AIG WOMEN'S OPEN

August 25, 2024

Lottie Woad

Mixed Zone

Q. Thoughts on your performance?

LOTTIE WOAD: It was good. I knew what I had to do the last few holes. Definitely played quite tough. So it was a little bit of a grind, but you know, got it done in the end.

Q. A good finish -- but to not get the job done, is that a little bit disappointing?

LOTTIE WOAD: I mean a little bit of both. A bit frustrating on the greens today. I had a lot of good looks for birdie early on that lipped-out and those gone in, I'd be right back up there.

Was definitely a bit frustrated but you can't get too hard on yourself when the conditions are like they are.

Q. (Will this be a big confidence boost for you?)

LOTTIE WOAD: Yeah, yes, definitely. It's been really great for me confidence-wise. Getting to play in all these events, as well, and playing well in a few of them has definitely given me a lot of confidence going into my next year of college.

Q. Could you have imagined that rise, what happened today, Augusta, playing the Old Course and be right up there, been amazing, hasn't it?

LOTTIE WOAD: Yeah, it's definitely been amazing. Probably didn't imagine it. It's all the best players were playing at Augusta; it's hard to win. But I knew kind of -- I had confidence in my game but obviously didn't think I was definitely going to win.

After that happened, just kind of been trying to enjoy all these events.

Q. How have you found the majors? Are you enjoying it? Are you learning a lot from the other pros, as well?

LOTTIE WOAD: Yeah I definitely learned a lot. The Chevron was the first one and played well at that. Then the U.S. Open and Evian definitely brought me back down to earth. It's so tight up there. You're two shots from kind of being 80th or 40th, which is the difference from making the cut.

So definitely learnt about kind of the small margins there.

Q. Going to Sunningdale next week. How much are you looking forward to playing in your first Curtis Cup?

LOTTIE WOAD: Yeah, I'm really looking forward to it. Curtis Cup is one of the big goals that I think any amateur wants to play in. Being near where I live, it's going to be a lot of supporters. It's one of my favourite golf courses in the world. I just love heathland courses. It's going to be really fun.

Q. This doesn't change your planning; is that right?

LOTTIE WOAD: Yeah, probably. I don't think this will change anything. I've still got a lot more things I want to work on. I'm in The Open and U.S. Open next year. So I get to play those as an amateur and just learn more.

Q. Next year this goes to Wales where you won as an amateur. You must be looking forward to it already?

LOTTIE WOAD: Yeah, definitely. I haven't played that course before, but I'm sure it will be wet and windy as well. I'm kind of used to that now.

Q. Did your head coach ever come?

LOTTIE WOAD: Yeah, she stayed. The deal was top 10 going into the weekend, and I was tied 11th but she left me off. So she stayed.

Q. Where was this week on your calendar? How excited were you for this event?

LOTTIE WOAD: Yeah, I was really excited. Being from England, The Open is the best one to play in. Being at St Andrews, it can't really be any better.

I was just looking forward to it all year and just made sure my summer was kind of tailored a bit toward that when I got back and getting more practise on links. When you're over in America from all the year, you don't play links. So you get back into it, and like where I live down south, it's not linksy either. So had to go and play some other events.

Q. Where is the quality of your game at last year to this year --

LOTTIE WOAD: I think the different courses I've played, they are all different. Augusta is, you know, Augusta, quick greens and all that, and this is the complete opposite.

So you have got to definitely have all the shots, and make sure you're practising the right things leading up to each event, be more specific which I felt like I was this year, where I don't know if I was that specific leading up to events in the past.

Q. You looked really comfortable out there even in the conditions and just going for it. Where does that come from? Have you been building up to that or have you always been like that?

LOTTIE WOAD: I think a little bit of both. I've always been a fairly aggressive player. I try to tailor it back a tiny bit just to be a little bit smarter. I was just trying to focus on the people ahead of me, not behind.

Obviously I knew I kind of had a four- or five-shot lead in the amateur stuff but I was more focused to see if I could get closer to the lead and stuff like that. That helped me focus on it more rather than being worried because if you're worried on this course, a lot of shots can get away from you.

Yeah, I was, you know, nearly within the top 10. So I thought, you know, why not. There's nothing to lose, really, as an amateur. So just try to move up.

Q. Curtis Cup, with Catriona as captain, what do you think she will bring to the table, having a chance to win?

LOTTIE WOAD: Yeah, I think she can obviously bring a lot. You know, winning Solheim Cup captain, as a Curtis Cup captain is really good for us.

I think both teams are very new. I don't think many people played Curtis Cup before. So having her experience at these sort of events is going to really help us. I think she will just have a good idea of who to put together for pairings and stuff like that.