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RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RTÉ News
Rookie sensation Lottie Woad wins again as Leona Maguire finishes strong at ISPS Handa Scottish Women's Open
England's Lottie Woad's arrival to the big time continued as she went wire-to-wire to win the ISPS Handa Scottish Women's Open at Dundonald Links, with Ireland's Leona Maguire finishing in a tie for 16th place. The talented English star fired a final round of 68 to hold off South Korea's Hyo-Joo Kim for a three-shot win. It's the twenty-one year old's second victory this month, her first since turning professional, after her KPMG Irish Women's Open triumph at the start of July. Kim had managed to reel in the English golfer midway through the back nine and tie the lead, but Woad kept her composure and finished the stronger down the closing straight. Woad, who was tied for the lead on Thursday alongside Leona Maguire, shot four rounds in the 60s at Dundonald Links en route to victory. With just three bogeys across the 72 holes, Woad was imperious throughout the week and will be aiming to knock off a first major title next week, following a top three finish at the Evian Championships a fortnight ago. #WSO25 — Ladies European Tour (@LETgolf) July 27, 2025 Ireland's Leona Maguire battled to a final round of one-under, 71, helped by a fast start on the links. Maguire carded birdies on the first and third holes, with a bogey on the 16th; to finish inside the top 20 on the leaderboard. The Cavan golfer had to battle for the under-par round, only hitting six greens in regulation, but will be pleased with another strong finish ahead of next week's final major, the AIG Women's Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. World number one Nelly Korda failed to gain ground on the leaders in the final round and finished in sixth place.
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Lottie Woad leads Scottish Women's Open by two shots in pro debut
In-form English star cards bogey-free seven-under-par 65 in second round at Dundonald Links Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Lottie Woad leads and Nelly Korda is up there, too. Add in the likes of Leona Maguire, Lauren Coughlin and Georgia Hall plus a posse of Koreans and the stage is set for a cracking last two days in the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links. As Charlotte Laffar discovered, golf, particularly so on links courses, can be cruel. The English player had led after an opening 66 at the Ayrshire venue, yet she didn't make it through to the weekend. A second-round 82 left her making an early exit. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Lottie Woad plays her second shot on the 14th hole during the second round of the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links |Mimi Rhodes, a three-time winner on the LET in her rookie season, also missed the cut, as did Helen Briem, the tall young German who looks set for a bright future in the professional ranks despite this disappointment. Gemma Dryburgh, meanwhile, was left to fly the Saltire after Hannah Darling and Lorna McClymont came up short in the battle to be among the top 65 and ties at the halfway stage along with Kylie Henry and Kelsey MacDonald There was never any danger of Woad not being around for the weekend. Not after she'd opened with a five-under-par 67. And definitely not when she backed that up with another polished performance. The 21-year-old English player had signed off her glittering amateur career in style, winning the KPMG Irish Women's Open by six shots at Carton House last month then finishing joint-second in The Evian Championship, a major in France. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad After finishing as the leading amateur in last year's AIG Women's Open at St Andrews, she'll have her sights set on landing the main title at Royal Porthcawl next week and she could be heading to South Wales as a winner on her professional debut. Playing in the same group as Korda and Charley Hull, Woad birdied the 14th, 17th and 18th after starting at the tenth. Coming home, she added gains at the third, fifth and seventh and ninth. Signing for a 65 to sit on 12 under, she leads by two shots from Dane Nanna Koerstz Madsen. 'Happy with that obviously,' said the leader of her day's work. 'Bogey-free is always nice. Just hit a lot of fairways and a lot of greens and then holed a few nice putts. The first nine was a little bit more windy and the back nine calmed down a bit which was nice; could really attack some of the pins. I think my wedges were pretty good. Same as yesterday. I laid up on I think most of the par-5s and managed to make birdie on them still.' World No 1 Nelly Korda is the star attraction in the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open |Even someone like Korda could have her work cut out over the weekend. 'I'm obviously just kind of trying to continue the momentum really,' added Woad, who made the switch to the pro ranks as the World Amateur Golf Ranking No 1. 'Obviously trying to play well, and, yeah, just got confidence and keep on doing that.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On setting up a chance to win on ger pro debut, she replied: 'I've played in seven majors now, so I've had all that experience, and obviously the LET events, too. So this wasn't really new, I guess. Kind of knew how to deal with it. I'm just going to stick to the plan I've had all week and same strategy, and just keep trying to play well.' After adding a 66 to her opening 68, Korda, who is making her debut in the event, is two behind Woad. The American is seeking her first win of the season and will be ready to pounce if the leader slips up over the weekend. 'Yeah. I started out strong today with two birdies on my first two holes,' she said. 'Yeah, just hit it really well and I have only missed four greens through two days so happy with that. Hopefully I can continue trending in the right direction.' Koerstz Madsen had set the clubhouse target earlier in the day after posting a second successive 66. 'I just stayed in play most of the day and then made a couple putts here and there. I wasn't really in any problems,' she said of her day's work. The 30-year-old has played Dundonald Links a fair bit, including three of the previous editions of this event. 'Yeah, my dad actually said before I got here that this must be the tournament that I played the most in while I also played here as a junior as well. So I definitely know this course very well, yeah.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Hall, the 2018 AIG Women's Open winner, sits eight shots back along with defending champion Coughlin. For Hall, it's her first outing since getting engaged to Paul Dunne, who won the British Masters at Close House in 2017 and led going into the final round of the 2015 Open. He's now on caddying duties for his wife-to-be. Scottish No 1 Gemma Dryburgh was pleased with her second-round fightback at Dundonald Links | Getty Images It was a real gutsy effort that allowed Dryburgh to make it through to the final 36 holes. She'd opened with a 78, so needed a low one. A five-under 67 did the trick and, even more impressive, it was a bogey-free effort. 'Yeah, obviously got off to a nice start with a birdie on the 10th hole there, my first hole. Kind of needed a hot start today,' said the Scottish No 1. 'My caddie just said to me, what's the lowest round you played in Scotland? I don't know what it is, but I said five or six under. One of them today would do. Yeah, good.
Scotsman
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Nelly Korda put in shade as talk of golfing steamie shines - and there's a sore one for Hannah Darling's dad
Sign up to our Golf newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... They came to see the world No 1 but left raving about a contender for the throne. On her professional debut in front of one of the biggest first-day crowds for the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open, Lottie Woad outshone Nelly Korda. In fairness, Korda didn't exactly disappoint on her first appearance in the event, signing for a four-under-par 68 at Dundonald Links, where the early starters got underway in benign conditions before a decent westerly wind gradually picked up. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It was Woad, though, who set tongues wagging as Scottish fans discovered exactly why the 21-year-old English player has been the talk of the steamie in the golfing world for some time now - but over the past few weeks, in particular. Lottie Woad acknowledges the crowd during the first round of the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire |Producing the level of golf that had seen her win the KPMG Irish Women's Open as an amateur by six shots then come close in The Evian Championship the following week, Woad opened with a five-under-par 67 on the Ayrshire coast. It could have been even better as she missed a short birdie putt at the 12th then dropped her sole shot of the day at the 17th before failing to birdie the par-5 18th, but, nonetheless, it was another hugely impressive performance from the player who joined the paid ranks as No 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking. 'I'll definitely take it,' said Woad, who had already underlined her credentials on Scottish soil by claiming the Smyth Salver for leading amateur in last year's AIG Women's Open at St Andrews, of her opening effort as a professional in a group that also included Charley Hull, who broke par as well with her 71. 'It was some good, some bad. Overall, pretty fair.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad World No 1 Nelly Korda embraces Lottie Woad at the end of the first round at Dundonald Links |Scottish No 1 Gemma Dryburgh and compatriot Hannah Darling, who was also making her professional debut, teed off along with Swede Maja Stark, winner of this year's US Women's Open, in the match ahead of Korda, Hull and Woad, but it immediately became apparent who the early-risers were there to see as the $2 million event got underway. A big gallery followed Korda's group all the way round, with Woad making her first birdie as a professional at the par-4 second then adding gains at the fifth and seventh to be out in 33. She birdied the tenth as well before almost making a hole-in-one at the short 12th despite looking less than impressed with her tee shot. 'Yeah, I didn't hit it very good,' she said of that bonus. 'Wow, jeezo,' was the reaction from one fan as she then spun her approach at the 12th back to around three feet only to squander that opportunity before making amends by holing a longer one for a birdie at the par-5 14th. 'That will be another fairway hit,' noted Louise Duncan, the 2021 R&A Women's Amateur champion, of that gain being set up while also pointing out that it appears there is 'not a weakness' in Woad's game. On this evidence, she's got an old head on young shoulders. 'Just miss it in the right spots, really,' she replied to being asked what the key is to scoring well on this golf course. 