Lottie Woad began the final week of competition ahead of next month’s Solheim Cup with a remarkable performance, carding a four‑under‑par 68 in the opening round of the LPGA Tour’s FM Championship. The English professional, who is slated to travel to the Netherlands as part of Anna Nordqvist’s twelve‑member European contingent for the September 11‑13 Solheim Cup showdown on Sky Sports, demonstrated why she is considered one of the rising stars on the tour. Playing at TPC Boston on Thursday, Woad posted a 68 that placed her just four strokes behind the leader, Korea’s Sei Young Kim, who opened with a blistering 64. The score put Woad in a tie for fifth place among a field that included several future Solheim Cup teammates and other world‑class competitors.
Woad, who turned professional only a year ago, already boasts two LPGA victories. In this round she displayed a textbook front‑nine, making birdies on each of the first four holes and finishing the nine holes in 32 strokes.
She then steadied her play on the back nine, making par on every remaining hole. "I generally played a bit better on the front nine," Woad reflected after her round. "I hit pretty much every fairway.
The rough is pretty thick out there, so you need to hit the fairways. I hit some pretty close shots on some holes and then did well on the par‑5s getting on greens, so just kind of had tap‑ins on the front nine." When asked about the back nine, she noted a few wayward tee shots that missed the fairway, turning potential birdie opportunities into pars. "Just a couple tee shots on the back nine that missed the fairway kind of made them par holes rather than birdie holes, so just try and clean up that tomorrow," she said, indicating that she expects to improve her consistency in the next round. The tournament’s leaderboard was topped by Kim, who started her round from the tenth tee and recorded six birdies and an eagle on the seventh hole, a par‑five, to finish at 64.
Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen and Japan’s Miyu Yamashita both posted seven‑under‑par rounds, while Korea’s Somi Lee carded a six‑under‑par 66, ensuring that two Koreans occupied the top four spots. Woad’s tied‑for‑fifth finish placed her among an elite group of players who are all potential Solheim Cup contributors. Other notable performances included Charley Hull, a fellow European teammate, who shot a one‑under‑par 71, and world number one Nelly Korda, who will lead the United States side captained by Angela Stanford, posting an even‑par 72.
In a poignant moment for the European squad, captain Anna Nordqvist, who announced on Wednesday that she would retire from professional competition after this week, opened her final tour event with a two‑over‑par round, marking the end of an illustrious career. While the FM Championship continued, the Ladies European Tour was also in action, with the rain‑soaked KPMG Women’s Irish Open delivering dramatic early action. On day one, Casandra Alexander unleashed a career‑best 63, a course record that vaulted her to the top of the leaderboard at nine‑under‑par.
She achieved this feat by firing four birdies on the front nine and an additional five on the back, showcasing a blend of power and precision that left spectators in awe. Italy’s Alessandra Fanali set the early pace with a 67 at The K Club’s Palmer South Course, but Alexander’s 63 eclipsed it by four strokes.
Trailing closely were England’s Lily May Humphreys, the Czech Republic’s Jana Melichova, and the Isle of Man’s Ana Dawson, all tied for second place at five‑under‑par alongside Fanali. Ireland’s own Leona Maguire opened with a respectable 71 (‑1), recording three birdies and two bogeys. The FM Championship and the Irish Open will be broadcast throughout the week on Sky Sports, with live coverage from Ireland scheduled for Friday at 2 p.m. on Sky Sports+.
Viewers can also stream the action without a contract via the NOW platform, taking advantage of the latest Sky Sports deals. Looking ahead, Woad’s solid start positions her well for the remainder of the FM Championship and provides a confidence boost as she prepares for the Solheim Cup. Her ability to hit fairways, manage the thick rough, and convert opportunities on the par‑fives suggests she could be a decisive factor for Europe in September.
The tournament will continue to test the field’s resilience, especially as weather conditions have already impacted play in the Irish Open. Fans can expect more thrilling golf, strategic shot‑making, and the emergence of new storylines as the season progresses.
In summary, Lottie Woad’s four‑under‑par opening round at the FM Championship underscores her growing stature on the LPGA Tour and highlights her potential role as a key contributor to Europe’s Solheim Cup roster. With a blend of precise ball‑striking, strategic course management, and a calm demeanor under pressure, Woad has set a strong foundation for the weeks to come, while the broader golf world watches the unfolding narratives across both the LPGA and LET events.