Lottie Woad leads by two at ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open
Woad is no stranger to success on the amateur front, but her recent efforts have been greeted by the kind of rousing fanfare that used to be the reserve of 20th Century Fox.
The Surrey youngster's six-shot romp to victory in the Women's Irish Open at the start of July and a flirtation with major glory in the Amundi Evian Championship not long after could've been rewarded with prize money totalling around £448,000 had she been a pro.
Now that she has made the jump into the paid ranks, Woad is hunting down a champion's cheque of around £223,000 here in Ayrshire. Her mini-statement from the cash machine could make for pleasant reading tonight.
It's not all about the money, of course. Well, unless you're a member of the LIV Golf league. But a few bob certainly won't go amiss as Woad continues her wonderful form.
Perched on top of a leaderboard, whether it be in an amateur or professional event, is certainly not uncharted territory for Woad and the former Augusta National Women's Amateur champion is relishing the chance to knock off another statement success.
'I don't think you can ever expect to be leading (in your first pro start) but I knew my game was good and I've been playing well the last month or so,' said Woad, who has already secured playing status on both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour thanks to her jolly July.
'I feel like there's been a lot of attention, but I feel freer now that I've got my (tour) card.
'I've had some experience sleeping on leads, as well, whether that be in Ireland or at the Augusta National Women's Amateur. I know what to expect. There will be some nerves but I'm looking forward to the opportunity.
'I'm just going to try to shoot as low as possible (in the final round) and keep giving myself chances. If someone shoots the lights out, fair enough.'
Leading after 36-holes, Woad fortified her position at the top with a spurt of four birdies in six holes from the fifth.
'I think I've been pretty solid tee-to-green,' she added. 'I didn't hole as many putts, but I can't complain too much.'
In this game, you always want more, eh? Kim, a major champion at the Women's PGA Championship in 2020, eagled her 14th en route to a 66 as she stayed in the hunt for a first victory since that successful season.
'I've been waiting a long time,' said Kim as she strives to bridge a five year title gap.
Madsen, the first Danish golfer to win on the LPGA Tour, also pulled out an eagle during a sprightly 67 which was polished off with birdies at 14, 15 and 16 as she made a late burst for the line.
'I would like to be 17-under like Lottie is, but that was fun,' said Madsen, who was sharing the lead on the final hole of the AIG Women's Open at Carnoustie back in 2022 before stumbling to a closing double-bogey.
Nelly Korda, the world No 1 who has been making her first appearance in the Women's Scottish Open, is five shots off the pace on 12-under after a 70. 'I still have tomorrow,' she said of a deficit that can easily be made up in this game of wildly fluctuating fortunes.
Korda had plenty of amateur pedigree – she made the cut in the US Women's Open at just 14 – but Woad's feats are on a different scale.
'My professional debut was not as much in the limelight as hers,' said Korda, who turned pro in 2016. 'For her to be leading the event is pretty special.'
It could be a very special Sunday for Woad.
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Glasgow Times
2 days ago
- Glasgow Times
Lottie Woad loses more ground in Women's Open as Miyu Yamashita sets pace
Woad, tournament favourite in just her second event as a professional after winning the Scottish Open last week, was on the charge after her sixth birdie of the day at the 14th before suffering a big setback at the par-four 16th. Japan's Yamashita followed her first-round 68 with a bogey-free 65 to open up a three-shot lead over compatriot and joint overnight leader Rio Takeda, who carded a 69 on another blustery day at Royal Porthcawl. Squeaky clean 🧽 Miyu Yamashita is the first player to card a bogey-free round here at the 2025 @AIGWomensOpen. — LPGA (@LPGA) August 1, 2025 Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini, Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn, American Lindy Duncan and Germany's Laura Fuenfstueck are all tied for third, four shots further back on four under. Women's Open winner in 2021, Sweden's Madelene Sagstrom, plus South Korean pair Sei Young Kim and A Lim Kim are tied in seventh, a shot further back on three under. Woad, Wales' Darcey Harry and American world number one Nelly Korda are among another group of eight, are tied in 11th on two under. Surrey's Woad, who also won the Irish Open and finished tied for third at The Evian Championship in her final weeks as an amateur, began the day five shots behind the leaders after a first-round level-par 72. Lottie Woad recovered from her triple bogey to par the final two holes (Nigel French/PA) The 21-year-old parred the first five holes on Friday before birdies at the sixth and eighth took her to the turn on two under. Four more birdies and a bogey in the next five holes lifted her up to fifth on the leaderboard on five under, but after another par at the 15th, a penalty drop at the 16th, where she two-putted after chipping on to the green, saw her drop three shots. Woad told Sky Sports: 'It's probably playing the toughest hole of the day. I hit a good drive but pushed the three-wood a bit and it went in the one thick bit over there. 'I got a bit unlucky with that but then took my medicine afterwards and ended up making a seven. Lottie Woad is on the charge. 🔥 6 birdies. 🚀 47 spots climbed. 📈 — AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 1, 2025 'I'm happy with how I recovered after it. I was a bit angry after that but I just had to move on quickly.' Woad parred the final two holes – she missed a birdie putt on the 18th – to finish the second round alongside 22-year-old Harry as the highest-placed home nations players. Harry followed up her opening-round 70 with a 72, which could have been better but for double bogeys at the 10th and 15th. Mimi Rhodes, the leading Brit heading into the day after an opening-round 69, carded a 74 to sit in a big group tied in 19th place on one under, while Charley Hull is a shot further back, tied in 29th place, after she birdied the last for a 71. New Zealand's defending champion Lydia Ko slipped out of contention after posting a second successive 73 to sit two over, while American Lillia Vu, the 2023 Open champion, missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 77 left her seven over.
