Latest news with #AIGWomen'sBritishOpen
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Bookmakers put Lottie Woad as the betting favorite heading into AIG Women's British Open
Lottie Woad is the betting favorite to win the AIG Women's British Open in her only her second start as a professional. The former top-ranked amateur rose to No. 24 in the Rolex Rankings after winning the ISPS Hands Women's Scottish Open in her professional debut and will tee it up alongside 2024 British Open champion Lydia Ko and 2023 champ Lilia Vu in the first two rounds at Royal Porthcawl. How dominant is Woad right now? She's 55 under par in her last 12 rounds on the LET and LPGA, beating the field on average by five strokes with a 67.3 scoring average. Former British Open champ Catriona Matthew captained Woad at the Curtis Cup last year at Sunningdale and compared her to a young Karrie Webb. 'She's not out there for the glitz and the glam,' said Matthew, 'she just wants to be as good a golfer as she can be and go out and beat everyone.' Lottie Woad's recent run has been impressive It's how she's doing the winning that's impressive too, Matthew notes, taking Augusta National by storm with three birdies over the last four holes in 2024, running away from the field at the Irish Open to win by six, closing with a 64 at Evian to secure her LPGA card and then staring down major champions in Scotland to win by two. Woad, now playing in her eighth major championship, certainly isn't scared. 'All the players out there can hit the shots,' said Matthew, 'but what makes her special is that she can do it when she has to.' After her big win in Scotland, securing LPGA status through 2027, Woad and her family made the seven-hour drive to Wales to prep for her fourth major start of the season. After a missed cut at the Chevron, Woad tied for 31st at the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills and finished one shot shy of a playoff at the Amundi Evian Championship, taking a share of third with Minjee Lee. Woad plans to buy a car with $300K purse With her first tournament paycheck of $300,000, Woad plans to buy a new car when she gets back to the United States and, as was revealed on the broadcast last week, get a driver's license. She's seemingly taking it all in stride with a quiet confidence. 'I feel good, obviously,' said Woad. 'I don't feel too different, to be honest.' World No. 1 Nelly Korda played alongside Woad in the first three rounds of the Scottish Open and was impressed with her composure and process, noting that while others tend to fidget and change things in the heat of battle, Woad stuck to her routine and looked comfortable. The elder Korda, who turned 27 on Monday, called Woad 'absolutely amazing.' 'It was great for me that I got to play with her my pro debut,' said Woad of Korda. 'She's someone I've always looked up to. She's obviously an amazing player and a great competitor, and to hear she said something like that is really nice.' Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda impressed by Woad Even Ko, the most recent inductee of the LPGA of Fame, noted in her pre-tournament presser that she's looking forward to seeing what she can learn from Woad playing alongside her in the first two rounds. 'Just because you're a higher-ranked player doesn't mean that there's something that I can't learn from somebody else,' said Ko. 'She's obviously playing great golf. I've seen her swing, and my coach has sent me a video of her swing as well because there's aspects that I'm kind of going for that she has.' The Irish Open has been on and off the LET's schedule over the past 30 years, but, as noted in the LPGA's KPMG Performance Insights, Woad became only the second player to win the Irish and Scottish Opens in the same season, joining fellow Englishwoman Laura Davies (1994). No player has won the Irish, Scottish and British in the same year. What's the potential for Woad? Matthew is careful with her predictions, noting that Rose Zhang dramatically won her pro debut two years ago at the Mizuho Americas Open and then stalled. 'Obviously, you don't want to overhype it and go too over-the-top,' said Matthew, 'but the potential is there and the sky's the limit at the moment.' This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Lottie Woad is the betting favorite at Women's British Open
USA Today
4 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Bookmakers put Lottie Woad as the betting favorite heading into AIG Women's British Open
