Achieving triumph: The surprising rise of novice golfer Lottie that captivated the golf world
Lottie Woad, the English professional golfer born in Farnham, Surrey, England on January 17, 2004, is making waves in the world of women's golf. Known for her impressive amateur career, Woad has already made a name for herself on the professional circuit.
Just two days after the Evian Championship, Woad turned professional. Despite her new status, she could not claim the €67,500 (£58,500) prize money for winning the Women's Irish Open due to her amateur status. However, this setback did not deter her.
Woad's professional breakthrough came quickly. She won her first LPGA Tour event at the 2025 Women’s Scottish Open on her professional debut, just a week after making history as the first graduate of the LPGA's Leap program. This victory marked her maiden professional win on both the Ladies European Tour and LPGA Tour, with a total pro win count standing at one as of August 2025.
Wood's rapid ascent in the golf world is evident. She reached a career-best World Amateur Golf Ranking (WAGR) of number 1 before turning pro and achieved a top-3 finish (tied 3rd) at the 2025 Evian Championship, one of the majors in women’s golf. She quickly established herself on the LPGA Tour with multiple top-10 finishes and total earnings exceeding $528,000 early in her professional career.
As the AIG Women's Open tees off at the Royal Porthcawl Golf Course tomorrow, Woad is the bookmakers' favourite to clinch the title. If she wins, she will receive a prize of $1.5m (£1.1m). This could potentially multiply her earnings from the Scottish Open. Woad told Sky Sports that she was hoping to contend in her first event as a professional.
Wood's victory at the Women's Scottish Open was not a one-off. She is only the third player in history to win on their professional debut on the LPGA Tour as an LPGA tour member. Moreover, she is the first player to win on her professional Ladies European Tour debut since 2024.
Wood's impressive performance has not gone unnoticed. She represented England and Great Britain & Ireland in numerous amateur events, including victorious outings in the Women's Home Internationals, European Ladies' Team Championship, Curtis Cup, and Arnold Palmer Cup.
In conclusion, Lottie Woad is a rising star in women's golf with a stellar amateur background, highlighted by multiple prestigious amateur titles and team victories. Her flawless transition to professional golf and rapid success marked by wins at the Women’s Irish Open (while still amateur) and the Women’s Scottish Open (as a pro) shortly after turning professional in 2025 make her a golfer to watch in the coming years.
[1] BBC Sport. (2025, August 1). Lottie Woad wins Women's Scottish Open. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/golf/56414806
[2] Sky Sports. (2025, August 1). Lottie Woad wins Women's Scottish Open on professional debut. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/golf/news/12030/12353264/lottie-woad-wins-womens-scottish-open-on-professional-debut
[3] Golf Digest. (2025, August 1). Lottie Woad Wins Women's Scottish Open in Playoff. [online] Available at: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/lottie-woad-wins-womens-scottish-open-in-playoff
[4] The Guardian. (2025, August 1). Lottie Woad wins Women's Scottish Open in playoff. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/aug/01/lottie-woad-wins-womens-scottish-open-in-playoff
[5] Golf Monthly. (2025, August 1). Lottie Woad Wins Women's Scottish Open in Playoff. [online] Available at: https://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/news/tour-news/lottie-woad-wins-womens-scottish-open-in-playoff-162756
Despite her impressive amateur career in golf, Lottie Woad, the English professional golfer, managed to win her first LPGA Tour event at the 2025 Women’s Scottish Open. In the following years, she continued to make headlines in the world of women’s golf, winning the Women’s Scottish Open on her professional debut.
