Lottie Woad is the betting favorite to win the AIG Women’s British Open in only her second week as a touring professional. If it seems like Woad’s success happened overnight, it’s really been more like a 15-month climb. The 21-year-old Englishwoman is the talk of Royal Porthcawl after becoming only the third player in the LPGA’s 75-year history to win in her first start as an LPGA member, joining former world No. 1 Jin Young Ko (2018) and Beverly Hanson (1951).
How did Woad become the hottest player in women’s golf? Here’s a look back:
Woad finds spotlight at Augusta National
The first time most golf fans heard the name Lottie Woad was at the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur, when the lion-hearted college sophomore delivered a finish for the ages.
After USC’s Bailey Shoemaker posted a course-record 6-under 66 to take the clubhouse lead at 7 under, Woad birdied three of the last four holes to overtake her. The Augusta National Women’s Amateur is unique in that the 36-hole leader must sleep on the lead not one but two nights.
The quietly confident Woad embraced it all.
Success at Florida State
Florida State coach Amy Bond recently looked back on the first email Woad ever sent FSU, back in 2020, when she was ranked 1,151st in the world.
Known for her complete game and tireless work ethic, Woad first rose to No. 1 in the World Amateur Golf Ranking in June 2024. Her 70.42 career scoring average after three seasons at Florida State set a school record. A five-time winner at FSU, Woad’s 27 top-10 finishes set another record, highlighting her consistent play.
Woad, who didn’t have a car or driver’s license at Florida State, would typically call an Uber on Saturday mornings around 7:30 a.m. to get a lift to the golf course. While most college students her age were hitting snooze, Woad hit the practice facility.
“You think you work hard, and she works 10 times harder,” former teammate Charlotte Heath once said. “We have pros at our club, and Lottie outworks them all.”
First professional title
Before Woad turned professional, she became the first amateur in three years to win on Ladies European Tour, storming to victory at the Women’s Irish Open by six shots over two-time LPGA winner Madelene Sagstrom.
Woad, whose game is highlighted by strong wedge play and clutch putting, finished the tournament at 21 under par.
““You can’t control what anyone else does. It was Lottie’s week; it was wonderful to watch her play,” said Sagstrom. “I played a bunch of golf with her. I’m really happy for her and she’s going to take European and American golf by storm very soon.”
The following week, Woad nearly won a major.
Woads gets an LPGA card
Late last year the LPGA announced its new LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP) program, which awards a full card to an amateur who reaches 20 points. Woad needed a top-25 finish at the Amundi Evian Championship to earn her LPGA card and almost won the tournament in the process, falling one stroke shy of a playoff in France after a final-round 64, taking a share of third with Minjee Lee.
“It seems effortless to her,” said fellow Englishwoman Karen Stupples from the broadcast booth.
The following week, Woad accepted tour cards from both the LPGA and LET, making her eligible for the 2026 Solheim Cup. She planned to make her professional debut the next week in Scotland.
Woad wins pro debut
Woad’s magical July run continued at Dundonald Links, where the newly-minted played alongside Nelly Korda and Charley Hull in the first two rounds and was unfazed by the star power, taking the title by two shots. The victory secured Woad’s tour card through 2027 and moved her to No. 24 in the Rolex Rankings.
Now a combined 55 under in her last 12 rounds on the LPGA and LET, Woad boasts a scoring average of 67.3 in the last month.
“I don’t really know how to describe it,” said the humble Woad of her recent stretch of brilliance. “Just been shooting low scores, which is always nice.”
Former British Open champ Catriona Matthew captained Woad at the Curtis Cup last year at Sunningdale and compared her to a young Karrie Webb.
“She’s not out there for the glitz and the glam,” said Matthew, “she just wants to be as good a golfer as she can be and go out and beat everyone.”
Woad at the majors
The first LPGA event Woad ever played was the Chevron Championship almost immediately after winning the ANWA. In fact, Woad’s first seven LPGA starts were all major championships, with her first non-major coming at last week’s Scottish Open, which she won.
Last year at the British Open at St. Andrews, Woad won the Smyth Salver for low-amateur honors with a T-10 performance in her championship debut. The highlight of the week at the Old Course had to be the hole-out for eagle on the 18th Saturday.
Woad has a flair for the dramatic when the stakes are high.
“All the players out there can hit the shots,” said Matthew, “but what makes her special is that she can do it when she has to.”
This week’s start at Royal Porthcawl will be her eighth major, and she’ll have longtime teaching pro Luke Bone on the bag once again as a sort of final hurrah. She won the Scottish last week with veteran pro caddie Dermot Byrne.
Woad is represented by Excel Sports Management, as she was as an amateur, and joins a list of stars that includes Lydia Ko, Rose Zhang and Michelle Wie West. As an amateur, she had NIL deals with Titleist/FootJoy, Novellus and Upper Deck.
“I’ve always loved being under pressure and under the gun,” said Woad, calling the experience of those major starts invaluable.
What the pros are saying
Korda played alongside Woad in the first three rounds of the Scottish Open and was impressed with her composure and process, noting that while others tend to fidget and change things in the heat of battle, Woad stuck to her routine and looked comfortable. The elder Korda, who turned 27 on Monday, called Woad “absolutely amazing.”
Meanwhile Ko, the most recent inductee of the LPGA of Fame who won last year’s British Open, noted in her pre-tournament presser that she’s looking forward to seeing what she can learn from Woad while playing alongside her in the first two rounds in Wales.
“Just because you’re a higher-ranked player doesn’t mean that there’s something that I can’t learn from somebody else,” said Ko. “She’s obviously playing great golf. I’ve seen her swing, and my coach has sent me a video of her swing as well because there’s aspects that I’m kind of going for that she has.”
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