​Lottie Woad is back at the Amundi Evian Championship, proving that while much has shifted over the past year, her distinctive quality of top-tier play remains a constant in France. The 22-year-old Briton made her return to this LPGA Tour major after a standout performance last year, when she shattered the amateur scoring record at Evian Resort Golf Club and briefly led during the final round. Her sharp game has carried over into 2024, and she again set the pace by posting a second-round seven-under 64 on Friday, marking the first time she has led a major championship at the end of any round. With a one-shot cushion over Aki Iwai, who followed a sparkling 63 with a two-under 69, Woad entered the weekend in prime position.
“It feels great,” Woad said. “I’ve obviously got nice memories from last year here, and I like the golf course, so I think that definitely helps.” Last year, she tied for third at Evian, finishing 13 under and breaking the previous amateur record by 10 strokes. She narrowly missed joining the playoff, which Grace Kim ultimately won. Her strong performance in the event helped secure her LPGA Tour card through the Elite Amateur Pathway program by finishing in the top 25. She cemented that status by winning the ISPS Handa Scottish Open in her professional debut last July, and she has since added two professional wins, including May’s Kroger Queen City Championship.
Woad’s current standing is helped by her form and the broad arc of her career. Now ranked World No. 4, she nearly added another victory last month but endured a heartbreaker when she missed a short putt to win the Meijer Classic in regulation, then lost on the first playoff hole to Miyu Yamashita. In the weeks surrounding that near-miss, she had two majors that did not go as well as she hoped—a T-49 at the U.S. Women’s Open and a missed cut at the KPMG Women’s PGA Championship.
When asked how much her game has evolved in the past year, Woad explained that the changes had been incremental rather than dramatic: “I think a little bit. I think I’ve just got slightly better in all areas. Nothing too different. I think I’ve just mentally been in these positions a bit more, so I think I’m a little calmer under pressure.”
Her Friday round showcased the kind of resilience and deliberate execution that characterize her rise. She surged on the back nine with four birdies in a five-hole stretch, leading the field in birdies for the day with eight and matching that success with 13 birdies across the first two rounds, a figure that ties for the lead as she posted a new career-best 36-hole total of 131.
Woad emphasized the fundamental which has become her calling card on this course: accuracy off the tee and precise approach shots. “I hit a lot of fairways and greens, which is definitely the key around here,” she noted. “If you get in trouble off the tee, it can be pretty difficult. Just been trying to hit my lines and know how important that is. Just made a few more putts today, really.”
Her current back-to-back rounds in the 60s mark the second time this season she has turned in consecutive scores in the 60s, a testament to her comfort level playing back home in Europe and her readiness to seize a major title. Woad has evolved significantly over the past year, and as she contends for her first major victory, she remains a formidable presence on the European stage and a rising force on the global circuit.
As the weekend approaches, Woad’s blend of strategic play, mental poise, and consistent ball striking positions her well to challenge for top honors at Evian. Her performance has underscored a broader narrative about her development: a talented player who has translated early promise into sustained, high-level competition, with the potential to capture a maiden major title in front of a home crowd. For fans and followers, the hope is clear—Woad’s journey continues to be defined by controlled aggression, smart decision-making, and the ability to elevate her game when it matters most, especially in a major where she first left an indelible impression last year.