Amateur Sensation Lottie Woad Ready for First Paycheck, Reveals Stage for Pro Debut
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
Amateur superstar Lottie Woad has just missed out on more than half a million dollars, after winning the KPMG Irish Women's Open and finishing third in the Amundi Evian Championship. It's a complication that's already history for her.
The World No. 1 amateur received cards from both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour and has decided to accept them, thus launching her professional career.
Woad personally announced the news through her Instagram profile.
"I am very excited to announce that I have decided to turn professional and will be accepting membership of the LPGA Tour," she posted. "I'm delighted to have secured a @lpga_tour card through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP). It has provided me with an amazing opportunity, and I will have full playing rights for the remainder of the year and the whole of 2026.
"I'm also really happy to accept membership of the @letgolf for 2026, following my recent win @kpmgwomensopen."
Woad revealed that she will make her professional debut next week at the Women's Scottish Open, which will take place at the iconic Dundonald Links.
Her outstanding result at the Amundi Evian Championship gave Woad the three points she needed to earn her card through LEAP, a program designed by the LPGA Tour to pave the way for the best amateur talent to a professional career.
Just a week earlier, Lottie Woad won the KPMG Irish Women's Open in equally spectacular fashion. She beat pro star Madelene Sagström by six strokes in a field packed with top players, such as Charley Hull and Chiara Tamburlini.
Had she competed as a professional in both events, Woad would have received $78,381 for her victory at Carton House and $485,437 for her third-place finish at Évian-Les-Bains, for a two-week paycheck of $563,818.
Lottie Woad Thanks the Help and Support that Brought her Here
In her Instagram post, Lottie Woad included a heartfelt message of gratitude to all the people and institutions that have supported her amateur golf career:
"I have only reached this point in my career through the help and support that I've received from so many people and organisations over many years. I would like to express my thanks and appreciation."
Lottie Woad of England poses for a photograph with a LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway flag after the final round of The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 13, 2025 in...
Lottie Woad of England poses for a photograph with a LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway flag after the final round of The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 13, 2025 in Evian-les-Bains, France. MoreWoad had a distinguished amateur career, winning 11 tournaments, including the Irish Women's Open on the Ladies European Tour. Also notable were her title at last year's Augusta National Women's Amateur and her second-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division I Individual Championship.
She has led the world amateur rankings since June 2024.
Her result at the Amundi Evian Championship is her career-best in major championships, but she had already finished in the top 10 at the AIG Women's Open, where she won the Low Amateur award.
She was also the top amateur at this year's US Women's Open, where she finished tied for 31st.
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