Latest news with #Women'sScottishOpen
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lottie Woad makes a big impression and already is the talk of women's golf
The Women's Scottish Open wasn't the first time Lottie Woad made an immediate impression. Florida State coach Amy Bond had been recruiting the English girl with a strong work ethic, limited to chatting online and studying the swings Woad posted on social media because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When travel restrictions loosened, Bond headed to Carnoustie for the British Girls Amateur. 'The first hole I saw her, she made birdie. I knew we were going to have a great relationship," Bond recalled with a laugh. Woad went on to a 7-and-6 victory on the links reputed to be as tough as any. The next week she arrived on the Florida State campus for the first time to begin a distinguished college career. Woad won five times, set the school record for career scoring average, reached No. 1 in the women's world amateur ranking and finished in the top 10 in 25 of her 30 tournaments. What first brought her acclaim was a Saturday at the home of the Masters, where Woad birdied three of her last four holes to win the Augusta National Women's Amateur. Now she is the talk of women's golf, winning the Women's Scottish Open in her professional debut with such precision the 21-year-old Woad made it look routine. 'I guess that's a pretty good first week at work,' Woad posted on social media. Next up is the Women's British Open this week at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. Woad has been a professional for all of two weeks, and BetMGM Sportsbook already lists her as the favorite at +650, followed by Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul, Nos. 1 and 2 in the women's world ranking. This could be the spark that women's golf needs. Korda is winless this year, surprising after her seven-win season in 2024. Rose Zhang, who also won an LPGA title in her pro debut in 2023, is trying to play and finish her degree at Stanford. LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler seized on Woad's big moment by getting the final round of the Women's Scottish Open — available on streaming and then tape delay — live coverage on linear TV (CNBC). 'It's fun that everybody gets to see what I saw,' Bond said. She saw a player with a relentless work ethic who would often take an Uber to the course in the morning. Woad said she wanted to buy a car with her first check — $300,000 from the Women's Scottish Open — only to reveal Sunday she first needs a U.S. driver's license. She appears to be on the superhighway to success. It started earlier this month when Woad won the Women's Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour by six shots over Madelene Sagstrom, who earlier this year won the LPGA Match Play at Shadow Creek. The next week, she was leading in the final round of an LPGA major when Woad failed to birdie the par-5 18th at the Evian Championship and wound up missing a playoff by one shot. But a tie for third gave her the final point she needed in the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway program to get an LPGA card, and it made sense for her to turn pro. Bond posted a series of photos when Woad decided to turn pro two weeks ago, including the day she signed with the Seminoles and when she first set foot on campus. She was with Woad in France and couldn't help but notice that she looked 'eerily comfortable.' 'Sometimes it can be a hard transition from amateur golf to professional golf,' Bond said. 'But she has great people around, her parents, her swing coach Luke Bone, who is phenomenal. You've got to have that for the ease of things to work out.' Ease was an appropriate description, for that's how it looked at Dundonald Links. Woad is plenty long off the tee. She is renowned for her elite wedge play, which Bond says she honed the last two years at Florida State. 'She keeps track of all that stuff every day,' Bond said. 'We have a set routine for different yardages, and she writes down everything. If she's trying to hit it 65 yards and hits it 68 or 72, she's writing it down to see if she can get it close.' Most remarkable about her win at the Women's Scottish Open — beyond making only three bogeys over 72 holes — was the composure she showed while playing the first two rounds with Korda and the high-charged Charley Hull. Staked to a two-shot lead in the final round, Hyo Joo Kim made a charge to tie for the lead. Woad eased on the accelerator and pulled away with four birdies on the last six holes. Pretty good first week at work. That's how it looked at the end. Woad rapped in a final birdie, took the ball out of the cup and slid it into her pocket, offering a polite wave to the gallery. It had the look of someone who had been there before. Woad is 55-under par in her last three tournaments, a scoring average of 67.4. She now is No. 24 in the women's world ranking. She has the look of someone just getting started. ___ On The Fringe analyzes the biggest topics in golf during the season. More AP golf: Doug Ferguson, The Associated Press
South Wales Guardian
9 hours ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Lottie Woad under no extra pressure at Women's Open after first professional win
