Latest news with #LPGAEliteAmateurPathway
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
In first professional start, Lottie Woad shares lead at Women's Scottish Open
Lottie Woad wasted no time showing she's going to be a force to be reckoned with in professional golf. The former top-ranked amateur turned professional last week after becoming the first to graduate from the tour's new LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program, and she wasted no time soaring to the top of the leaderboard Thursday in her debut at the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, signing for a 5-under 67 to share the lead with three others after the morning wave, including Leona Maguire. Woad, who won the Women's Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour before a T-3 finish at the Amundi Evian Championship to secure the final points needed to earn an LPGA card through LEAP, reached 6 under through 14 holes before a bogey on the 17th dropped her back a shot. Playing alongside Nelly Korda, she beat the world's top-ranked player by a shot and fellow playing partner Charley Hull by four. "I'll definitely take it," Woad said. "It was some good, some bad. Overall, pretty fair." Woad's ascension in the golf world hasn't slowed since she won the Augusta National Women's Amateur last year. She played in four majors last year after earning exemptions, placing T-23 in her first start at the Chevron Championship and then finished T-10 at St. Andrews in the AIG Women's Open, earning the Smyth Salver Award for low amateur. This year, she had a stellar junior season at Florida State, losing to only 10 players all season in 11 stroke-play events. Five of those losses were to her teammate Mirabel Ting, who won the Annika Award and also turned pro earlier this summer. Then Woad finished T-31 at the U.S. Women's Open and won the Women's Irish Open, making her chance at turning pro this summer more of a reality. After her Amundi Evian finish, it was all but determined. And even with her raised expectations, she's doing her best to keep it business as usual. "Try and ignore it as much as possible," she said. "I have high expectations for myself, anyway, so just try and deal with that." For Korda, who sits a shot back of Woad, Maguire, Rio Takeda and Nuria Iturrioz after the morning wave, she was impressed getting to watch Woad up close. "She's had an amazing run the last couple weeks and deserves where she's at right now, and it's going to be exciting to see where her career goes," Korda said. Woad said she felt as if their group fed off one another throughout the morning and she enjoyed being paired with two of the faces of the LPGA in her debut. If her stellar play can continue, perhaps Woad is next. "She's obviously riding the crest of a wave, and I played with her first two days of Evian," Maguire said. "She's a great player and it's an exciting week, her first professional start. "I'm sure there's quite a bit of pressure on her holders, 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."
USA Today
22-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Lottie Woad set to make pro debut at Scottish Open grouped with Nelly Korda, Charley Hull
Lottie Woad will make her pro debut this week alongside two of the biggest stars in the women's game – Nelly Korda and Charley Hull. The former top-ranked amateur turned professional last week after becoming the first to graduate from the tour's new LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program. After finishing one stroke shy of the playoff at the Amundi Evian Championship, England's Woad makes her first appearance at this week's ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open and will tee off on Thursday at 8:36 a.m. local time at Dundonald Links grouped with top-ranked Korda and compatriot Charley Hull, currently No. 19 in the world. "Going to be fun couple of days," said Woad. "Obviously two players that I look up to, so it will be cool." In addition to accepting LPGA membership, Woad also became a member of the LET following her emphatic six-stroke victory at the KPMG Women's Irish Open. She's now eligible for next year's 2026 European Solheim Cup team. Woad leaves college golf with one year left of eligibility at Florida State. The sport management major was recently named the Atlantic Coast Conference Women's Golf Scholar-Athlete of the Year. When asked whether she planned to continue her studies later this year or next spring, Woad said she hasn't yet decided. "I need to speak to academics on that and decide whether I want to do that," she said, "because obviously I want to put a lot of my focus into this." Rose Zhang continues to work on her Stanford degree after turning professional in the spring of 2023. Zhang has 40 units left in Palo Alto, California, and plans to take 20 in the fall and another 20 in the winter quarter, graduating in 2026. She has taken off the spring Asian swing the past two years to work on her studies. After this week's event in Scotland and the AIG Women's British Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales, Woad's status gets her into the next string of domestic events on tour – plus Canada – and she'll make push to get into the fall's limit-field Asian swing.
USA Today
17-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Who will be the next amateur to earn an LPGA card through LEAP? The next month is crucial
Lottie Woad became the first amateur to graduate from the tour's new LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program and will make her pro debut next week in Scotland. So, who's next? The LPGA designed the program with the idea that only amateurs with exceptional records would reach the threshold of 20 points. Last November, when the tour outlined the new program to its membership, officials noted that in the past 12 years, Lydia Ko, Leona Maguire and Rose Zhang were the only players who would've earned enough points to qualify for a card. The LPGA didn't want this to necessarily be an annual thing – more like every three to four years. Before Woad won the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur, she had only one LEAP point from the 2023 Arnold Palmer Cup. She earned two points with the ANWA victory and that came with a host of major championship starts, which Woad took advantage of with top-25 finishes in the 2024 Chevron Championship and 2024 AIG Women's British Open. When she reached No. 1 amateur in the world, she earned another three points, and the 2024 Mark H. McCormack Medal garnered another four. In all, Woad earned 19 points in the span of 15 months. Woad turned professional this week, which means she'll drop off the rankings, as former No. 2 Mirabel Ting did after making her pro debut last week at Evian. The next month is crucial for accumulating points as the McCormack Medal will be decided after the U.S. Women's Amateur at Bandon Dunes, which ends Aug. 10. The medal comes with four points and exemptions into the U.S. Women's Open and AIG Women's British Open. A player could reach No. 1 for the first time and win the medal in short order, taking a total of seven LEAP points. Winning the U.S. Women's Amateur earns two points and a chance to play in four majors. Oregon's Kiara Romera currently ranks No. 2 in WAGR, but it's worth noting that her 2023 U.S. Girls' Junior title will soon roll off the two-year window. Two Spanish players who play for Stanford – Andrea Revuelta Goicoechea and Paula Martin Sampedro – are Nos. 3 and 4, respectively. Martin Sampedro has an exemption into the Women's British at Royal Portrush for her win at the 2025 Women's British Amateur. As for the current LEAP standings, Anna Davis now leads the way with nine points. Maria Jose Marin is second with eight and Jasmine Koo has seven. Kiara Romero, Rachel Heck (who has no intent on turning pro) and Catherine Park have six points. The window for earning LEAP points is any given year, plus the previous three calendar years.
