Lottie Woad is set to return to the very course where she captured her unforgettable first professional title, this week, as she aims to defend her crown at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. Just a year ago, the 21‑year‑old rookie entered the final round at Dundonald Links with a two‑stroke advantage and managed to fend off a determined challenge from Hyo Joo Kim and the rest of the field, ultimately securing the championship. That triumph placed Woad in an exclusive club: she became only the third golfer in LPGA Tour history to win on her very first professional start, joining Rose Zhang, who achieved the feat in 2023, and Beverly Hanson, who did so back in 1951. "At the time I didn’t fully grasp what it meant, because it was my first event," Woad reflected ahead of her return, with the tournament being broadcast live on Sky Sports Golf from 9:30 a.m.
on Thursday. "I had no idea what to expect.
But now I’m playing week in, week out, alongside the same competitors and seeing just how good everyone is, it feels far more special now." She added, "I’m really excited to be back. It’s a little different from last year – I’ve got my family here as well – so it should be a fun week." The excitement is palpable, and Woad’s 2025 victory still feels, in her own words, "special" – a perfect illustration of her seamless transition from a celebrated amateur to a rising professional star. Woad first entered the public eye in May 2022 when she debuted on the Ladies European Tour, finishing a respectable tenth at the Madrid Open. She then headed to Florida State University, where she collected 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 ascending 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. Her amateur credentials were further highlighted by a tied‑10th finish at the 2024 AIG Women’s Open, and a maiden LET victory at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open.
The Scottish Open win the following year came on the heels of those successes, and she narrowly missed making history as an amateur at the Amundi Evian Championship. Since that breakthrough, Woad has continued to collect high‑profile results. She recorded top‑10 finishes in major championships, including an eighth‑place at the 2025 Women’s Open and a seventh‑place at the 2026 Chevron Championship. Two weeks ago she led at the halfway point of the 2026 Evian Championship before slipping to a tied‑16th finish.
At just 22, she sits fifth in the Rolex Women’s World Rankings and added a second LPGA Tour victory at the Kroger Queen City Championship in May. Reflecting on the whirlwind of the past 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 as well.
It’s nice to come back to where it all began, my pro debut here. I’ve been happy with how I’ve been playing. At Evian, it wasn’t the weekend I wanted, but I’m trying to take what I can from that, still playing good golf while also learning." During her inaugural Scottish Open triumph, Woad was paired with world No. 1 Nelly Korda.
Sky Sports Golf’s Dame Laura Davies praised her at the time, noting, "She’s not afraid to go head‑to‑head with the biggest names. 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." This year, the "rock star" label may prove apt once again, as Woad finds herself in the same opening‑round group with Korda and fellow competitor Hull. Woad remains modest about the hype.
Speaking about Korda, who added a fourth major to her résumé with victories at the Chevron and the U.S. Women’s Open this season, Woad remarked, "Every event she plays, she’s the person everyone comes to see. She’s No. 1 in the world.
Last year I was with her and we drew a huge crowd. Playing with her again this year, I expect the same atmosphere. I hope it goes the same as last year." Fans can tune in to watch the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open live from July 23‑26 on Sky Sports Golf, or stream the action without a contract.
The tournament promises another chapter in Woad’s rapidly building legacy, as she looks to defend her title against a field that includes the sport’s current superstars. Whether she repeats her debut miracle or adds new milestones to her résumé, the world will be watching a young talent who has already proven she can rise to the occasion and shine on golf’s biggest stages.