Woad tees it up at a major as a pro for the first time in South Wales on Thursday, having won the Women's Scottish Open title by three shots last weekend. The 21-year-old from Surrey picked up a 300,000 dollars (£223,000) cheque after being prevented from profiting financially from her victory at the Irish Open and tied-third finish in The Evian Championship earlier this month because of her amateur status. United States-based Woad revealed at her pre-Open press conference how she would spend some of her first career earnings – saying, 'I need to get a car in America' – and the bookmakers are expecting another windfall to come her way on the Harry Colt links layout. 'I don't know how they do it, but I feel like I'm playing well,' Woad said in response to being priced as the pre-tournament favourite. 'So I guess I was going to be one of the favourites. Obviously everyone's so good, so I feel like anyone can win really. 'You've seen it this year, so many – I think every winner has been different. So there's many people it could be. She's here… 👀 Fresh off her first professional win, Lottie Woad has arrived at Royal Porthcawl 🏴 — AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) July 28, 2025 'There's always pressure obviously, but I don't think there's any more than there was, like from my perspective, before any of the last fewweeks. 'Kind of still was wanting to contend there and that's still the aim.' Woad's last appearance at a major – the Evian Championship in France three weeks ago – saw her narrowly missing out on becoming the first amateur to win one in 58 years. She finished one shot off making the play-off with eventual champion Grace Kim and Atthaya Thitikul after posting a final round 64. Woad said: 'I think it gave me a lot (of confidence). 'Some of the majors I made the cut, I didn't really have the best weekend on. So I was hoping to capitalise a bit more on that one. 'The final round was also very good. Yeah, it definitely gives me confidence in that and knowing that I can chase it down on Sunday. 'I don't feel too different. I've got a lot of confidence from the last month really and I'm just trying to continue to ride that.' World number one Nelly Korda, Open runner-up to Lydia Ko at St Andrews 12 months ago, praised Woad's composure and maturity, with the American saying she was 'definitely high up there right now' as a title contender. Woad said: 'I don't think I've reflected too much, to be honest (on the last month). 'I think after this big week, I've got a week before I go out to America. That's probably when I'll look back at the last few months and kind of reflect on that.'
North Wales Chronicle
10 hours ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Lottie Woad under no extra pressure at Women's Open after first professional win
Woad tees it up at a major as a pro for the first time in South Wales on Thursday, having won the Women's Scottish Open title by three shots last weekend. The 21-year-old from Surrey picked up a 300,000 dollars (£223,000) cheque after being prevented from profiting financially from her victory at the Irish Open and tied-third finish in The Evian Championship earlier this month because of her amateur status. United States-based Woad revealed at her pre-Open press conference how she would spend some of her first career earnings – saying, 'I need to get a car in America' – and the bookmakers are expecting another windfall to come her way on the Harry Colt links layout. 'I don't know how they do it, but I feel like I'm playing well,' Woad said in response to being priced as the pre-tournament favourite. 'So I guess I was going to be one of the favourites. Obviously everyone's so good, so I feel like anyone can win really. 'You've seen it this year, so many – I think every winner has been different. So there's many people it could be. She's here… 👀 Fresh off her first professional win, Lottie Woad has arrived at Royal Porthcawl 🏴 — AIG Women's Open (@AIGWomensOpen) July 28, 2025 'There's always pressure obviously, but I don't think there's any more than there was, like from my perspective, before any of the last fewweeks. 'Kind of still was wanting to contend there and that's still the aim.' Woad's last appearance at a major – the Evian Championship in France three weeks ago – saw her narrowly missing out on becoming the first amateur to win one in 58 years. She finished one shot off making the play-off with eventual champion Grace Kim and Atthaya Thitikul after posting a final round 64. Woad said: 'I think it gave me a lot (of confidence). 'Some of the majors I made the cut, I didn't really have the best weekend on. So I was hoping to capitalise a bit more on that one. 'The final round was also very good. Yeah, it definitely gives me confidence in that and knowing that I can chase it down on Sunday. 'I don't feel too different. I've got a lot of confidence from the last month really and I'm just trying to continue to ride that.' World number one Nelly Korda, Open runner-up to Lydia Ko at St Andrews 12 months ago, praised Woad's composure and maturity, with the American saying she was 'definitely high up there right now' as a title contender. Woad said: 'I don't think I've reflected too much, to be honest (on the last month). 'I think after this big week, I've got a week before I go out to America. That's probably when I'll look back at the last few months and kind of reflect on that.'
