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Lottie Woad Wins on Pro Debut After Historic Leap to LPGA
27 Jul 2025
by Kyle Rector of AmateurGolf.com

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Just one week after making history as the first Leap program graduate, Lottie Woad captured her first LPGA title at the 2025 Women’s Scottish Open, winning in dominant fashion at Dundonald Links.

From World No. 1 Amateur to LPGA Champion

Just one week after setting a new amateur scoring record at the Amundi Evian Championship and officially earning LPGA Tour status through the new Leap merit-based pathway, Lottie Woad has added another milestone to her rapidly growing legacy: a win in her professional debut.

The 21-year-old English phenom captured the 2025 Women’s Scottish Open at Dundonald Links, closing with a composed final-round 68 to finish at 21-under-par, three shots clear of Hyo Joo Kim. In doing so, she became the first woman in modern LPGA history to win her professional debut immediately following a Leap program graduation.

“It’s a pretty good outcome,” Woad said with her signature understatement. “I definitely wasn’t expecting to win, but I knew I was playing well and just hoping to contend.”

A Championship Performance

Woad began Sunday with a two-shot lead over Sei Young Kim and never looked back. She carded five birdies and just one bogey—her third of the entire tournament—to fend off a leaderboard packed with major champions and seasoned pros.

At one point, Kim matched her at 20-under, but late bogeys on 15 and 16 opened the door. Woad capitalized, finishing in style with a birdie at the par-5 18th after knocking a wedge to tap-in range.

The win earned her £220,000, and perhaps more significantly, it cemented her arrival not just as a professional, but as a legitimate force on the LPGA Tour.

From Leap Graduate to Instant Champion

Woad turned professional just days ago after finishing T3 at the 2025 Amundi Evian Championship, where she fired a final-round 64 and posted a 72-hole total of 271—shattering the amateur scoring record at the Evian by 10 shots, according to Justin Ray.

Her finish earned her full LPGA Tour status through the Leap pathway, which awards Tour cards to amateurs who earn 20 or more points based on top finishes in designated elite events.

  • 6-point win at the KPMG Women’s Irish Open
  • 1 point for making the cut at Evian
  • 3 points for a top-25 finish
  • 10 points for a top-5 finish

Total: 20 points—and she cleared the bar with flair.

A Generational Amateur Career

Woad departs the amateur ranks as one of the most decorated players in recent memory:

  • WAGR No. 1 for over 50 weeks
  • Five made cuts in majors, including:
    • T3 – 2025 Evian Championship (64 final round)
    • T10 – 2024 AIG Women’s Open
    • T23 – 2024 Chevron Championship
    • T31 – 2025 U.S. Women’s Open (Low Amateur twice)

At Florida State University, she rewrote the record books:

  • Career Stroke Avg: 70.42 (FSU all-time best)
  • Wins: 5
  • Top-10s: 27
  • Low Round: 65 (four times)
  • All-American: Five-time, incl. three First-Team
  • Major Awards: 2023 National Freshman of the Year, 2024 ACC Golfer of the Year

She also led Team GB&I and England to international victories at:

  • Curtis Cup
  • Vagliano Trophy
  • Patsy Hankins Trophy
  • European Ladies’ Team Championship
  • World Amateur Team Championship
  • Arnold Palmer Cup (2.5–1.5 record in 2025)

What’s Next?

With her first pro win already under her belt, Woad will head to Royal Porthcawl as one of the favorites at the 2025 AIG Women’s Open.

“Even if I hadn’t won this week, I’d still be trying to win the Open,” Woad said. “It’s still a learning curve getting used to the attention.”

If her meteoric rise is any indication, the learning curve won’t be steep.



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