Lottie Woad joining pro ranks in women's golf after nearly winning Evian
Lottie Woad, of England, plays on the 4th hole during the last round of the Evian Championship women's golf tournament, in Evian, eastern France, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Lottie Woad, of England, plays on the 4th hole during the last round of the Evian Championship women's golf tournament, in Evian, eastern France, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
FILE - Lottie Woad, of England, hits from the third tee during the first round of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament at Erin Hills, May 29, 2025, in Erin, Wis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Lottie Woad, of England, plays on the 4th hole during the last round of the Evian Championship women's golf tournament, in Evian, eastern France, Sunday, July 13, 2025. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
LONDON (AP) — Top-ranked amateur Lottie Woad announced Tuesday she will turn professional, two days after nearly winning a major title.
The 21-year-old Englishwoman followed her victory by six shots at the Women's Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour on July 6 by finishing in third place — just one stroke off the pace — at the Evian Championship on Sunday.
Advertisement
She didn't win any prize money at either tournament because she was amateur.
However, her good finish at the Evian secured enough points to seal LPGA Tour membership through its Elite Amateur Pathway. It means she is ditching her college career at Florida State University with one year left.
'I am very excited to announce that I have decided to turn professional,' she wrote on social media. " I'm delighted to have secured a(n) LPGA card through the LEAP.
'I'm also happy to accept membership of the Ladies European Tour for 2026. Thank you to everyone who has helped me get to this position.'
Advertisement
Woad is set to make her first start as a pro at the Women's Scottish Open next week.
The British Women's Open, the final major of the year, is at Royal Porthcawl starting July 30.
___
AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NBC Sports
26 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
British Open at Portrush starts with an Irish cheer. That's how the last one ended
Irishman and two-time Claret Jug winner Padraig Harrington tees off the Round 1 of The 153rd Open from Royal Portrush's Dunluce Links in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The British Open at Royal Portrush started Thursday the way the last one ended: A packed grandstand and throaty cheers for an Irish golfer. Padraig Harrington, a two-time Open champion, hit the opening shot of the 153rd edition of golf's oldest championship with a piercing iron into the wind off the North Atlantic, between pot bunkers on both sides and into the fairway. The Open returns to Royal Portrush after only six years. The final stroke in 2019 was a tap-in par for Shane Lowry of Ireland for his first major title. Harrington was the last to arrive on the first tee, the silver claret jug positioned to the left to remind players what's at stake this year. He raised his cap, appreciating the gesture of the R&A to offer him the opening shot. And then he produced an even louder cheer when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt. It's only a start to the longest day in golf — the first shot was 6:35 a.m. local time. The final group won't finished until around 9:30 p.m. Rory McIlroy is the star attraction in his native Northern Ireland. His major championship season began with him wearing the Masters green jacket with hopes of ending it cradling the claret jug. He was among the late starters on Thursday. The morning wave featured Scottie Scheffler, the PGA champion and world's No. 1 player for the last two years, and defending Open champion Xander Schauffele, who is trying to become the first player since Harrington (2007-08) to win the Open in consecutive years. This is only the third time Royal Portrush has hosted the Open, the first one coming in 1951 for a club that dates to 1888. The forecast for the week is mixed, a term in these parts that roughly translates to expect just about everything. Harrington led off under streaks of sunshine before the wind ushered in clouds.
San Francisco Chronicle
an hour ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
British Open at Portrush starts with an Irish cheer. That's how the last one ended
PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The British Open at Royal Portrush started Thursday the way the last one ended: A packed grandstand and throaty cheers for an Irish golfer. Padraig Harrington, a two-time Open champion, hit the opening shot of the 153rd edition of golf's oldest championship with a piercing iron into the wind off the North Atlantic, between pot bunkers on both sides and into the fairway. The Open returns to Royal Portrush after only six years. The final stroke in 2019 was a tap-in par for Shane Lowry of Ireland for his first major title. Harrington was the last to arrive on the first tee, the silver claret jug positioned to the left to remind players what's at stake this year. He raised his cap, appreciating the gesture of the R&A to offer him the opening shot. And then he produced an even louder cheer when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt. It's only a start to the longest day in golf — the first shot was 6:35 a.m. local time. The final group won't finished until around 9:30 p.m. Rory McIlroy is the star attraction in his native Northern Ireland. His major championship season began with him wearing the Masters green jacket with hopes of ending it cradling the claret jug. He was among the late starters on Thursday. The morning wave featured Scottie Scheffler, the PGA champion and world's No. 1 player for the last two years, and defending Open champion Xander Schauffele, who is trying to become the first player since Harrington (2007-08) to win the Open in consecutive years. This is only the third time Royal Portrush has hosted the Open, the first one coming in 1951 for a club that dates to 1888. The forecast for the week is mixed, a term in these parts that roughly translates to expect just about everything. Harrington led off under streaks of sunshine before the wind ushered in clouds. ___
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
British Open at Portrush starts with an Irish cheer. That's how the last one ended
Associated Press PORTRUSH, Northern Ireland (AP) — The British Open at Royal Portrush started Thursday the way the last one ended: A packed grandstand and throaty cheers for an Irish golfer. Padraig Harrington, a two-time Open champion, hit the opening shot of the 153rd edition of golf's oldest championship with a piercing iron into the wind off the North Atlantic, between pot bunkers on both sides and into the fairway. The Open returns to Royal Portrush after only six years. The final stroke in 2019 was a tap-in par for Shane Lowry of Ireland for his first major title. Harrington was the last to arrive on the first tee, the silver claret jug positioned to the left to remind players what's at stake this year. He raised his cap, appreciating the gesture of the R&A to offer him the opening shot. And then he produced an even louder cheer when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt. It's only a start to the longest day in golf — the first shot was 6:35 a.m. local time. The final group won't finished until around 9:30 p.m. Rory McIlroy is the star attraction in his native Northern Ireland. His major championship season began with him wearing the Masters green jacket with hopes of ending it cradling the claret jug. He was among the late starters on Thursday. The morning wave featured Scottie Scheffler, the PGA champion and world's No. 1 player for the last two years, and defending Open champion Xander Schauffele, who is trying to become the first player since Harrington (2007-08) to win the Open in consecutive years. This is only the third time Royal Portrush has hosted the Open, the first one coming in 1951 for a club that dates to 1888. The forecast for the week is mixed, a term in these parts that roughly translates to expect just about everything. Harrington led off under streaks of sunshine before the wind ushered in clouds. ___ AP golf: recommended Item 1 of 1
