Lottie Woad receives two-shot penalty during third round of U.S. Women's Open

Two-time LPGA winner Lottie Woad was assessed a two-stroke penalty during the third round of the 81st U.S. Women's Open.

Woad was deemed to have improved her stance in a green-side bunker on the ninth hole at Riviera Country Club on Saturday, resulting in a two-stroke penalty under Rule 8.1a.

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After finding the fairway off the tee, the Englishwoman's second shot buried in the face of the bunker on the ninth, and she lost her balance trying to get it out, leaving her ball in the sand. Woad got up and down from there and was informed two holes later that she'd been penalized, giving her a triple-bogey 7 on the hole.

Woad, currently ranked No. 6 in the world, made the cut on the number and is part of the USGA's featured groups coverage Saturday morning.

Beth Ann Nichols is a senior writer for Golfweek covering the LPGA.

This article originally appeared on Golfweek: US Women's Open: Lottie Woad receives two-shot penalty in third round