Lottie Woad (-21) achieved something this Sunday that seemed like a complete fantasy just a month ago, a remarkable feat. In her professional debut, in her first tournament as a member of the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour, Lottie Woad has been crowned champion of the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open.
Dundonald Links witnessed a performance that will remain in the memory of golf enthusiasts for many years. She made it look easy, as if she does it every week. She had it under control at all times, never hesitated. Unflappable. “I didn’t expect to win on my debut,” she said immediately after her triumph. Don’t believe it. Nothing could be further from the truth. She came to win. At just 21 years old, she becomes the third player in history to win on the LPGA in her pro debut: Beverly Hanson in 1951, Rose Zhang in 2023, and now the player born in Farnham.
She crowns a July that is already part of this sport’s history. Champion of the Irish Open, very close to winning the Evian Championship as an amateur (third), and in her first week as a pro, she has won in Scotland. Lottie Woad is blessed by the gods of this sport. Clearly one of the favourites for the last Major of the year. We’ll see how she performs in her first Major as a professional. Doubts don’t seem to be guiding her path.
The former World Amateur Number One took the lead on Friday, opened a two-shot gap, and never dropped below that margin. We’re talking about three rounds holding off the best players in the world. Clearly, she is already one of them. What is more concerning is her way of celebrating. She barely cracked a smile, the fist didn’t appear. She intends to win week after week. Only her mother managed to draw a smile from her. Shy, yes, but she looks very comfortable in this whole equation.
She made something look achievable that has only been done twice before in the history of golf. Her birdie on the 18th, a par 5, reflects well what happened this week. Two good shots from the tee and the third from the fairway left it just short. She needed a bogey to be champion and closed it with a birdie. 21 under par, exactly the same result with which she won in Ireland three weeks ago.
Julia López Ramírez capped off a sensational weekend with a total of eleven under par in the last 36 holes to finish the tournament in third position. This Sunday, she signed off by matching the best card of the week and secured one of the three spots available for next week’s Women’s Open.
Nuria Iturrioz (+3), the other Spaniard still in contention in Scotland, finished 57th with a final round of 73 strokes. Nelly Korda (-13) ultimately finished fifth after a final round of one under par. Hyo Joo Kim (-18) was the runner-up, finishing three shots behind Lottie Woad.
