Lottie Woad kicked off the final week of competition before the upcoming Solheim Cup with an impressive performance, carding a four‑under‑par 68 in the opening round of the LPGA Tour’s FM Championship at TPC Boston. The English golfer, who is slated to be one of twelve members of Anna Nordqvist’s European Solheim Cup squad heading to the Netherlands for the September 11‑13 showdown broadcast live on Sky Sports, posted a solid score that left her just four strokes behind the leader, South Korea’s Sei Young Kim. Woad, who turned professional only last year and has already claimed two victories on the LPGA Tour, displayed a particularly effective front‑nine. She recorded all four of her birdies on the first nine holes, finishing that half of the course in 32 strokes before playing the remaining holes at even par.
"I generally played a bit better on the front nine," she 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." Her comments also hinted at where improvement could be found on the back nine. "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," Woad said, indicating that a tighter tee‑shot accuracy could convert those pars into additional birdies.
The tournament’s early leader, Korean star Sei Young Kim, started her round on the tenth tee and posted a remarkable 64, which included six birdies and an eagle on the seventh hole, a par‑five. Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen and Japan’s Miyu Yamashita were tied at seven‑under, while South Korean Somi Lee sat at six‑under, making it two Koreans inside the top four. Woad found herself in an eight‑way tie for fifth place, a respectable position that underscores her growing consistency on the tour.
Other notable performances included Solheim Cup teammate Charley Hull, who carded a one‑under 71, and world number one Nelly Korda, who will lead the United States side under captain Angela Stanford, finishing with an even‑par 72. Meanwhile, European captain Anna Nordqvist, who surprised the golf world on Wednesday by announcing her retirement from professional competition after this week, opened her final tournament at two‑over‑par, a modest start to her swan‑song. In a separate event on the Ladies European Tour, the rain‑soaked KPMG Women’s Irish Open saw a dramatic opening round.
Casandra Alexander set a new course record with a 63, propelling her to a nine‑under‑par lead. She achieved this feat by shooting four birdies on the front nine and an additional five birdies on the back nine, four strokes better than Italy’s Alessandra Fanali, who posted a 67 at The K Club’s Palmer South Course. England’s Lily May Humphreys, the Czech Republic’s Jana Melichova, and the Isle of Man’s Ana Dawson were all tied for second place with Fanali at five‑under.
Ireland’s own Leona Maguire opened with a 71 (‑1), recording three birdies and two bogeys. The FM Championship and the KPMG Women’s Irish Open will continue to be broadcast throughout the week on Sky Sports, with live coverage of the Irish Open also available on Sky Sports+ from 2 pm on Friday. Golf fans can stay up to date with the latest scores, leaderboards, and highlights via the network’s streaming platform, NOW, which offers contract‑free access to live events.
Looking ahead, Woad’s performance at the FM Championship provides a promising glimpse of her form heading into the Solheim Cup. Her ability to strike the fairways, especially on the front nine, and to capitalize on scoring opportunities on the par‑fives, suggests she could be a valuable point‑gatherer for Europe. If she can tighten her tee‑shot accuracy on the back nine and convert those missed fairways into birdie chances, she may well climb higher on the leaderboard in the coming rounds. The Solheim Cup, scheduled for early September in the Netherlands, will feature a clash between Europe’s finest and the United States’ top talent.
With captains Anna Nordqvist and Angela Stanford at the helm, both sides will be looking to field players who are not only technically proficient but also mentally resilient after a demanding season. Woad’s recent showing, combined with the experience of seasoned teammates like Charley Hull and the rising form of other European players, positions Team Europe as a strong contender.
For viewers, the FM Championship offers a compelling narrative of emerging talent, seasoned veterans, and the ever‑present drama of competition under pressure. As the tournament progresses, fans can anticipate further shifts in the leaderboard, potential weather challenges, and the strategic adjustments players will make to navigate the course’s demands.
The blend of skill, strategy, and resilience on display underscores why professional women’s golf continues to capture a growing global audience. In summary, Lottie Woad’s four‑under opening round at the FM Championship not only highlights her personal development but also adds momentum to Europe’s Solheim Cup preparations. With a solid front‑nine performance, a clear plan for improvement on the back nine, and the support of a strong European contingent, Woad is poised to make a significant impact in the weeks ahead, both at this tournament and on the grand stage of the Solheim Cup.