Yahoo
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lottie Woad makes a big impression and already is the talk of women's golf
The Women's Scottish Open wasn't the first time Lottie Woad made an immediate impression. Florida State coach Amy Bond had been recruiting the English girl with a strong work ethic, limited to chatting online and studying the swings Woad posted on social media because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When travel restrictions loosened, Bond headed to Carnoustie for the British Girls Amateur. 'The first hole I saw her, she made birdie. I knew we were going to have a great relationship," Bond recalled with a laugh. Woad went on to a 7-and-6 victory on the links reputed to be as tough as any. The next week she arrived on the Florida State campus for the first time to begin a distinguished college career. Woad won five times, set the school record for career scoring average, reached No. 1 in the women's world amateur ranking and finished in the top 10 in 25 of her 30 tournaments. What first brought her acclaim was a Saturday at the home of the Masters, where Woad birdied three of her last four holes to win the Augusta National Women's Amateur. Now she is the talk of women's golf, winning the Women's Scottish Open in her professional debut with such precision the 21-year-old Woad made it look routine. 'I guess that's a pretty good first week at work,' Woad posted on social media. Next up is the Women's British Open this week at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. Woad has been a professional for all of two weeks, and BetMGM Sportsbook already lists her as the favorite at +650, followed by Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul, Nos. 1 and 2 in the women's world ranking. This could be the spark that women's golf needs. Korda is winless this year, surprising after her seven-win season in 2024. Rose Zhang, who also won an LPGA title in her pro debut in 2023, is trying to play and finish her degree at Stanford. LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler seized on Woad's big moment by getting the final round of the Women's Scottish Open — available on streaming and then tape delay — live coverage on linear TV (CNBC). 'It's fun that everybody gets to see what I saw,' Bond said. She saw a player with a relentless work ethic who would often take an Uber to the course in the morning. Woad said she wanted to buy a car with her first check — $300,000 from the Women's Scottish Open — only to reveal Sunday she first needs a U.S. driver's license. She appears to be on the superhighway to success. It started earlier this month when Woad won the Women's Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour by six shots over Madelene Sagstrom, who earlier this year won the LPGA Match Play at Shadow Creek. The next week, she was leading in the final round of an LPGA major when Woad failed to birdie the par-5 18th at the Evian Championship and wound up missing a playoff by one shot. But a tie for third gave her the final point she needed in the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway program to get an LPGA card, and it made sense for her to turn pro. Bond posted a series of photos when Woad decided to turn pro two weeks ago, including the day she signed with the Seminoles and when she first set foot on campus. She was with Woad in France and couldn't help but notice that she looked 'eerily comfortable.' 'Sometimes it can be a hard transition from amateur golf to professional golf,' Bond said. 'But she has great people around, her parents, her swing coach Luke Bone, who is phenomenal. You've got to have that for the ease of things to work out.' Ease was an appropriate description, for that's how it looked at Dundonald Links. Woad is plenty long off the tee. She is renowned for her elite wedge play, which Bond says she honed the last two years at Florida State. 'She keeps track of all that stuff every day,' Bond said. 'We have a set routine for different yardages, and she writes down everything. If she's trying to hit it 65 yards and hits it 68 or 72, she's writing it down to see if she can get it close.' Most remarkable about her win at the Women's Scottish Open — beyond making only three bogeys over 72 holes — was the composure she showed while playing the first two rounds with Korda and the high-charged Charley Hull. Staked to a two-shot lead in the final round, Hyo Joo Kim made a charge to tie for the lead. Woad eased on the accelerator and pulled away with four birdies on the last six holes. Pretty good first week at work. That's how it looked at the end. Woad rapped in a final birdie, took the ball out of the cup and slid it into her pocket, offering a polite wave to the gallery. It had the look of someone who had been there before. Woad is 55-under par in her last three tournaments, a scoring average of 67.4. She now is No. 24 in the women's world ranking. She has the look of someone just getting started. ___ On The Fringe analyzes the biggest topics in golf during the season. More AP golf:
Winnipeg Free Press
13 hours ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Lottie Woad makes a big impression and already is the talk of women's golf
The Women's Scottish Open wasn't the first time Lottie Woad made an immediate impression. Florida State coach Amy Bond had been recruiting the English girl with a strong work ethic, limited to chatting online and studying the swings Woad posted on social media because of the COVID-19 pandemic. When travel restrictions loosened, Bond headed to Carnoustie for the British Girls Amateur. 'The first hole I saw her, she made birdie. I knew we were going to have a great relationship,' Bond recalled with a laugh. Woad went on to a 7-and-6 victory on the links reputed to be as tough as any. The next week she arrived on the Florida State campus for the first time to begin a distinguished college career. Woad won five times, set the school record for career scoring average, reached No. 1 in the women's world amateur ranking and finished in the top 10 in 25 of her 30 tournaments. What first brought her acclaim was a Saturday at the home of the Masters, where Woad birdied three of her last four holes to win the Augusta National Women's Amateur. Now she is the talk of women's golf, winning the Women's Scottish Open in her professional debut with such precision the 21-year-old Woad made it look routine. 'I guess that's a pretty good first week at work,' Woad posted on social media. Next up is the Women's British Open this week at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. Woad has been a professional for all of two weeks, and BetMGM Sportsbook already lists her as the favorite at +650, followed by Nelly Korda and Jeeno Thitikul, Nos. 1 and 2 in the women's world ranking. This could be the spark that women's golf needs. Korda is winless this year, surprising after her seven-win season in 2024. Rose Zhang, who also won an LPGA title in her pro debut in 2023, is trying to play and finish her degree at Stanford. LPGA Commissioner Craig Kessler seized on Woad's big moment by getting the final round of the Women's Scottish Open — available on streaming and then tape delay — live coverage on linear TV (CNBC). 'It's fun that everybody gets to see what I saw,' Bond said. She saw a player with a relentless work ethic who would often take an Uber to the course in the morning. Woad said she wanted to buy a car with her first check — $300,000 from the Women's Scottish Open — only to reveal Sunday she first needs a U.S. driver's license. She appears to be on the superhighway to success. It started earlier this month when Woad won the Women's Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour by six shots over Madelene Sagstrom, who earlier this year won the LPGA Match Play at Shadow Creek. The next week, she was leading in the final round of an LPGA major when Woad failed to birdie the par-5 18th at the Evian Championship and wound up missing a playoff by one shot. But a tie for third gave her the final point she needed in the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway program to get an LPGA card, and it made sense for her to turn pro. Bond posted a series of photos when Woad decided to turn pro two weeks ago, including the day she signed with the Seminoles and when she first set foot on campus. She was with Woad in France and couldn't help but notice that she looked 'eerily comfortable.' 'Sometimes it can be a hard transition from amateur golf to professional golf,' Bond said. 'But she has great people around, her parents, her swing coach Luke Bone, who is phenomenal. You've got to have that for the ease of things to work out.' Ease was an appropriate description, for that's how it looked at Dundonald Links. Woad is plenty long off the tee. She is renowned for her elite wedge play, which Bond says she honed the last two years at Florida State. 'She keeps track of all that stuff every day,' Bond said. 'We have a set routine for different yardages, and she writes down everything. If she's trying to hit it 65 yards and hits it 68 or 72, she's writing it down to see if she can get it close.' Most remarkable about her win at the Women's Scottish Open — beyond making only three bogeys over 72 holes — was the composure she showed while playing the first two rounds with Korda and the high-charged Charley Hull. Staked to a two-shot lead in the final round, Hyo Joo Kim made a charge to tie for the lead. Woad eased on the accelerator and pulled away with four birdies on the last six holes. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. Pretty good first week at work. That's how it looked at the end. Woad rapped in a final birdie, took the ball out of the cup and slid it into her pocket, offering a polite wave to the gallery. It had the look of someone who had been there before. Woad is 55-under par in her last three tournaments, a scoring average of 67.4. She now is No. 24 in the women's world ranking. She has the look of someone just getting started. ___ On The Fringe analyzes the biggest topics in golf during the season. More AP golf:
