
Lottie Woad Makes History: Wins 2024 McCormack Medal and Earns Major Exemptions
Lottie Woad, a 20-year-old amateur golfer from Surrey, has been awarded the prestigious Mark H McCormack Medal, marking her as the leading woman in the World Amateur Golf Ranking for 2024. This accolade not only signifies her remarkable achievement but also grants her pathways into the forthcoming US Women’s Open and the AIG Women’s Open, setting the stage for what promises to be an illustrious professional career.
In a historic accomplishment, Woad becomes the first English golfer to clinch the women’s McCormack Medal, adding her name to a list of distinguished recipients. Expressing her joy, Woad stated, “I’m really happy to have won the McCormack Medal. It rounds off a successful year for me and I’m honoured to be named alongside the previous recipients of the medal. It was always a goal of mine to reach number one and become the world’s leading woman amateur golfer. It’s taken a while to get there but it’s nice to see all the hard work pay off and achieve this milestone.”
2024 has indeed been a banner year for Woad, highlighted by several stellar performances. She made history as the first European to win the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, showcasing her tenacity with birdies on the final two holes to edge out Bailey Shoemaker. Further cementing her reputation, Woad achieved three second-place finishes at the NCAA D1 Women’s Championship, the Florida State Match Up, and the Collegiate Invitational at GCC. Additionally, her victory at the ANNIKA Intercollegiate last autumn underscores her consistency and skill on the golf course.
Woad’s upcoming participation in the Curtis Cup at Sunningdale sees her leading Great Britain and Ireland with the aim of toppling the USA for the first time since 2016. Her role in this competition will undoubtedly be pivotal, given her current form and unwavering dedication to the sport.
Esteemed figures within the golfing community have praised Woad’s exceptional achievements. Professor Steve Otto, Chief Technology Officer at The R&A, lauded Woad’s consistent high-level performance, particularly her triumph at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur. “Lottie has enjoyed a very successful year in which she has consistently performed at a high level and her results, including winning the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, makes her a thoroughly deserving recipient of the women’s McCormack Medal. We would like to congratulate Lottie on this outstanding achievement and look forward to seeing her golf career go from strength to strength in the years ahead,” Otto remarked.
John Bodenhamer, USGA Chief Championships Officer, emphasized the significance of the McCormack Medal and the future it often heralds for its recipients. “The list of past McCormack Medal winners reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of today’s top professional talent, underscoring the immense dedication and passion required to achieve the world’s number one amateur ranking. Lottie’s achievement is a powerful testament to her relentless effort and determination. On behalf of everyone at the USGA, we extend our heartfelt congratulations for this remarkable honour.”
The recognition and accolades bestowed upon Woad suggest a bright professional future ahead. Both The R&A and the USGA have expressed confidence in her continued success and the potential for her golf career to flourish further.
As the golf world watches closely, Lottie Woad stands at the precipice of greatness, her hard-earned accomplishments serving as a foundation for what could be a transformative career in professional golf. This milestone not only honours her past successes but also paves the way for promising future ventures in the sport.