Latest news with #EvianResort
Khaleej Times
a day ago
- Sport
- Khaleej Times
From Amateur to LPGA: Lottie Woad turns pro after making history at Evian Championship
Following an impressive tied third finish at the recent Amundi Evian Championship, amateur Lottie Woad has elected to turn professional and accept the LPGA Tour membership she qualified for via the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP). The Englishwoman captured the 20th and final LEAP point she needed to earn Tour status when she finished just one shot out of a playoff with eventual champion Grace Kim and Rolex Women's World Golf Rankings No. 2 Atthaya Thitikul. 'It's really cool,' said Woad about locking up Tour status following the final round at Evian Resort Golf Club. 'It's always nice to be the first to do something. So grateful that I had the opportunity to do it. Just relieved now. It was kind of wearing on me for a bit.' After nearly becoming the first amateur to win an LPGA Tour major since Catherine Lacoste at the 1967 U.S. Women's Open, Woad announced her decision to turn professional on Instagram, sharing the exciting news and thanking those in her inner circle for their support throughout her amateur career. 'I am very excited to announce that I have decided to turn professional and will be accepting membership of the LPGA Tour,' part of Woad's post read. 'I'm delighted to have secured an 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 LET for 2026, following my recent win at the KPMG Women's Irish Open.' Woad went on to thank her family, her swing coach Luke Bone, Farnham Golf Club, Florida State University athletics, and England Golf. Making History The now-former FSU Seminole is the first-ever amateur to earn an LPGA Tour card through the LEAP program, which provides high-level athletes with a pathway to the LPGA Tour based on the accolades they earn as amateurs. The 2025 Amundi Evian Championship marked both her seventh LPGA Tour and major championship appearance. Woad was given exemptions into all of the majors except the KPMG Women's PGA Championship last year because of her victory at the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur — a win that saw her become the first European to lift the title. Before playing in France, Woad also competed in The Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women's Open this season, making the cut at the latter at Erin Hills Golf Course in Wisconsin. Woad will have LPGA Tour status for the remainder of the 2025 season and all of 2026 and will be seeded into Category 13 on the LPGA Priority List. Scottish Pro Debut The 21-year-old's professional debut comes this week at the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open, a berth earned via her victory at the KPMG Women's Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour the week before the Amundi Evian Championship. She will also tee it up at the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl, having earned a start through her top-10 finish at last year's championship, played at St Andrews. Beyond those two events, Woad's LPGA playing schedule for the rest of the year is still being finalised. She will be considered a 2025 rookie, bringing this year's class to 22 athletes.
13-07-2025
- Sport
Grace Kim with a stunning finish wins Evian Championship for her first major
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France -- Grace Kim delivered one stunning shot after another Sunday in the Evian Championship, starting with an eagle to force a playoff and another eagle to beat Jeeno Thitikul on the second extra hole to make her first LPGA win a major title. Kim, whose 2-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th in regulation gave her a 4-under 67, looked to be just as surprised as everyone else when she rolled in a 12-foot eagle putt to win the playoff. The 24-year-old Australian calmly placed her hand over her mouth and stood still before doubling over and breaking into a wide smile. Thitikul's biggest challenge had been English amateur Lottie Woad, who was coming off a win in the Irish Women's Open and at one point had the lead on the back nine of Evian Resort. She closed with 64 and then waited to see if that would be enough. Woad was bidding to become the first amateur to win a major since Catherine Lacoste at the 1967 U.S. Women's Open. Thitikul birdied the 17th to take the lead, and the Thai player was on the verge of her first major when she laid up short of the pond and hit wedge into 8 feet on the final hole. But there was Kim, blasting a fairway metal onto the green. The ball rolled back down the slope to 2 feet for eagle to tie for the lead. Thitikul's birdie putt for the title missed right. She shot 67 and joined Kim at 14-under 270, one ahead of Woad and Minjee Lee (68). Back to the 18th in the playoff, Thitikul again looked like a winner when Kim's second shot bounced on a cart path, over some rocks and into the pond. Thitikul was just left of the green in two. Kim took her penalty drop, then chipped in for birdie across the green. Thitikul had to make an 8-foot birdie putt to extend the playoff, which she did. Playing the 18th for the third time, Kim again delivered another beauty over the pond and onto the green to about 12 feet. Thitikul, who had tiny insects buzzing around her ball in the collar of a bunker, chipped weakly to about 6 feet. She could only watch as Kim ended it with an eagle. That extended what already is a record streak in the LPGA Tour's 75-year history, the 18th consecutive tournament to start a season with a different winner. It also makes 13 different winners in the last 13 majors. Kim won for the second time on the LPGA, adding to her title in Hawaii two years ago.
