressive part of British Open week. Bone said she gained four strokes on the field with that round.

Back on the bag this week is England national coach Steve Robinson, who was instrumental in helping Woad plot and prep for last year’s final round. He also delivered a pep talk on the 13th hole that wasn’t fit for print.

Down two with five holes to play, Woad points to a par save on the 14th that kickstarted a finish for the ages.

After a Friday practice round around Augusta with Robinson, Woad reported that the greens are a little firmer this year. She’ll be careful about which pins she attacks. She’s got her notes from last year and likely more confidence about what’s to come than anyone else in the field.

Woad put down a ghost hole on the 18th green Friday to try to recreate the winning putt from last year. She missed it this time and had a good laugh. In keeping things similar to last year, she once again skipped playing the Par 3 Course but did skip on the par-3 16th. 

Woad and her teammate, Mirabel Ting, pooled their tickets together so that everyone on the Florida State team could come watch the final round. With five freshmen on the roster, there’s plenty of room for inspiration. 

It’s highly probable that this will be Woad’s final crack at Augusta. Though she’s only a junior, she currently leads the LPGA’s new LEAP (LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway) program with 16 points. A victory this week is worth two points, and she needs to get to 20 to secure her LPGA card. The McCormack Medal winner, given to the top-ranked amateur following the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship in August, receives four LEAP points.

If Woad gets to 20 points before July 1, she can accept immediate membership for the current calendar year or defer until July 1 and play the rest of 2025, plus the 2026 season.

If she gets to 20 points after July 1, she can accept her card for the remainder of the current LPGA season as well as 2026. She could also defer entirely until 2026.

But first, there’s a bit of history on the line. 

“She feels comfortable in these situations,” said Bone. “I think she’s been waiting for this event, in some form.”

Only one more sleep.