At U.S. Women's Open, the world's best amateur is moving closer to coveted LPGA card

USA Today

2 days ago

At U.S. Women's Open, the world's best amateur is moving closer to coveted LPGA card
ERIN, Wisconsin – Lottie Woad's whirlwind summer will likely end with an LPGA card – perhaps sooner rather than later. Here at the 80th U.S. Women's Open, the world's top-ranked amateur says the tour's new LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program remains in the back of her mind.
"I try to push it away," said Woad, "but it's obviously there."
Midway through the festivities at Erin Hills, the decorated Englishwoman is 2 under for the championship after rounds of 72-70, six back of leader Mao Saigo and securely inside the top 20.
An amateur player must earn 20 points in the LEAP program to earn her LPGA card, and the Florida State star currently has 16. She can earn two points this week with a top 25 finish or only one point for a cut made.
After the USWO, Woad heads to the Arnold Palmer Cup June 5-7 at Congaree Golf Club in South Carolina. She'll earn a point there for representing the International team.
Top-ranked amateurs are often invited to the Amundi Evian Championship and, if that's the case for Woad, a made cut there would give the Englishwoman her LPGA card for the rest of the 2025 season as well as 2026, should she manage to finish in the top 25 this week. She's already in the field for the AIG Women's British Open based off her top-10 finish last year at St. Andrews. She can play in that event as an amateur or a pro.
Worst case, she'll lock it up after the conclusion of the U.S. Women's Amateur in August based off her standing in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. The player who wins the Mark H. McCormack Medal for finishing No. 1 earns three points. Those who finish second or third earn two points.
But first, there's work left to do at Erin Hills, where the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur champion is the low amateur in the field, tied for 20th with 16-year-old Rayee Feng.