Lottie Woad, Britain's top female golfer, arrives at Riviera Country Club ready for the Women's US Open after winning the Kroger Queen City event in Cincinnati. The 22‑year‑old lifted her world ranking to fifth, the highest since turning pro last summer. Her first U.S. win marks a major step in a rapid rise.

Instead of resting on the victory, Woad flew coach Luke Bone from Farnham, Surrey, to Florida for focused preparation. The pair skipped the Shoprite LPGA event in New Jersey, opting for range work in Tallahassee. Woad said the reset sharpened her focus ahead of the hectic major week for the upcoming competition and tour schedule.

Woad’s Cincinnati win followed a shaky stint on the greens earlier in the month, prompting a slight putter grip change that steadied her short game. She beat South Korea’s Haeran Ryu by two shots, with Miyu Yamashita and Ruoning Yin trailing. The victory cemented her status as Britain’s leading hope for a U.S. Open title.

This season, Woad has already posted top‑ten finishes in all three majors, including a third place at Evian and a joint‑eighth at Royal Porthcawl. With the U.S. Open’s challenging layout, she aims to keep the Harton S Semple Trophy in European hands and become the first Englishwoman to win since 1997. She remains confident today.