Lottie Woad, in professional debut, one off lead at Women's Scottish Open
Lottie Woad, making her first start as a professional, shot 5-under 67 to sit one off the lead after the opening round of the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open.
Woad, Nuria Iturrioz, Rio Takeda, Leona Maguire and Arpichaya Yubol are all tied for second, chasing England's Charlotte Laffar.
Laffar returned to the Ladies European Tour in May after a four-year hiatus during which she gave birth to two sons. The LET co-sanctions the Women's Scottish Open.
The 32-year-old Englishwoman teed off late Thursday and started with a bogey. She then notched eight birdies to just one bogey the rest of the way at Dundonald Links.
'I've got no pressure at all,' said Laffar, who has her husband as her caddie. 'Golf is a lot of people's lives out here, but my children are my life. So, this has become more of a working hobby, I suppose you could say. I've just got to enjoy every moment. I don't know how long I'm going to do it for. I will see how it goes. I've got to show the kids how I used to play.'
Woad nearly won her final event as the world's top-ranked amateur, tying for third two weeks ago at the Amundi Evian Championship, an LPGA major. Having earned tour status through its LEAP program for amateur standouts, Woad accepted membership and promptly made six birdies and one bogey in her debut.
'I'll definitely take it,' she said. 'It was some good, some bad. Overall, pretty fair.'
World No. 1 Nelly Korda is two shots off the pace after a 4-under 68. Korda is seeking her first victory of the year.
The LPGA's fifth and final major of the season is next week in Wales at the AIG Women's Open.
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NBC Sports
35 minutes ago
- NBC Sports
Lottie Woad takes two-shot lead over Nelly Korda in pro debut at Women's Scottish Open
Watch highlights from Round 2 action of the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open at Dundonald Links in North Ayrshire, Scotland. IRVINE, Scotland — Lottie Woad played bogey-free Friday and took advantage of unusually calm conditions toward the end to post a 7-under 65, giving the English star a two-shot lead over top-ranked Nelly Korda and Nanna Koerstz Madsen in the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open. Woad is making her professional debut, which only means she gets paid at the end of the week. She looks no different from the last couple of weeks, when she won the Women's Irish Open and then tied for third in the LPGA major in France at the Amundi Evian Championship. Korda birdied her last two holes for a 66 to get to within two shots, hopeful she is trending in the right direction as she goes for her first win of the season. Koerstz Madsen also shot 66. Woad, who played her college golf at Florida State, was at 12-under 132 after spending two days before the largest crowd at Dundonald Links, playing in the same group as Korda and Charley Hull of England. Woad's finish at the Evian Championship earned her an LPGA card, prompting her to turn pro. The Women's Scottish Open felt no different from her other July events. It was all about trying to ride the momentum. She dismissed the notion that she has started her pro career by taking a 36-hole lead in a tournament co-sanctioned by the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour. 'I played in seven majors now so I've had all that experience, and obviously the LET events, too,' Woad said. 'So wasn't really new things I guess. Kind of knew how to deal with it.' She has missed only two greens each of the last two rounds on the links course just to the north of Royal Troon on the Ayrshire coast. It's a strong field with the final major of the year, the AIG Women's Open, next week at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. The biggest help was the wind, or lack of it. The breeze gave way to calm conditions, and Woad ran off four birdies on the back to seize control. Korda, winless after a seven-victory season in 2024, made her lone mistake with a bogey on the par-5 18th as she made the turn. She handled the calm conditions on the front nine to get in the final group. 'Apparently this is not really Scottish weather. It's pretty soft, so I've been hearing this is not the typical weather and course they usually play out here,' Korda said. 'But overall, when you get good rounds under your belt, that's always a step in the right direction. My main focus is this week. I'm trying to finish as best as I possibly can.' Sei Young Kim had a 67 and was three shots behind, followed by Hyo Joo Kim (66) who was four shots off the pace.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Nelly Korda Hot On Heels Of LPGA Super Rookie At Women's Scottish Open