'I hit a few bad shots today, but they were in the middle of the green, so you're fine. Just can't miss it in certain spots.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Korda full of praise for Woad Korda, of course, is a worthy No 1, but it might not be too long before Woad is challenging for that honour in the Rolex Rankings. 'Yeah, she's had an amazing run the last couple weeks and deserves where she's at right now,' observed the American after signing for seven birdies in her equally strong start. 'It's going to be exciting to see where her career goes.' Leona Maguire, who also opened with a 67, was the most recent Great Britain & Ireland player to join the professional ranks with such high expectations. 'Yeah, impressive,' said the Irish player of Woad's name being up on a leaderboard once again. 'She's a great player and she is obviously riding the crest of a wave. 'I'm sure there's quite a bit of pressure on her shoulders, but hopefully she's surrounding herself with some good people. You saw with Rose Zhang a couple years ago, she got off to a very hot start, too. There will be a lot of new things for her the next few weeks and months, but I'm sure she's well able to handle it.' Dermot Byrne, who used to be Maguire's caddie, was on Woad's bag, with Maguire getting off to her fast start alongside looping legend Phil 'Wobbly' Morbey, who is working at his first-ever women's event. 'Yeah, his first time on the ladies' tour, so still a little bit of a learning adjustment for both of us,' admitted Macguire, who started her round on a high by holing a 9-iron for an eagle-2 at the tenth. 'But so far, so good. I think we handled it pretty well on day one.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide AdIn an adventurous start to her new career, Darling hit a ball on to the Ayr to Glasgow railway line, costing her a triple-bogey 7 at the 13th, while another drive 'clocked' her dad Dave on the back of the neck. 'I was just a bit worried about him, but, classic parent, my dad is like, 'no, you just take care of yourself, I'll be fine'. I'm glad he's okay,' she said of that unfortunate incident, which came before she picked up three shots in the last five holes to salvage a 74.
Newsweek
16-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Amateur Sensation Lottie Woad Ready for First Paycheck, Reveals Stage for Pro Debut
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Amateur superstar Lottie Woad has just missed out on more than half a million dollars, after winning the KPMG Irish Women's Open and finishing third in the Amundi Evian Championship. It's a complication that's already history for her. The World No. 1 amateur received cards from both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Tour and has decided to accept them, thus launching her professional career. Woad personally announced the news through her Instagram profile. "I am very excited to announce that I have decided to turn professional and will be accepting membership of the LPGA Tour," she posted. "I'm delighted to have secured a @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 @letgolf for 2026, following my recent win @kpmgwomensopen." Woad revealed that she will make her professional debut next week at the Women's Scottish Open, which will take place at the iconic Dundonald Links. Her outstanding result at the Amundi Evian Championship gave Woad the three points she needed to earn her card through LEAP, a program designed by the LPGA Tour to pave the way for the best amateur talent to a professional career. Just a week earlier, Lottie Woad won the KPMG Irish Women's Open in equally spectacular fashion. She beat pro star Madelene Sagström by six strokes in a field packed with top players, such as Charley Hull and Chiara Tamburlini. Had she competed as a professional in both events, Woad would have received $78,381 for her victory at Carton House and $485,437 for her third-place finish at Évian-Les-Bains, for a two-week paycheck of $563,818. Lottie Woad Thanks the Help and Support that Brought her Here In her Instagram post, Lottie Woad included a heartfelt message of gratitude to all the people and institutions that have supported her amateur golf career: "I have only reached this point in my career through the help and support that I've received from so many people and organisations over many years. I would like to express my thanks and appreciation." Lottie Woad of England poses for a photograph with a LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway flag after the final round of The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 13, 2025 in... Lottie Woad of England poses for a photograph with a LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway flag after the final round of The Amundi Evian Championship 2025 at Evian Resort Golf Club on July 13, 2025 in Evian-les-Bains, France. MoreWoad had a distinguished amateur career, winning 11 tournaments, including the Irish Women's Open on the Ladies European Tour. Also notable were her title at last year's Augusta National Women's Amateur and her second-place finish at the 2024 NCAA Division I Individual Championship. She has led the world amateur rankings since June 2024. Her result at the Amundi Evian Championship is her career-best in major championships, but she had already finished in the top 10 at the AIG Women's Open, where she won the Low Amateur award. She was also the top amateur at this year's US Women's Open, where she finished tied for 31st. More Golf: Jordan Spieth makes personal statement amid Scottish Open MIA
