Lottie Woad kicked off the final week of competition ahead of next month’s Solheim Cup with a commanding 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 one of twelve members selected by Anna Nordqvist for Europe’s Solheim Cup squad heading to the Netherlands from September 11‑13, positioned herself just four strokes behind the tournament leader, South Korea’s Sei Young Kim.
Woad, a two‑time winner on the LPGA Tour after turning professional only a year ago, displayed a balanced blend of power and precision. She recorded all four of her birdies on the front nine, finishing that half of the course in 32 strokes before playing even par on the remaining holes. "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." Her comments also hinted at the small adjustments she hopes to make 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," she added, indicating that a tighter tee‑shot accuracy could convert those pars into additional birdies. The tournament’s early leader, Sei Young Kim, opened with a spectacular 64, featuring six birdies and an eagle on the seventh hole, a par‑five.
She began her round from the tenth tee, giving her a strategic advantage on the back nine. Close behind her, Denmark’s Emily Kristine Pedersen and Japan’s Miyu Yamashita both posted seven‑under‑par totals, while fellow Korean Somi Lee finished at six‑under, ensuring that two Koreans occupied the top four positions.
Woad’s 68 placed her in an eight‑way tie for fifth place, a solid showing that underscores her growing consistency on the tour. Solheim Cup teammate Charley Hull recorded a one‑under‑par 71, and world number one Nelly Korda, who will lead the United States side captained by Angela Stanford, posted an even‑par 72. In a poignant side note, European captain Anna Nordqvist, who announced her retirement from professional competition earlier in the week, opened her final tournament with a two‑over‑par round, marking the end of an illustrious playing career.
Elsewhere on the women’s golf circuit, the Ladies European Tour’s rain‑soaked KPMG Women’s Irish Open saw a dramatic start on Thursday. Casandra Alexander delivered a breathtaking performance, firing a course‑record 63 to move to nine‑under‑par after the first round.
She achieved this by posting four birdies on the front nine and an additional five on the back, outpacing Italy’s Alessandra Fanali, who had set the early pace with a 67 at The K Club’s Palmer South Course. The leaderboard quickly tightened as 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 continue to be broadcast live throughout the week on Sky Sports, with additional streaming options available via NOW without a contract. Golf fans can follow the action on Sky Sports+ from 2 p.m. on Friday for the Irish Open and stay tuned for daily updates on the FM Championship as players vie for crucial FedEx Cup points and fine‑tune their games ahead of the Solheim Cup. Beyond the immediate scores, Woad’s performance offers a glimpse into her preparation for the team event.
Her ability to strike fairways consistently, especially on a course where the rough can quickly penalise wayward drives, suggests she is honing the accuracy and composure required for match play. The front‑nine birdies, largely the result of precise approach shots and effective short‑game execution, demonstrate a confidence that could translate into clutch performances when Europe faces the United States in September.
Looking ahead, Woad will likely focus on tightening her tee‑shot discipline on the back nine, a theme she herself identified. By reducing the number of missed fairways, she can create more birdie opportunities and potentially climb higher on the leaderboard in the remaining rounds. Her steady progress since turning professional, highlighted by two tour victories and now a top‑five finish at a high‑profile event, positions her as a rising star for both the LPGA Tour and the European Solheim Cup team. For viewers, the upcoming days promise more drama as the field jostles for position, the weather continues to play a factor, and players like Kim, Pedersen, Yamashita, and Woad battle for the top spots.
Whether you are a casual fan or a dedicated follower of women’s golf, the FM Championship provides a compelling narrative of skill, resilience, and the pursuit of excellence on the world stage.