'What Is Lottie's Ceiling? Who Knows? Potentially World No.1, Potentially Major Champion, Solheim Cup Too'
Ahead of the AIG Women's Open, England Golf performance director Nigel Edwards predicts what could be in store for former student Lottie Woad
Lottie Woad has the potential to enjoy a hall-of-fame career in golf, according to England Golf performance director Nigel Edwards.
Aged 22, Woad has already claimed three professional titles as well as landing the Augusta National Women's Amateur and Girls Amateur Championship.
Currently ranked as World No.5 despite having only turned pro in July 2025, it's impossible to call the English star one for the future anymore. She's one of the best right now.
But how far can she go? A first Major still eludes her, yet there have been four top-10s in 12 starts prior to the AIG Women's Open. For many, it's only a matter of time.
Edwards is one of those people who thinks Woad will claim a Major one day. But not just one, the England Golf performance director believes she will land multiple.
Asked what Woad's ceiling is off the back of an incredibly successful start to life as a pro, Edwards said: "What is Lottie's ceiling? Who knows? Potentially World No.1, potentially Major champion.
"I think she'll play the Solheim Cup. I think she'll play multiple Solheim Cups. And I hope she goes on and wins not just one Major, but multiple Majors as well."
What gives him so much confidence in Woad? It isn't just evidence collected over the past 12 months or so.
Edwards has been a part of Woad's golfing journey over the past six or seven years and knows exactly the type of player she really is - especially at the sharp end of tournaments.
He continued: "I think when she gets in the moment and has the opportunity to win, she doesn't back off. She's not frightened of it. And that's a great skill to have.
"And that's why she's won those tournaments I mentioned earlier. Because she's got in there and she's delivered.
"You look at the way she finished the Augusta National Women's Amateur with all those birdies in the last few holes.
"The way she challenged for a Major last year at the Evian Championship. She's not frightened of it and I think she definitely has the skill to win Majors."
Lottie Woad
In Woad's pre-AIG Women's Open press conference earlier this week, the Florida State University alumna stated her sincere desire to win the year's final Major and highlighted its importance to her as a British golfer.
Woad also went on to talk about the high standing she holds England Golf in and how it helped set her up for the opportunity to potentially clinch a Major.
Speaking last month, Edwards outlined what kind of a student Woad was during her time in the set-up and gave an insight into why she's enjoyed the kind of ascent many golf fans are now witnessing.
Lottie Woad made her AIG Women's Open debut in 2024 and won low amateur honors
Edwards said: "She probably came into the national program aged 15 or 16, and most people when they go into a national program they're quite reserved or quite shy because it's a new environment.
"I think what Lottie brought to the table was an inquisitive mind. If you gave her something to work on, she would always ask you why and how am I going to do it and why am I spending all this time doing this?
"She wanted to know the reasons why she would be doing something and what would the outcome be.
"And you knew she would go away, try it, and she'd come back and say, "That didn't work. What else can we try?" Or, "It did work, right? How do we push on?" So, I think she was great in that regard.
Lottie Woad smiles during round two of the 2025 Augusta National Women's Amateur
"What really stood out was the fact that she wasn't frightened to try something new to try and get better.
"But also she wasn't frightened to come back and say that didn't work. Therefore, for a coach she would have been very challenging, but in the right way.
"She really bought into the England golf program, and to this day she still uses a lot of the coaches that were involved in the program as well as her home coach.
"Hence you're seeing somebody who is doing great on the LPGA Tour, who has won as an amateur in the pro game and then, first week as a pro, wins on the LPGA Tour in Scotland."
LOTTIE WOAD NOTABLE WINS
- 2021 Welsh Women's Open Stroke Play Championship
- 2022 Girls Amateur Championship
- 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur
- 2025 KPMG Women's Irish Open (won as an amateur)
- 2025 ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open
- 2026 Kroger Queen City Championship
