AIG Women’s Open preview: Lottie Woad looks forward to the test posed by Royal Lytham & St Annes
The world’s top women golfers are competing in this week’s AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
Lottie Woad admits it would be a dream to win this week’s AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes.
The Fylde coast club hosts the tournament for the sixth time, with 2026 marking its 50th staging and the world’s best golfers competing for a record $10m (£7.5m) prize fund.
A former world amateur number one, Woad is looking to become the first British winner of the event since Georgia Hall’s victory, also at RL&SA, in 2018.
She said “I think, for any British player, this would be the dream one to win.
“I like playing links golf and I’m sure it’ll be a good test with the wind probably, so definitely one that has always been my favourite watching and I would love to win it.
“I think I’ve said it before, it’s definitely my favourite event playing at home.
“I don’t get to do too much, so whenever I get to do that it’s very special.
“I think links golf is fun. It can be tricky, too. (You) Definitely need a little bit of luck out there, too, with some of the bounces and the wind.
“I enjoy playing this type of golf. I think, because you only get to play a couple (of) times a year, it makes it a bit more special to kind of hit those different shots that you really wouldn’t get to hit in the US.”
As well as five Women’s Opens, Royal Lytham & St Annes has also staged 11 men’s Open Championships with Sherri Steinhauer and Seve Ballesteros the only multiple winners.
It has also hosted the Ryder Cup in 1961 and 1977, in addition to the Senior Open Championship and The Amateur Championship.
Woad believes that history is crucial in enticing spectators with more than 36,000 expected to attend across the five days.
She said: “Venues are very important, so I think when we go back to historic golf courses it’s great and attracts more people to come.
“My dad told me about all the shots Seve and stuff played on this course. So a lot of historic moments, and I think that just makes it more exciting for people to watch us play as well.”