Lottie Woad is set to return to the very course where she captured her unforgettable first professional title, as she prepares to defend her crown at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open this week. The 22‑year‑old, who burst onto the LPGA Tour scene with a dramatic win at Dundonald Links last season, will once again line up on the historic links, hoping to repeat the magic that made her a household name in women’s golf. A year earlier, a 21‑year‑old Woad entered the Scottish Open with a two‑stroke lead after three rounds at Dundonald Links. She held off a fierce chase from South Korean star Hyo‑Joo Kim and a pack of seasoned veterans to clinch the trophy.
That triumph placed her in an exclusive club: she became only the third player ever on the LPGA Tour to capture a victory in her very first professional start. The other two were Rose Zhang, who achieved the feat in 2023, and Beverly Hanson, who did so back in 1951. Reflecting on that breakthrough moment, Woad admitted she didn’t fully grasp the significance at the time.
"I didn’t appreciate it then – it was my first event on the tour," she told Sky Sports Golf ahead of her return. "I had no idea what to expect. But after a season of weekly competition, playing alongside the same elite players and seeing the level of talent around me, it feels even more special now." She added, "I’m really excited to be back. It’s a little different this year because my family will be here with me.
It should be a fun week." The excitement surrounding her comeback is palpable, and the broadcast will be live on Sky Sports Golf from 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, giving fans a front‑row seat to watch whether she can repeat history. Woad’s meteoric rise began long before her professional debut.
Her name first entered the conversation in May 2022 when she made a splash on the Ladies European Tour, finishing a respectable tenth at the Madrid Open. That performance earned her a scholarship to Florida State University, where she quickly became one of the most decorated collegiate golfers in the nation.
She was named WGCA Freshman of the Year, earned the title of Junior FSU Female Athlete of the Year, and captured the ACC Golfer of the Year award. Her amateur résumé continued to swell in 2024. In April, she claimed the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur, a victory that propelled her to the top of the World Amateur Golf Rankings. By the end of the year, she had become the first Englishwoman ever to win the Mark H.
McCormack Medal, awarded to the world’s leading amateur golfer. These accomplishments set the stage for her seamless transition to the professional ranks. Woad’s first taste of major‑championship success came at the 2024 AIG Women’s Open, where she finished tied for tenth as the leading amateur.
The following month she secured her first Ladies European Tour title at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, and she flirted with history at the Amundi Evian Championship, narrowly missing a historic win as an amateur. Her breakthrough on the LPGA Tour arrived in 2025, when she captured the Scottish Open in her debut as a professional. Since then, she has continued to demonstrate consistency at the highest level.
She posted a tied‑third finish at the 2025 Women’s Open (eighth place) and a tied‑seventh at the 2026 Chevron Championship. Just two weeks ago, she led midway at the Evian Championship before ultimately finishing tied‑sixteenth. These results have propelled her to a remarkable fifth place in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, and she added a second LPGA victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship in May 2026. When asked to reflect on the whirlwind year, Woad said, "It’s definitely been a long year.
I’ve played a lot of golf and had a lot of new experiences. I’ve learned a lot along the way. It’s nice to come back to where it all started – my pro debut here. I’ve been happy with how I’ve been playing.
At Evian, the weekend didn’t go the way I wanted, but I’m trying to take what I can from that, still playing good golf and learning as well." During her victorious Scottish Open run last year, Woad was paired with world No. 1 Nelly Korda. Sky Sports Golf’s Dame Laura Davies praised her, stating, "She’s not afraid to compete against the biggest names in the game.
She has every part of her game, and her results already suggest she has all the qualities to become a rock‑star of the future." Now, as she lines up for the title defence, Woad finds herself again alongside Korda and fellow competitor Hull for the opening two rounds at Dundonald Links. While the media may label her a "rock star," Woad remains modest about the moniker.
Speaking about Korda, who recently added a fourth major to her résumé with wins at the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women’s Open, Woad remarked, "I think every event she’s at, she’s the person everybody is coming to see. She’s No.
1 in the world. Last year I was playing with her and we got a really big crowd. Playing with her again this year, I expect it to be the same.
I hope it goes the same as last year." The upcoming ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open promises to be a showcase of elite talent, with Woad positioned as the headline act. Fans can watch the tournament live from July 23‑26 on Sky Sports Golf, or stream via NOW without a contract.
For those looking to experience the links in person, bookings are available at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland. As the Scottish winds stir over Dundonald’s rolling dunes, all eyes will be on the young English star to see if she can replicate the fairy‑tale debut that announced her arrival on the world stage.
Whether she defends her title or simply adds another strong performance to her burgeoning résumé, Lottie Woad’s journey continues to captivate golf enthusiasts worldwide.