lottie Woad Suffers Triple Bogey at AIG Women’s Open After Controversial Ruling
Royal Porthcawl, Wales – Amateur golfer Lottie Woad experienced a dramatic shift in fortunes during the second round of the AIG Women’s Open, dropping from contention after a triple-bogey on the 16th hole, a result she attributed in part to a disputed ruling on an embedded ball.
Woad, who had been on a remarkable run of form, including a tie for fourth place at five under par after a string of birdies, found trouble on the 16th hole. Her 3-wood approach shot into a strong wind veered into a patch of brambles. While her playing partner, Lydia Ko, discovered the ball, woad believed it was embedded in its own pitch mark, a condition that would typically allow for a free drop under Rule 16.3. Though, two separate referees ruled the ball was not embedded, forcing Woad to play it as it lay.
The difficult lie rendered the ball unplayable, leading to a penalty drop and ultimately a triple-bogey 7. this costly hole dropped Woad back to two under par for the tournament, nine shots behind leader Miyu Yamashita, who finished the round at 11 under. Woad concluded her round with two pars, placing her in a nine-way tie for 10th.
Despite the setback, Woad expressed a positive outlook on her performance, stating, “There was a lot more good in it than bad. Played really well for 17 holes, just that one hole cost me a bit.” She emphasized her ability to move past the incident, focusing on the opportunity for birdie on the 18th hole and the importance of forgetting the difficult 16th.
Woad’s recent success has been notable.As an amateur, she won the Irish Open and tied for third at the Evian Championship before turning professional and winning the Scottish Open.This string of victories had positioned her as the betting favorite at Royal Porthcawl for the AIG Women’s Open.
Looking ahead, Woad acknowledged the challenge of securing her first major title in her professional major debut but affirmed the value of the experience. “Playing four rounds is never a bad thing,” she commented, underscoring the overall success of her week regardless of the final outcome.
Crucial Details Not in Original Article:
- Specific Hole: The incident occurred on the 16th hole.
- Score Impact: The triple-bogey dropped Woad from five under to two under par.
- Leader: Miyu Yamashita held the solo lead at 11 under par at the end of the second round.
- Woad’s Position: She was in a nine-way tie for 10th place after 36 holes.
- Rule Cited: Woad believed Rule 16.3 (embedded ball) applied.
- Playing Partner: Lydia Ko was playing with Woad.
- Course: the tournament is being held at Royal Porthcawl.
Angles to Focus On:
- The impact of officiating decisions on a player’s performance in high-stakes tournaments.
- Woad’s resilience and positive mindset in the face of adversity.
- The contrast between Woad’s recent stellar form and the challenging second round.
- The meaning of this major championship for Woad’s professional career.
