Lottie Woad kicked off the final week of competition ahead of next month’s Solheim Cup with a commanding performance, posting a four‑under‑par 68 in the opening round of the LPGA Tour’s FM Championship. The English golfer, who is one of twelve members selected by Anna Nordqvist for Europe’s Solheim Cup squad, demonstrated why she earned her place on the team with a round that combined precision, strategic play, and a touch of flair. The tournament took place at the challenging TPC Boston course on Thursday, and Woad’s 68 placed her just four strokes behind the leader, Korea’s Sei Young Kim, who opened with a spectacular 64.
Woad’s score was the result of a flawless front nine, where she recorded all four of her birdies, and a steady back nine where she parred each hole. She described her round as a “front‑nine showcase,” noting that she managed to keep the ball in the fairways despite the thick rough that can punish wayward drives.
"I generally played a bit better on the front nine," Woad explained. "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 honesty about the back nine was equally candid.
A couple of tee shots missed the fairway, turning what could have been birdie opportunities into simple 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 added, indicating that she intends to tighten up her driving accuracy in the next round. Woad’s performance is especially noteworthy because she is still in the early stages of her professional career. Since turning pro last year, she has already secured two LPGA victories, a testament to her rapid development and her ability to handle pressure on big stages.
Her solid opening round at the FM Championship not only puts her in contention for a top‑10 finish but also serves as a confidence boost heading into the Solheim Cup, which will be contested in the Netherlands from September 11‑13 and broadcast live on Sky Sports. The leaderboard after the first day featured a strong showing from the Asian contingent. Korea’s Sei Young Kim, who teed off from the tenth tee, posted a six‑birdie and one‑eagle round of 64, showcasing her power game on the par‑five seventh.
Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen and Japan’s Miyu Yamashita both finished at seven‑under, while fellow Korean Somi Lee recorded a six‑under 66, cementing a dominant Korean presence in the top four. Woad found herself in an eight‑way tie for fifth place, a respectable position that places her well within striking distance of the leaders. Her teammate Charley Hull, another Solheim Cup veteran, shot a one‑under 71, while world No.
1 Nelly Korda, who will lead the United States side under captain Angela Stanford, posted an even‑par 72. In a surprising turn of events, European captain Anna Nordqvist announced on Wednesday that she would retire from professional competition after this week’s events. Nordqvist, a former Solheim Cup hero herself, opened her final tournament with a two‑over‑par round, a modest start that underscored the emotional weight of her swansong.
Across the Atlantic, the Ladies European Tour’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open, delayed by rain, delivered its own drama. Casandra Alexander set a new course record with a 63, propelling her to a nine‑under lead after the first round.
She achieved this remarkable score by delivering four birdies on the front nine and five on the back, a display of relentless scoring power. Italy’s Alessandra Fanali had set the early pace with a 67 at The K Club’s Palmer South Course, but Alexander’s four‑shot surge placed her firmly at the top.
Tied for second place with Fanali were England’s Lily May Humphreys, the Czech Republic’s Jana Melichova, and the Isle of Man’s Ana Dawson, all sitting at five‑under. Ireland’s own Leona Maguire opened with a respectable 71 (‑1), carding three birdies and two bogeys, a solid performance that keeps her in contention on home soil. For fans eager to follow the action, both the KPMG Women’s Irish Open and the FM Championship will be broadcast live throughout the week on Sky Sports.
Additional coverage continues on Sky Sports+ on Friday from 2 p.m., and viewers can also stream the events without a contract via NOW, taking advantage of the latest Sky Sports deals. Overall, Woad’s early success at the FM Championship underscores her growing stature on the LPGA Tour and her readiness to contribute to Europe’s Solheim Cup campaign.
With her front‑nine firepower, a clear plan to tighten up her tee shots, and the experience of already having two tour victories under her belt, she is poised to be a key player for the European side as they prepare to face the United States in September. The next rounds will reveal whether she can maintain her momentum, but the foundation she has laid this Thursday suggests a bright future ahead for the young English talent.