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Nelly Korda is once again in contention on the LPGA Tour, as she heads into the weekend tied for second at the Women's Scottish Open. However, she and the rest of the field are chasing sensational rookie Lottie Woad, who is leading the event in her professional debut. The Englishwoman was at her best on Friday at Dundonald Links, carding a bogey-free, second-round 65 with seven birdies. With this performance, she improved one spot on the leaderboard from the previous day, when she posted six birdies and one bogey for a 67. "Bogey-free is always nice," Woad said, according to the transcripts of her post-round interview. "Just hit a lot of greens, hit a lot of fairways, and then holed a few nice putts. ... I think my wedges were pretty good. Same as yesterday. I laid up on I think most of the par-5s and managed to make birdie on them still." Nelly Korda of the United States embraces Lottie Woad of England on the 18th green following their round during the first round of the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open 2025 at Dundonald Links Golf Course... Nelly Korda of the United States embraces Lottie Woad of England on the 18th green following their round during the first round of the ISPS HANDA Women's Scottish Open 2025 at Dundonald Links Golf Course on July 24, 2025 in Troon, Scotland. MoreWoad entered the Women's Scottish Open riding on the back of her outstanding victory at the Ladies European Tour's Irish Women's Open three weeks ago. A week later, she finished third at the Amundi Evian Championship, where she earned the points needed to capture her LPGA Tour card via the Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP). The former world No. 1 amateur is looking to match Rose Zhang with a title in her professional debut at the Dundonald Links. Zhang achieved this feat at the 2023 Mizuho Americas Open, the first to accomplish it in 72 years (Beverly Hanson, 1951 Eastern Open). However, Korda still has much to say about Woad's intentions. The world's best player is just two strokes back after a second-round 66 in which she carded seven birdies and one bogey. "I just hit it really well and I have only missed four greens through two days, so, happy with that," she said, according to the transcripts of her post-round performance. "Hopefully I can continue trending in the right direction." Korda remains winless this season, having taken seven titles last year, including a major championship. However, she has achieved four top-10 finishes and another four top-20 finishes, with two second-place finishes as her best results. Both players will be among the top favorites at the AIG Women's Open, the final major of the season, to be played at Royal Porthcawl, Wales, next week. More Golf: Why Rory McIlroy Is Singing Different Tune About PGA Tour-LIV Situation
San Francisco Chronicle
2 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Lottie Woad takes 2-shot lead over Nelly Korda in pro debut at Women's Scottish Open
IRVINE, Scotland (AP) — Lottie Woad of England played bogey-free Friday and took advantage of unusually calm conditions toward the end to post a 7-under 65, giving the English star a two-shot lead over top-ranked Nelly Korda and Nanna Koerstz Madsen in the Women's Scottish Open. Woad is making her professional debut, which only means she gets paid at the end of the week. She looks no different from the last couple of weeks, when she won the Women's Irish Open and then tied for third in the LPGA major in France at the Evian Championship. Korda birdied her last two holes for a 66 to get to within two shots, hopeful she is trending in the right direction as she goes for her first win of the season. Koerstz Madsen also shot 66. Woad, who played her college golf at Florida State, was at 12-under 132 after spending two days before the largest crowd at Dundonald Links, playing in the same group as Korda and Charley Hull of England. Woad's finish at the Evian Championship earned her an LPGA card, prompting her to turn pro. The Women's Scottish Open felt no different from her other July events. It was all about trying to ride the momentum. She dismissed the notion that she has started her pro career by taking a 36-hole lead in a tournament co-sanctioned by the LPGA and the Ladies European Tour. 'I played in seven majors now so I've had all that experience, and obviously the LET events, too,' Woad said. 'So wasn't really new things I guess. Kind of knew how to deal with it.' She has missed only two greens each of the last two rounds on the links course just to the north of Royal Troon on the Ayrshire coast. It's a strong field with the final major of the year, the Women's British Open, next week at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. The biggest help was the wind, or lack of it. The breeze gave way to calm conditions, and Woad ran off four birdies on the back to seize control. Korda, winless after a seven-victory season in 2024, made her lone mistake with a bogey on the par-5 18th as she made the turn. She handled the calm conditions on the front nine to get in the final group. 'Apparently this is not really Scottish weather. It's pretty soft, so I've been hearing this is not the typical weather and course they usually play out here,' Korda said. 'But overall, when you get good rounds under your belt, that's always a step in the right direction. My main focus is this week. I'm trying to finish as best as I possibly can.' ___
