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The Independent
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Independent
Who is Lottie Woad? The English golf phenom targeting AIG Women's Open win on her professional major debut
Lottie Woad held the pose down the 18th at Dundonald Links, the final swing in anger on a glorious first stroll as a professional to complete an emphatic Scottish Open victory on debut. The AIG Women's Open is next for Woad, and the 21-year-old has retained an impressive demeanour to begin the week as a strong favourite at Royal Porthcawl. There is a skip in Woad's step this week, too, after pocketing her first cheque as a professional, with $300,000 (£223,000) secured on Sunday, particularly after going penniless earlier this month despite victory at the Irish Open due to her amateur status. "I need to get a car in America,' Woad said when asked about what she will do with her newfound wealth. Woad, who was a talented young footballer from time spent at Southampton's Centre of Excellence, is just setting out as a professional, but, of course, this dazzling run was foreseen by many in the game, ever since her astonishing win at the Augusta National Women's Amateur in 2024. The Englishwoman made three birdies in her last four holes on that hallowed Georgia ground and proceeded to muscle in on the very best women in the world before turning over just last week. This month alone, she destroyed the field in the Irish Open at Carton House, Fairmont, surging to a six-shot victory, and she was then tantalisingly close to forcing her way into the Evian Championship playoff, finishing just a shot behind eventual champion Grace Kim and Atthaya Thitikul. Now, though, superstardom beckons with contention in her first major championship as a professional in South Wales, with the bookmakers installing her as a considerable favourite over Jeeno Thitikul and American superstar Nelly Korda. If her wins in Ireland and Scotland didn't already confirm it, the ease at which Woad perseveres in adverse conditions could be seen with her tied-10th finish at the Old Course last year, as Lydia Ko prevailed in, at times, fiendishly difficult conditions on the Scottish coast. Woad possesses enviable balance and a majestic swing, though her contemporaries point to her routine and ability to remain unflustered when the pressure rises. 'She's absolutely amazing,' Korda said glowingly of Woad before the pair tee it up on Thursday. 'I was very impressed with her composure, her process. I think, when it comes to her shot routine, especially under pressure and in the heat of the moment, sometimes people seem to fidget and kind of doubt themselves, but she stuck to it. It's how mature she is for her age and how comfortable she was in the heat of the moment.' Woad was introduced to the game growing up in Farnham, Surrey and started to hone her unmistakable swing from the age of seven with Luke Bone, the head professional at Farnham Golf Club. 'It's so obvious that something inside of her is driven by this,' Bone told Golfweek. 'That pressure is hers and hers alone.' Alongside Bone's influence, Woad took an increasingly popular path for British and Irish players to venture over to the United States, testing her game among the best amateur players in the world in the collegiate system of the NCAA. It was at Florida State University, under the watchful eye of Amy Bond, that Woad's trajectory skyrocketed, leaving her mark at some of the most prestigious courses in the sport, such as Augusta National, where Rory McIlroy created history of his own this year to clinch the men's career grand slam at The Masters. Bond maintains it is just "a matter of time" before she wins her first major, even at this early phase of her career, having witnessed her year-long spell as the No 1 amateur in the world and more than 18 months without finishing outside the top three in a collegiate tournament. 'She would practice all day long,' Bond revealed. 'And she could sit on the putting green for four hours working on drills. When that putter gets going, man, you just better get out of the way.' Success is coming so easily for Woad at the elite end of the sport that it is easy to draw parallels with fellow prodigy Luke Littler, whose relentless introduction to professional darts has changed the landscape entirely. That is a way off for Woad, but the ease in which she has found herself at the top of leaderboards welcomes a conversation of where her career will take her in majors and, invevitably the Solheim Cup, with a place pencilled in for Team Europe in the Netherlands for the 2026 edition of the event. 'I feel good obviously. I don't feel too different, to be honest,' Woad said after her landmark victory in Scotland. 'Yeah, I got a lot of confidence from the last few, the last month really. Just trying to continue to ride that. 'There's always pressure, obviously,' Woad remarked. 'But I don't think there's any more than there was, like from my perspective, before any of the last few weeks. Kind of still was wanting to contend there, and that's still the aim.' Confidence is high, but another major test at Royal Porthcawl will provide more answers in the remarkable rise of Woad.
3 days ago
- Sport
Lottie Woad keeps 2-shot lead in Scotland and closes in on victory in pro debut on LPGA Tour
IRVINE, Scotland -- Lottie Woad had four birdies in a six-hole stretch around the turn and posted a 5-under 67 on Saturday to maintain her two-shot lead in the Women's Scottish Open as she closes in on victory in her professional debut. Woad has such control of her game at Dundonald Links that she went 33 consecutive holes without a bogey until dropping a shot on the 15th. Her lead was down to one shot, but the 21-year-old from England responded with a short wedge she played perfectly on the 17th, leaving her an 8-foot birdie putt she converted. A closing par put her at 17-under 199. Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark, who caught Woad early with an eagle on the par-5 third hole, fell behind after Woad's birdie streak. But the Dane rallied with three straight birdies and a couple of par saves for a 67. She was two shots behind, along with Sei Young Kim (66), who made a long eagle putt on the 14th and got up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 closing hole to get within two shots. Nelly Korda played bogey-free, but the American managed only two birdies on another relatively calm day by Scottish standards. Her 70 left her five shots behind Woad, who already has had a golden summer in Europe. Woad, who won the Augusta National Women's Amateur in 2024 and rose to No. 1 in the women's amateur ranking that year, won the Irish Women's Open three weeks ago on the Ladies European Tour. Then she missed the playoff by one shot in the Evian Championship. But her tie for third in the LPGA major earned her a tour card, and she decided to skip her senior year at Florida State and turn pro. And now she has a chance to win in her debut. 'That's the aim, to shoot as low as possible and keep giving myself chances,' Woad said. 'If someone shoots lights out, fair enough. I'm excited for the opportunity. I've got the experience and I'll try to use that.' Kim has 12 titles on the LPGA, including the Women's PGA Championship in 2020 at Aronimink, though she is coming up on five years since her last win. She will be in final group Sunday with Woad and Madsen. Korda, meanwhile, has a lot of ground to make up if she wants to end her surprising drought. She won seven times last season on the LPGA and still has yet to win this year. 'Wasn't hitting it probably as good as I was the first two days,' Korda said. 'I made some really good par saves and just didn't really capitalize on some of my good shots. But that's golf. That's OK. I still have tomorrow.' Woad will try to match Rose Zhang by winning on the LPGA in her pro debut. Zhang did that at Liberty National two years ago in the Mizuho Americas Open.