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
USA Today
15-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Top amateur Lottie Woad will make pro debut at next week's Scottish Open
A post shared by Lottie Woad (@lottie_woad) Two days after Lottie Woad nearly won an LPGA major, she turned professional. As the first graduate of the new LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program, she heads to the tour with a full card in hand for the rest of 2025 and all of 2026, and will make her pro debut at next week's ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open followed by the AIG Women's British Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. She also accepted LET membership following her emphatic win at the KPMG Women's Irish Open. Woad, 21, has a propensity for rising to the occasion. With victories at Augusta National, Carnoustie, Baltustrol and a top-10 finish at the British Open at St. Andrews, the shy Woad has a flair for the dramatic on the biggest, toughest stages. Known for her tireless work ethic and complete game, when it comes to Woad's success at the next level, there's one intangible that cannot be underestimated: Her undying love of the game. 'More so than probably anybody I've ever seen,' said FSU coach Amy Bond, who describes her star player's golf IQ as through the roof. Lottie Woad is in it to be the best Woad isn't playing to please her parents, Rachel and Nick. She's not in it for the money, though she does need to buy a car when she gets back to America. The external praise? Woad turns shy even when kids approach her at dinner for an autograph. She's humble that way. Sure, Woad has opened up more to the idea of media attention since she won the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur, but she's not looking for validation there either. Woad wants to be the best, and she loves everything about the grind to get there. 'It's so obvious that something inside of her is driven by this,' said Luke Bone, Woad's swing instructor since age 7. 'That pressure is hers and hers alone.' Woad first rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in June 2024. Her 70.42 career scoring average after three seasons at Florida State sets a school record. A five-time winner at FSU, Woad's 27 top-10 finishes sets another record, highlighting her consistent play. She won at Augusta National with birdies on three of the last four holes, and in seven LPGA major championship appearances, has finished in the top 35 on four occasions. 'I've always loved being under pressure and under the gun,' she told Golfweek, calling the experience of those majors invaluable. Lottie Woad called her shot at Evian Woad arrived back home in England at 2 a.m. Monday morning after a wild finish in France. While sitting at Evian's famed beer garden on Saturday afternoon, Woad told her team she thought she could shoot 30 on the front nine. 'By golly, did she shoot 30,' said Bond, who was desperate to keep track while on a plane headed back to the U.S. Trailing by five going into the final round, Woad needed to finish in the top 25 to secure her LPGA card, but that wasn't top of mind. She put the pedal down just as she'd done the week before on the LET, when she won by six at the Irish Open. Seven birdies in the first 13 holes put Woad at the top of the board, and there were chances down the stretch that could've won it outright or gotten her into a playoff. In the end, she finished one stroke shy of extra holes, taking a share of third with Minjee Lee but not the money. 'I did have a look after and was like, oh no,' said Woad with a laugh of Lee's $523,761 paycheck. Woad is behind half a season on CME points When it comes to CME points, Woad will have to start from scratch as a pro. A short-term goal is to amass enough in the coming months to qualify for the Asian swing and season-ending CME Group Tour Championship. 'I'd love to win an event,' said Woad, 'and the future Solheim is definitely on the radar.' Woad moved up 79 spots in the Rolex Rankings after Evian and is now 64th in the world. She's already had a conversation with European captain Anna Nordqvist. While she took Monday off – her first day without touching a golf club in three weeks – she had a putting lesson scheduled with Nick Soto on Tuesday. She'll see Bone later in the week at Farnharm Golf Club, where she's now an honorary member and Bone is head pro. He'll be back on the bag at the British Open, one last hurrah, before she gets a professional caddie in place. Woad will still be represented by Excel Sports Management as a pro, joining a list of stars that includes Lydia Ko, Rose Zhang and Michelle Wie West. As an amateur, she had NIL deals with Titleist/FootJoy, Novellus and Upper Deck. Golf seems 'effortless' to Woad, others say Next week's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links offers an ideal tune-up for Porthcawl, which Woad recently played for the first time. She won the 2021 Welsh Women's Open Stroke Play on a different course, Newport, but enjoys any good challenge in the wind. 'It seems effortless to her,' said fellow Englishwoman and Florida State alum Karen Stupples from the broadcast booth at Evian. Bond recently looked back on the first email Woad ever sent FSU, back in 2020, when she was ranked 1,151st in the world. Four years later, she'd ascend to No. 1. In 20-plus years of coaching, Bond has never seen a player drill down so much into the details as Woad. After struggling in the rough around the greens at the 2024 U.S. Women's Open at Lancaster, she went to work at FSU's short game facility, strengthening a weakness. 'I feel like I can get up and down now from anywhere,' she said. Woad announced her plans to turn professional on the same day Craig Kessler officially began his role as the 10th commissioner of the LPGA. Finding ways to elevate a rising star like Woad should be among the priorities for a tour that lacks household names in the U.S. One thing feels certain: Woad is a player with staying power.
