There are RAE dictionaries where one searches (online, of course) for the definition of ‘without complexes’ and on one side appears the photo of Nuria Iturrioz (-5) and on the other, Lottie Woad (-5). Both are equally matched. Two players unafraid of anything or anyone who have made an exceptional start at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open. Both have opened the tournament co-sanctioned by the LPGA Tour and the Ladies European Tour with rounds of 67 strokes at Dundonald Links. Admittedly, the course wasn’t as fierce as it can get, but there was a brisk wind.
Lottie and Nuria, equally matched, have placed themselves in a crowded second position, just one stroke behind England’s Charlotte Laffar (-6), the surprising leader. For those who might be a bit confused, she is Charlotte Thompson from way back, at least until she got married and changed her surname. Laffar is a 32-year-old veteran of the Ladies European Tour who has yet to win. In nearly 70 tournaments on the main circuit, she has achieved six top 10 finishes. She returned to competition this year after a four-year break. She hasn’t competed from 2021 to 2024. This season she has played four tournaments and only made the cut in the last one, the Irish Open, where she finished 44th. Undoubtedly, her leadership is a surprise.
What is no longer a surprise are the performances of Lottie Woad. The Englishwoman is something else. She has something special. In her first tournament as a professional and playing with Nelly Korda (-4), World Number One, and Charley Hull (-1), she has had the luxury of beating both. She has plenty of quality, flair, and determination. She made six birdies up to the 14th hole to take the solo lead. A single bogey on the 17th dropped her to second place. Another clear statement of intent from a golfer who won the ANWA last year, stayed at the top of the world amateur rankings, and won, while still an amateur, the Irish Open by six strokes. The following week she finished third at the Evian Championship. Another dimension.
Nuria Iturrioz has never had complexes when facing the best in the world. Her four victories on the LET are proof of that. Moreover, she rises to the occasion when the challenge is even greater. Scotland is the second most important tournament of the year on the Ladies European Tour, and Nuria has positioned herself at the top from the start with a card where she only made one bogey. She has three top 5 finishes this year, in Morocco, Australia, and the Czech Republic, and has only missed three cuts. She is eager to make up for the PIF Saudi Ladies Invitational, the most important tournament of the year on the circuit where she didn’t have a good week. Let’s remember that besides the tournament, three spots for the Open are at stake at Dundonald Links (the best who make the cut and are not exempt). Nuria is not exempt.
In that second place are also Leona Maguire (-5), Rio Takeda (-5), and Arpichaya Yubol (-5). No joke. A lot of quality and victories in this trio.
Minjee Lee (-4) and Korda (-4) are perfectly positioned, as well as Nanna Madsen (-4) or Sei Young Kim (-4), golfers who must always be considered.
As for the Spanish players, a notable start for Julia López (-2), among the top 25 of the tournament, while the rest will have to push to make the cut: Azahara Muñoz (+1), Luna Sobrón (+1), María Hernández (+2), Marta Martín (+4), and Fátima Fernández Cano (+5). The cut could be around +2 or +3 tomorrow.