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- South Wales Argus
Lottie Woad loses more ground in Women's Open as Miyu Yamashita sets pace
Woad, tournament favourite in just her second event as a professional after winning the Scottish Open last week, was on the charge after her sixth birdie of the day at the 14th before suffering a big setback at the par-four 16th. Japan's Yamashita followed her first-round 68 with a bogey-free 65 to open up a three-shot lead over compatriot and joint overnight leader Rio Takeda, who carded a 69 on another blustery day at Royal Porthcawl. Squeaky clean 🧽 Miyu Yamashita is the first player to card a bogey-free round here at the 2025 @AIGWomensOpen. — LPGA (@LPGA) August 1, 2025 Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini, Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn and American Lindy Duncan are all tied for third, four shots further back on four under. Another big group, including 2021 Women's Open winner Madelene Sagstrom and Germany's Laura Fuenfstueck – still out on the course having played 12 holes – are tied on three under. Woad, Wales' Darcey Harry and American world number one Nelly Korda are among another group of eight, are tied in 11th on two under. Surrey's Woad, who also won the Irish Open and finished tied for third at The Evian Championship in her final weeks as an amateur, began the day five shots behind the leaders after a first-round level-par 72. Lottie Woad recovered from her triple bogey to par the final two holes (Nigel French/PA) The 21-year-old parred the first five holes on Friday before birdies at the sixth and eighth took her to the turn on two under. Four more birdies and a bogey in the next five holes lifted her up to fifth on the leaderboard on five under, but after another par at the 15th, a penalty drop at the 16th, where she two-putted after chipping on to the green, saw her drop three shots. Woad told Sky Sports: 'It's probably playing the toughest hole of the day. I hit a good drive but pushed the three-wood a bit and it went in the one thick bit over there. 'I got a bit unlucky with that but then took my medicine afterwards and ended up making a seven. Lottie Woad is on the charge. 🔥 6 birdies. 🚀 47 spots climbed. 📈 — AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 1, 2025 'I'm happy with how I recovered after it. I was a bit angry after that but I just had to move on quickly.' Woad parred the final two holes – she missed a birdie putt on the 18th – to finish the second round alongside 22-year-old Harry as the highest-placed home nations players. Harry followed up her opening-round 70 with a 72, which could have been better but for double bogeys at the 10th and 15th. Mimi Rhodes, the leading Brit heading into the day after an opening-round 69, carded a 74 to sit in a big group tied in 19th place on one under, while Charley Hull is a shot further back, tied in 29th place, after she birdied the last for a 71. New Zealand's defending champion Lydia Ko slipped out of contention after posting a second successive 73 to sit two over, while American Lillia Vu, the 2023 Open champion, missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 77 left her seven over.
North Wales Chronicle
2 days ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Lottie Woad loses more ground in Women's Open as Miyu Yamashita sets pace
Woad, tournament favourite in just her second event as a professional after winning the Scottish Open last week, was on the charge after her sixth birdie of the day at the 14th before suffering a big setback at the par-four 16th. Japan's Yamashita followed her first-round 68 with a bogey-free 65 to open up a three-shot lead over compatriot and joint overnight leader Rio Takeda, who carded a 69 on another blustery day at Royal Porthcawl. Squeaky clean 🧽 Miyu Yamashita is the first player to card a bogey-free round here at the 2025 @AIGWomensOpen. — LPGA (@LPGA) August 1, 2025 Switzerland's Chiara Tamburlini, Thailand's Pajaree Anannarukarn and American Lindy Duncan are all tied for third, four shots further back on four under. Another big group, including 2021 Women's Open winner Madelene Sagstrom and Germany's Laura Fuenfstueck – still out on the course having played 12 holes – are tied on three under. Woad, Wales' Darcey Harry and American world number one Nelly Korda are among another group of eight, are tied in 11th on two under. Surrey's Woad, who also won the Irish Open and finished tied for third at The Evian Championship in her final weeks as an amateur, began the day five shots behind the leaders after a first-round level-par 72. The 21-year-old parred the first five holes on Friday before birdies at the sixth and eighth took her to the turn on two under. Four more birdies and a bogey in the next five holes lifted her up to fifth on the leaderboard on five under, but after another par at the 15th, a penalty drop at the 16th, where she two-putted after chipping on to the green, saw her drop three shots. Woad told Sky Sports: 'It's probably playing the toughest hole of the day. I hit a good drive but pushed the three-wood a bit and it went in the one thick bit over there. 'I got a bit unlucky with that but then took my medicine afterwards and ended up making a seven. Lottie Woad is on the charge. 🔥 6 birdies. 🚀 47 spots climbed. 📈 — AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) August 1, 2025 'I'm happy with how I recovered after it. I was a bit angry after that but I just had to move on quickly.' Woad parred the final two holes – she missed a birdie putt on the 18th – to finish the second round alongside 22-year-old Harry as the highest-placed home nations players. Harry followed up her opening-round 70 with a 72, which could have been better but for double bogeys at the 10th and 15th. Mimi Rhodes, the leading Brit heading into the day after an opening-round 69, carded a 74 to sit in a big group tied in 19th place on one under, while Charley Hull is a shot further back, tied in 29th place, after she birdied the last for a 71. New Zealand's defending champion Lydia Ko slipped out of contention after posting a second successive 73 to sit two over, while American Lillia Vu, the 2023 Open champion, missed the cut after rounds of 74 and 77 left her seven over.