Boston Globe
3 days ago
- Sport
- Boston Globe
Lottie Woad maintains two-shot lead at Women's Scottish Open in her pro debut
Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark, who caught Woad early with an eagle on the par-5 third hole, fell behind after Woad's birdie streak. But the Dane rallied with three straight birdies and a couple of par saves for a 67. Advertisement She was two shots behind, along with Sei Young Kim (66), who made a long eagle putt on the 14th and got up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 closing hole to get within two shots. Nelly Korda played bogey-free, but the top-ranked American managed only two birdies on another relatively calm day by Scottish standards. Her 70 left her five shots behind Woad, who already has had a golden summer in Europe. Woad, who won the Augusta National Women's Amateur in 2024 and rose to No. 1 in the women's amateur ranking that year, won the Irish Women's Open three weeks ago on the Ladies European Tour. Then she missed the playoff by one shot in the Evian Championship. But her tie for third in the LPGA major earned her a tour card, and she decided to skip her senior year at Florida State and turn pro. And now she has a chance to win in her debut. Advertisement 'That's the aim, to shoot as low as possible and keep giving myself chances,' Woad said. 'If someone shoots lights out, fair enough. I'm excited for the opportunity. I've got the experience and I'll try to use that.' Kim has 12 titles on the LPGA, including the Women's PGA Championship in 2020 at Aronimink, though she is coming up on five years since her last win. She will be in final group Sunday with Woad and Madsen. Korda, meanwhile, has a lot of ground to make up if she wants to end her surprising drought. She won seven times last season on the LPGA and still has yet to win this year. 'Wasn't hitting it probably as good as I was the first two days,' Korda said. 'I made some really good par saves and just didn't really capitalize on some of my good shots. But that's golf. That's OK. I still have tomorrow.' Woad will try to match Rose Zhang by winning on the LPGA in her pro debut. Zhang did that at Liberty National two years ago in the Mizuho Americas Open. The Women's Scottish Open is co-sanctioned by the LPGA and the LET.
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Lottie Woad leads by two at ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open
A neatly assembled five-under 67 moved the former world amateur No 1 on to a 17-under aggregate and gave her a two-shot lead over Korea's Sei Young Kim and Nanna Koerstz Madsen of Denmark. 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.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Davidson makes magic moments but Woad stays in control
Australia's Karis Davidson shot a stunning 66, including eight birdies in 10 mid-round holes, to briefly surge into contention at the Women's Scottish Open before falling back in the closing stages. The Gold Coast 27-year-old carded a third round that was one shot better than leader Lottie Woad but still found herself 10 shots adrift, in a tie for ninth place. She is joined by compatriot Cassie Porter, who shot a 69 that also left her seven under on the leaderboard at Troon on Saturday. Woad had four birdies in a six-hole stretch around the turn and posted a 5-under 67 to maintain her two-shot lead as she closes in on victory in her professional debut. Woad has such control of her game at Dundonald Links that she went 33 consecutive holes without a bogey until dropping a shot on the 15th. Her lead was down to one shot, but the 21-year-old from England responded with a short wedge she played perfectly on the 17th, leaving her an 8-foot birdie putt she converted. A closing par put her at 17-under 199. Nanna Koerstz Madsen, who caught Woad early with an eagle on the par-5 third hole, fell behind after Woad's birdie streak. But the Dane rallied with three straight birdies and a couple of par saves for a 67. She was two shots behind, along with Sei Young Kim (66), who made a long eagle putt on the 14th and got up-and-down for birdie on the par-5 closing hole to get within two shots. Nelly Korda played bogey-free, but the American managed only two birdies on another relatively calm day by Scottish standards. Her 70 left her five shots behind Woad, who already has had a golden summer in Europe. Woad, who won the Augusta National Women's Amateur in 2024 and rose to No.1 in the women's amateur ranking that year, won the Irish Women's Open three weeks ago on the Ladies European Tour. Then she missed the play-off by one shot in the Evian Championship. But her tie for third in the LPGA major earned her a tour card, and she decided to skip her senior year at Florida State and turn pro. And now she has a chance to win in her debut. "That's the aim, to shoot as low as possible and keep giving myself chances," Woad said. "If someone shoots lights out, fair enough. I'm excited for the opportunity. I've got the experience and I'll try to use that." Another Australian, Minjee Lee, who was joint third after the first round, improved from Friday's travails with a 70 but is downfield in joint 27th on four over.