Lottie Woad is the betting favorite to win the AIG Women's British Open in her only her second start as a professional. The former top-ranked amateur rose to No. 24 in the Rolex Rankings after winning the ISPS Hands Women's Scottish Open in her professional debut and will tee it up alongside 2024 British Open champion Lydia Ko and 2023 champ Lilia Vu in the first two rounds at Royal Porthcawl. How dominant is Woad right now? She's 55 under par in her last 12 rounds on the LET and LPGA, beating the field on average by five strokes with a 67.3 scoring average. Former British Open champ Catriona Matthew captained Woad at the Curtis Cup last year at Sunningdale and compared her to a young Karrie Webb. 'She's not out there for the glitz and the glam,' said Matthew, 'she just wants to be as good a golfer as she can be and go out and beat everyone.' Lottie Woad's recent run has been impressive It's how she's doing the winning that's impressive too, Matthew notes, taking Augusta National by storm with three birdies over the last four holes in 2024, running away from the field at the Irish Open to win by six, closing with a 64 at Evian to secure her LPGA card and then staring down major champions in Scotland to win by two. Woad, now playing in her eighth major championship, certainly isn't scared. 'All the players out there can hit the shots,' said Matthew, 'but what makes her special is that she can do it when she has to.' After her big win in Scotland, securing LPGA status through 2027, Woad and her family made the seven-hour drive to Wales to prep for her fourth major start of the season. After a missed cut at the Chevron, Woad tied for 31st at the U.S. Women's Open at Erin Hills and finished one shot shy of a playoff at the Amundi Evian Championship, taking a share of third with Minjee Lee. Woad plans to buy a car with $300K purse With her first tournament paycheck of $300,000, Woad plans to buy a new car when she gets back to the United States and, as was revealed on the broadcast last week, get a driver's license. She's seemingly taking it all in stride with a quiet confidence. 'I feel good, obviously,' said Woad. 'I don't feel too different, to be honest.' World No. 1 Nelly Korda played alongside Woad in the first three rounds of the Scottish Open and was impressed with her composure and process, noting that while others tend to fidget and change things in the heat of battle, Woad stuck to her routine and looked comfortable. The elder Korda, who turned 27 on Monday, called Woad 'absolutely amazing.' 'It was great for me that I got to play with her my pro debut,' said Woad of Korda. 'She's someone I've always looked up to. She's obviously an amazing player and a great competitor, and to hear she said something like that is really nice.' Lydia Ko, Nelly Korda impressed by Woad Even Ko, the most recent inductee of the LPGA of Fame, noted in her pre-tournament presser that she's looking forward to seeing what she can learn from Woad playing alongside her in the first two rounds. 'Just because you're a higher-ranked player doesn't mean that there's something that I can't learn from somebody else,' said Ko. 'She's obviously playing great golf. I've seen her swing, and my coach has sent me a video of her swing as well because there's aspects that I'm kind of going for that she has.' The Irish Open has been on and off the LET's schedule over the past 30 years, but, as noted in the LPGA's KPMG Performance Insights, Woad became only the second player to win the Irish and Scottish Opens in the same season, joining fellow Englishwoman Laura Davies (1994). No player has won the Irish, Scottish and British in the same year. What's the potential for Woad? Matthew is careful with her predictions, noting that Rose Zhang dramatically won her pro debut two years ago at the Mizuho Americas Open and then stalled. 'Obviously, you don't want to overhype it and go too over-the-top,' said Matthew, 'but the potential is there and the sky's the limit at the moment.'
USA Today
9 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Nelly Korda celebrates 27th birthday by preparing to end victory drought at British Open
The final major of the LPGA season began with Nelly Korda's 27th birthday. The World No. 1 celebrated on Monday with her caddie, coach and a good friend who came to Wales from London. She also got her first glimpse of Royal Porthcawl. At this time last year, Korda had won six of her first 12 starts on the LPGA. In 2025, however, Korda has yet to win in her first dozen starts heading into the AIG Women's British Open – yet boasts a lower scoring average and better strokes gained total and strokes gained putting averages to this point last year, according to the tour's KPMG Performance Insights. While Korda dominated last season with seven wins, no player has won twice so far in 2025. This marks the first playing of the AIG at Royal Porthcawl, and Korda comes into the week after trying something new: playing the Scottish Open the week before. 'Typically with my body structure, I don't love to play two weeks in high winds because I start to sway a lot more,' said Korda, who finished fifth at Dundonald Links. 'Just something that I've noticed throughout the past couple years, but it just lined up perfectly with my schedule. For me, everything is about my schedule flowing.' Softer conditions at Dundonald led to more aggressive play, which won't be the case this week in Wales. Korda played the front nine at Royal Porthcawl on her birthday and chipped and putted around the back nine. She called the views on the first four holes breathtaking and said that with some wind, it will be a 'really, really hard test.' The forecast calls for gusts up to 25 mph on Thursday and 30 mph on Friday. 'I feel like it's maybe a little bit more demanding off the tee,' said Korda, 'as in maybe with other links courses, you can hit driver and there are some bunkers in the way, but here you definitely can't hit driver. It sometimes may be an iron off the tee, but then with the wind direction and the wind strength, there's just way too much trouble on the fairway. 'Once you're in one of those bunkers, like in all links golf courses, it's just a pitch-out.' Korda played alongside the hottest player in golf – Lottie Woad – for three rounds at the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open and called her achievements 'absolutely amazing.' In the month of July, Woad won the Irish Open as an amateur, finished tied for third at the Amundi Evian Championship to earn her tour card and then won in her pro debut in Scotland. 'I was very impressed with her composure, her process,' said Korda. 'I think, when it comes to her shot routine, especially under pressure and in the heat of the moment, sometimes people seem to fidget and kind of doubt themselves, but she stuck to it, she stuck to her process every single time, and I think that's one of the main things that I noticed is how mature she is for her age and how comfortable she was in the heat of the moment.' Korda noted earlier in her press conference that golf is a 'game of confidence,' and there's certainly no shortage of that right now with Woad. 'I've really been just enjoying myself,' said the humble Englishwoman who now ranks 24th in the world. 'Enjoyed being in these events and competing and being in contention, just try to have fun with it and not add too much stress really.' This week marks Korda's 10th appearance in the AIG. She has five top-15 finishes in nine starts, including a share of second last year at the Old Course. Her eight top-5 finishes in the majors – including two wins – since 2019 are the most on tour, with Minjee Lee coming in second with seven (and three wins). Korda was asked how important it is to her to be successful in an event like the British Open and establish herself as a global force. 'I feel like I don't really have anything more to prove to people ever,' said Korda. 'For me, it's just, I'm passionate about the game. I love the game. I love playing in these kind of conditions, testing my game, and getting to play against the best players in the world. "Having something to prove to myself, I don't think I really need to do that. For me, it's just enjoying it and being in the heat of the battle.'
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
3 players qualify for AIG Women's British after strong finish in Scotland
There was a tournament within a tournament going on at the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open as three spots for the LPGA's final major of the season were on the line. Julia Lopez Ramirez, Paula Reto and Mary Liu are all headed to Wales for the AIG Women's British Open at Royal Porthcawl. They'll now get to skip tomorrow's Final Qualifying at Pyle & Kenfig in Bridgend, Wales. Julia Lopez Ramirez, one of the longest players in the women's game, took a share of third after a closing 65 to punch her ticket. The LPGA rookie played in the final pairing of this year's U.S. Women's Open alongside eventual winner Maja Stark. "It was a really solid week for me, and it's the best finish this year, so very happy," said Lopez Ramirez. "My game was in a very good place, very consistent. I played under par every day. I think honestly that's a success and growing my game, and I'm excited for having the opportunity to play next week and to show up again." Veteran Paula Reto finished solo seventh after a closing 71. The 35-year-old South African has two top-30 finishes at the Women's British in only six starts. After a strong par save on the last, Reto hoped it would be enough to secure her spot at Porthcawl. "Obviously, I love that you don't have to hit perfect shots," said Reto of links golf. "So just that's something I really love to do, and being able to qualify today, I made like a good save on the last hole. I was really hoping it will bring me in." China's Mary Liu opened with a 76 at the Scottish Open and rebounded to finish solo fifth. Liu, who birdied the 18th on Sunday, called getting into the British part of the adventure of her second year on tour. "I feel it's a dream come true," she said.
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open prize money payouts for each LPGA player at Dundonald
After missing out on several big paychecks as an amateur, Lottie Woad finally got to cash in. The ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open featured a purse of $2 million and a winner's prize of $300,000. Woad closed with a 4-under 68 to win by three over Hyo Joo Kim in her professional debut. World No. 1 Nelly Korda finished eight back in solo fifth. Woad's July includes a victory at the KPMG Women's Irish Open on the LET and a share of third in the Amundi Evian Championship, where she missed out on a playoff by a single stroke. The Englishwoman is a whopping 55 under par in her last three starts on the LET and LPGA. The former top-ranked amateur heads next to the AIG Women's British Open in Wales. Here's the full purse breakdown for the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open:
