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Lottie Woad was all smiles strolling down the 18th fairway Sunday at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. The 21-year-old star from England had a comfortable lead and if there were any nerves, she sure didn’t show them.
Woad shot a final-round three-under 68 at Dundonald Links in Ayrshire, Scotland to win in her professional debut. She won by three shots over major-winner Hyo Joo Kim, who fell out of contention with back-to-back bogeys on 15 and 16. Woad, the former top-ranked amateur in the world, had just three bogeys all week.
Woad became just the third golfer in LPGA history to win in her professional debut. She’s the first since Rose Zhang did so at the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open. Beverly Hanson was the first to do it when she won her pro debut in 1951.
“I think it’s quite hard to do that, but very special to win in my first event,” Woad said. “Everyone was chasing me today, and I managed to maintain the lead and played really nicely down the stretch and hit a lot of good shots, which is nice.”
World No. 1 Nelly Korda finished fifth after a 71 on Sunday. She who won seven times last year and is still looking for her first win.
The putt that made @LottieWoad an LPGA Tour champion 🏆 pic.twitter.com/x4P3rJLA1H
— LPGA (@LPGA) July 27, 2025
Woad hit precision approach shots all week, but especially on the final two holes to seal her victory, closing with a birdie on the 72nd hole when she lasered a wedge shot into close range. After that, she picked up her ball, smiled and waved to the crowd. No tears, no shock, no jumping around or falling to her knees. Just a calm, steady, workmanlike reaction that gave vibes of having been in the same position dozens of times before.
Her reaction was seen on live television on CNBC, something that wasn’t planned when the tournament kicked off. New LPGA commissioner Craig Kessler and the tour worked with their television and streaming partners to add that broadcast coverage to capture the potential first win of this rising star. Woad didn’t disappoint in delivering the win that the tour envisioned.
“I felt pretty good going down 18 because I knew I had a two-shot lead and just hit an 80-yard layup,” Woad said. “I felt pretty confident coming down there. It was always nice to finish with a birdie. So just had like a two-footer, which is a nice length. Happy.”
She hugged her mother Rachel—who took a train from England the night before to be there—her dad Nick and other family members. Her grandmother who lives in Scotland was there, too.
Woad has to be among the small list of the favourites to win next week’s AIG Women’s British Open, where she’ll make her first start in a major as a pro at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. She tied for 10th in the Women’s Open last year at the Old Course in St. Andrews.
“Just looking to continue the momentum, really,” said Woad, who played Royal Porthcawl a few weeks ago on a scouting mission.
Woad has been on heater the last 18 months, but especially in July.
Woad captured the Ladies European Tour’s KPMG Women’s Irish Open by six shots while still playing as an amateur. Woad then tied for third at the Amundi Evian Championship—she was the leader in the clubhouse at one point—and earned the final point in the LEAP (LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway) program to earn her LPGA card. Two days later she turned pro, and this week won in her first event.
Asked how to describe her game in this month in particular, Woad said: “it’s been pretty good. I don’t really know how to describe it. Just been shooting low scores, which is always nice.”
Nice indeed. In the three tournaments in July her scoring average is 67.3 and she’s a combined 55-under-par total—21 under in both the Irish and Scottish Opens, and 13 under par at the Evian.
Paul Devlin
Woad earned $300,000 this time, something she was not able to do in Ireland. She wants to buy a car, but as broadcasters pointed out, she doesn’t even have her driver’s license yet.
“Who gave them that info,” Woad asked with a laugh. “I wonder.”
It was true. Woad said she’ll plans to take her driver’s test in the states and then purchase a car.
Woad is just the latest of the stellar pack of rookies who aren’t playing like newbies this season. She is the eighth first-time winner on tour this year. She’s also the 20th different winner on tour this year as each LPGA event this year has been won by different players, an LPGA record.
But Woad is a special player, as was on display Sunday in Scotland, just as it has been so often over the last few years, since her breakthrough win at the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur. Wise money would say that it won’t be a surprise to see making that happy walk down the 18th fairway again often in her career.
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Main Image: Paul Devlin