Washington Post
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Washington Post
Grace Kim wins Evian Championship with a flourish for first major title
Grace Kim staged a memorable finish Sunday at the Evian Championship, sinking an eagle putt on the second playoff hole to outlast world No. 2 Jeeno Thitikul and claim the Australian's first major title at the Evian Resort Golf Club in Evian-les-Bains, France. Kim rolled in her putt from some 10 feet on the 18th green after forcing a second playoff hole by improbably chipping in for birdie on the first playoff hole, also the 18th. Her approach on the par 5 had sailed right and into the water beside a rock garden, forcing her to take a penalty drop.
San Francisco Chronicle
13-07-2025
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Grace Kim with a stunning finish wins Evian Championship for her first major
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — Grace Kim delivered one stunning shot after another Sunday in the Evian Championship, starting with an eagle to force a playoff and another eagle to beat Jeeno Thitikul on the second extra hole to make her first LPGA win a major title. Kim, whose 2-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th in regulation gave her a 4-under 67, looked to be just as surprised as everyone else when she rolled in a 12-foot eagle putt to win the playoff. The 24-year-old Australian calmly placed her hand over her mouth and stood still before doubling over and breaking into a wide smile. Thitikul's biggest challenge had been English amateur Lottie Woad, who was coming off a win in the Irish Women's Open and at one point had the lead on the back nine of Evian Resort. She closed with 64 and then waited to see if that would be enough. Woad was bidding to become the first amateur to win a major since Catherine Lacoste at the 1967 U.S. Women's Open. Thitikul birdied the 17th to take the lead, and the Thai player was on the verge of her first major when she laid up short of the pond and hit wedge into 8 feet on the final hole. But there was Kim, blasting a fairway metal onto the green. The ball rolled back down the slope to 2 feet for eagle to tie for the lead. Thitikul's birdie putt for the title missed right. She shot 67 and joined Kim at 14-under 270, one ahead of Woad and Minjee Lee (68). Back to the 18th in the playoff, Thitikul again looked like a winner when Kim's second shot bounced on a cart path, over some rocks and into the pond. Thitikul was just left of the green in two. Kim took her penalty drop, then chipped in for birdie across the green. Thitikul had to make an 8-foot birdie putt to extend the playoff, which she did. Playing the 18th for the third time, Kim again delivered another beauty over the pond and onto the green to about 12 feet. Thitikul, who had tiny insects buzzing around her ball in the collar of a bunker, chipped weakly to about 6 feet. She could only watch as Kim ended it with an eagle. That extended what already is a record streak in the LPGA Tour's 75-year history, the 18th consecutive tournament to start a season with a different winner. It also makes 13 different winners in the last 13 majors.
Hamilton Spectator
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Grace Kim with a stunning finish wins Evian Championship for her first major
EVIAN-LES-BAINS, France (AP) — Grace Kim delivered one stunning shot after another Sunday in the Evian Championship, starting with an eagle to force a playoff and another eagle to beat Jeeno Thitikul on the second extra hole to make her first LPGA win a major title. Kim, whose 2-foot eagle putt on the par-5 18th in regulation gave her a 4-under 67, looked to be just as surprised as everyone else when she rolled in a 12-foot eagle putt to win the playoff. The 24-year-old Australian calmly placed her hand over her mouth and stood still before doubling over and breaking into a wide smile. Thitikul's biggest challenge had been English amateur Lottie Woad, who was coming off a win in the Irish Women's Open and at one point had the lead on the back nine of Evian Resort. She closed with 64 and then waited to see if that would be enough. Woad was bidding to become the first amateur to win a major since Catherine Lacoste at the 1967 U.S. Women's Open. Thitikul birdied the 17th to take the lead, and the Thai player was on the verge of her first major when she laid up short of the pond and hit wedge into 8 feet on the final hole. But there was Kim, blasting a fairway metal onto the green. The ball rolled back down the slope to 2 feet for eagle to tie for the lead. Thitikul's birdie putt for the title missed right. She shot 67 and joined Kim at 14-under 270, one ahead of Woad and Minjee Lee (68). Back to the 18th in the playoff, Thitikul again looked like a winner when Kim's second shot bounced on a cart path, over some rocks and into the pond. Thitikul was just left of the green in two. Kim took her penalty drop, then chipped in for birdie across the green . Thitikul had to make an 8-foot birdie putt to extend the playoff, which she did. Playing the 18th for the third time, Kim again delivered another beauty over the pond and onto the green to about 12 feet. Thitikul, who had tiny insects buzzing around her ball in the collar of a bunker, chipped weakly to about 6 feet. She could only watch as Kim ended it with an eagle. That extended what already is a record streak in the LPGA Tour's 75-year history, the 18th consecutive tournament to start a season with a different winner. It also makes 13 different winners in the last 13 majors. Kim won for the second time on the LPGA, adding to her title in Hawaii two years ago. ___ AP golf:
