Lottie Woad is set to return to the very course where she captured the golfing world’s attention with a stunning first‑professional win, as she prepares to defend her title at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. The 22‑year‑old British talent first burst onto the professional scene last year at Dundonald Links, entering the final round with a two‑stroke advantage and ultimately holding off a determined chase from South Korea’s Hyo Joo Kim and a pack of seasoned contenders to claim the championship. That triumph placed Woad in an exclusive club: she became only the third player in the history of the LPGA Tour to capture a tournament victory on her very first professional start. The other two pioneers were Rose Zhang, who achieved the feat in 2023, and Beverly Hanson, who did so back in 1951.
Reflecting on that historic moment, Woad admitted that at the time she didn’t fully grasp the magnitude of what she had accomplished. "I didn’t appreciate it then, it was my first event," she told Sky Sports Golf ahead of her upcoming defense, which will be broadcast live from 9:30 a.m. on Thursday.
Since that breakthrough, Woad’s schedule has been packed with weekly competition, allowing her to measure herself against the best in the game and to develop a deeper appreciation for the significance of her debut victory. "I didn’t know what to expect," she said, "but now I’m playing every week, with the same players, and seeing how good everyone is, it definitely feels more special now. Very excited to be back.
It’s a little different this year – I have my family here – and it will be a fun week." Her meteoric rise began long before she turned professional. The first whispers of her potential emerged in May 2022 when she made her Ladies European Tour debut at the Madrid Open, finishing a respectable tenth. That performance earned her a scholarship to Florida State University, where she quickly distinguished herself as one of the top collegiate golfers in the United States. She was named WGCA Freshman of the Year, earned the title of Junior FSU Female Athlete of the Year, and was crowned ACC Golfer of the Year, accolades that underscored her all‑around game and competitive temperament.
Woad’s amateur résumé continued to swell in 2024. In April, she captured the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur, a victory that propelled her to the top of the World Amateur Golf Rankings. She also became the first Englishwoman to win the Mark H.
McCormack Medal, awarded to the world’s leading amateur. Her performance at the 2024 AIG Women’s Open, where she tied for tenth place as an amateur, further demonstrated her ability to contend on the biggest stages. The following year, after a maiden Ladies European Tour win at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open, Woad turned professional and made an immediate impact at the Scottish Open.
Her victory there was a perfect continuation of the momentum she had built as an amateur, and it set the tone for a breakthrough season on the LPGA Tour. She added a second professional win at the Kroger Queen City Championship in May 2025, solidifying her reputation as a rising star. Since that initial triumph, Woad has consistently posted strong finishes in major championships.
She recorded a top‑ten finish at the 2025 Women’s Open (eighth), followed by a seventh‑place finish at the 2026 Chevron Championship. At the 2026 Evian Championship, she led at the halfway point before ultimately slipping to a tie for 16th, a reminder that the transition from promising rookie to seasoned contender often involves learning from setbacks as well as celebrating successes. Her world ranking reflects her rapid ascent: she is currently positioned fifth in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings, a remarkable achievement for a player barely into her third professional season. When asked to reflect on the whirlwind year, Woad said, "It’s definitely been a long year.
I’ve played a lot of golf, had a lot of new experiences. I’ve definitely learned some things as well in the year. It’s nice to come back to where I guess it all started, my pro debut here.
I’ve been happy with how I’ve been playing. At Evian, it wasn’t the weekend I wanted there, but I’m trying to take what I can from that, still playing good golf but also learning too." During her victorious Scottish Open campaign last year, Woad was paired with world number one Nelly Korda, an experience that gave her a glimpse of the pressure and excitement that come with sharing a group with the sport’s biggest names. Dame Laura Davies of Sky Sports Golf praised Woad at the time, noting, "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 rockstar of the future." Now, as she prepares to defend her title, Woad finds herself once again in the same grouping with Korda, as well as fellow contender Lexi Hull, for the opening two rounds at Dundonald Links. While the media may label her a "rock star," Woad remains modest about the moniker. She acknowledges Korda’s draw for spectators, saying, "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 ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open will be broadcast exclusively on Sky Sports Golf from July 23‑26, offering fans the chance to watch Woad’s title defense live. Whether she repeats her historic debut performance or faces new challenges, the tournament promises to be a showcase of talent, perseverance, and the excitement that has made her one of the most compelling stories in women’s golf today.