Lottie Woad is set to revisit the very course where she captured her breathtaking first professional triumph, as she prepares to defend her title at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open this week. The 22‑year‑old will once again walk the fairways of Dundonald Links, the setting of her meteoric rise last season. In the previous edition of the tournament, a then‑21‑year‑old Woad entered the final round holding a two‑stroke advantage.
She fended off a determined challenge from South Korea’s Hyo‑Joo Kim and a tight pack of contenders, ultimately sealing the championship. By doing so, she joined an exclusive club of only three golfers in LPGA Tour history to clinch victory on their very first professional start – a group that includes Rose Zhang, who achieved the feat in 2023, and Beverly Hanson, who did it back in 1951.
Reflecting on that moment ahead of her return, Woad admitted, “At the time I didn’t fully grasp what it meant – it was my first event on the tour.” She added that the experience has taken on new significance now that she competes week after week alongside the sport’s elite. “I didn’t know what to expect back then, but having played regularly and seeing the level of talent around me, it feels even more special now,” she said. “I’m thrilled to be back.
It’s a little different this year – I have my family with me – and I’m sure it will be an enjoyable week.” Her 2025 triumph was, in her own words, a special moment that validated the promise she showed as a top‑ranked amateur. Since that breakthrough, Woad’s schedule has been packed with high‑profile events on the LPGA Tour, and she has become a regular fixture on television broadcasts such as Sky Sports Golf, which will air the Scottish Open live from 9:30 a.m. on Thursday. Woad first entered the public eye in May 2022 when she made her Ladies European Tour debut at the Madrid Open, finishing a respectable tenth.
She then accepted a scholarship to Florida State University, where she amassed a string of accolades: WGCA Freshman of the Year, Junior Female Athlete of the Year at FSU, and ACC Golfer of the Year. Her amateur résumé continued to swell in April 2024 when she captured the Augusta National Women’s Amateur, subsequently rising to the No. 1 spot in the World Amateur Golf Rankings and becoming the first Englishwoman to claim the Mark H.
McCormack Medal as the world’s top amateur. That same year she posted a tied‑10th finish at the AIG Women’s Open, and later added a maiden LET victory at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open. A near‑historic performance at the Amundi Evian Championship, where she narrowly missed making history as an amateur, further underscored her growing stature.
The following season, Woad continued to collect top‑10 finishes in majors, including an eighth‑place at the 2025 Women’s Open and a seventh‑place at the 2026 Chevron Championship. She also led midway through the 2026 Evian Championship before eventually slipping to a tied‑16th finish. Her rapid ascent is reflected in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, where she now sits at an impressive fifth position.
In May, she secured her second LPGA Tour win at the Kroger Queen City Championship, confirming that her debut victory was no fluke but the beginning of a sustained period of success. When asked about the whirlwind year, Woad said, “It’s definitely been a long year. I’ve played a lot of golf and had many new experiences. I’ve learned a great deal along the way.” She also expressed appreciation for returning to the course that launched her professional career.
“It feels nice to come back to where it all started. I’ve been happy with my recent form, even if the Evian didn’t go exactly as I hoped. I’m taking the lessons from that and continuing to play good golf while still learning.” During her victorious Scottish Open run, Woad was paired with world No.
1 Nelly Korda. Sky Sports Golf’s Dame Laura Davies praised her at the time, noting, “She isn’t intimidated by the biggest names in the game.
She possesses every facet of a complete player, and her results already suggest she has all the qualities to become a future rock star.” Now, as she lines up her title defence, Woad will again share the first two rounds with Korda and fellow competitor Hull. While some media outlets have dubbed her a "rock star," Woad remains modest about the label. Speaking about Korda, who added two more major victories this year to bring her total to four, Woad said, “Every event she plays, she’s the player everyone wants to see.
She’s No. 1 in the world.
Last year we were together and the crowd was massive. Playing with her again this year, I expect the same excitement.
I hope it goes as well as it did last year.” The ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open will be broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports Golf from July 23‑26, with streaming options available without a contract. Golf enthusiasts can also explore discounted tee times at over 1,700 courses across the UK and Ireland through the platform’s booking service. As the tournament approaches, all eyes will be on Woad to see if she can replicate the magic of her debut and solidify her status as one of the sport’s brightest new stars.
Whether she lifts the trophy again or simply delivers another strong performance, her presence at Dundonald Links promises another memorable chapter in a career that has already captured the imagination of fans worldwide.