Lottie Woad Excited to Defend Scottish Open Title That Launched Her Professional Career

Lottie Woad Excited to Defend Scottish Open Title That Launched Her Professional Career

By Alex Christian|MBCF News _July 22, 2026

DUNDONALD, Scotland — Lottie Woad says she is looking forward to returning to the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open, the tournament where she made history by winning on her professional debut last year.

The 22-year-old English golfer captured the 2025 Scottish Open title at Dundonald Links after taking a two-shot lead into the final round and holding off South Korea's Hyo Joo Kim to secure victory.

The win made Woad only the third player in LPGA Tour history to win on her first professional start, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).

Since that breakthrough victory, Woad has climbed to No. 5 in the Rolex Women's World Rankings and claimed her second LPGA Tour title at the Kroger Queen City Championship earlier this year.

Woad also recorded top-10 finishes at several major championships, including tied seventh at the 2026 Chevron Championship, while leading after two rounds of the 2026 Amundi Evian Championship before finishing tied for 16th.

The defending champion returns to Dundonald Links this week grouped with world No. 1 Nelly Korda and England's Charley Hull for the opening two rounds.

"I didn't appreciate at the time, obviously being my first event," Woad said.

"I didn't know what to expect. But now I've been playing every week and playing with the same people and obviously seeing how good everyone is, it definitely feels more special now."

She added: "Very excited to be back. It's a little different to last year, I've got the family here as well. It will be a fun week."

Reflecting on the past year since turning professional, Woad said she has gained valuable experience despite a demanding schedule.

"It's definitely been a long year," she said. "I've played a lot of golf, had a lot of new experiences."

"I've definitely learned some things as well in the year."

"It's nice to come back to where I guess it all started, my pro debut here. I've been happy with how I've been playing."

"At Evian, it wasn't the weekend I wanted there. But I'm trying to take what I can from that, still playing good golf but also learning too."

Woad said she expects large crowds again after being paired with Korda, who won both the Chevron Championship and the U.S. Women's Open this season.

"I think every event she's at, she's the person everybody is coming to see. She's No. 1 in the world," Woad said.

"Last year I was playing with her and we got a really big crowd. Playing with her again this year so I expect it to be the same."

"I hope it goes same as last year."

Former major champion Dame Laura Davies praised Woad's confidence after last year's victory, saying the young Englishwoman "has every part of her game" and possesses "all the qualities to become a rockstar of the future."

The ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open begins Thursday at Dundonald Links, with Woad aiming to become a successful title defender at the event.

Analysis: Lottie Woad Returns to the Tournament That Changed Everything

Lottie Woad's return to the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open is more than the defense of a title—it is the return to the place where one of women's golf's most remarkable modern success stories began. One year ago, the English golfer arrived at Dundonald Links as a promising young amateur-turned-professional. She leaves a year later as one of the world's top-ranked players, proving that her breakthrough victory was no one-week wonder.

Winning on a professional debut is one of the rarest achievements in golf. The transition from amateur to professional is often challenging, with players needing time to adapt to stronger competition, demanding travel schedules and the pressure of competing for prize money and world ranking points. Woad skipped that adjustment period entirely. Her victory placed her alongside only Rose Zhang and Beverly Hanson as the only players in LPGA Tour history to win in their first professional start, instantly making her one of the game's brightest young stars.

That victory also changed expectations. Before the Scottish Open, Woad was viewed as one of England's most talented prospects after a decorated amateur career that included winning the Augusta National Women's Amateur and reaching world No. 1 in the amateur rankings. After lifting the trophy in Scotland, however, she was no longer simply a future talent. She became a player expected to contend regularly against the best golfers in the world.

The past year has shown that those expectations were justified. Woad has climbed to No. 5 in the Rolex Women's World Rankings and added another LPGA Tour title at the Kroger Queen City Championship. She has also produced several impressive finishes in major championships, showing she can compete consistently on golf's biggest stages rather than relying on a single memorable victory.

Her comments before returning to Dundonald Links also reveal how quickly life has changed. Woad admitted she did not fully appreciate the significance of her Scottish Open victory at the time because it was her first professional tournament. Now, after spending a full season competing against the world's best players every week, she understands just how difficult winning on the LPGA Tour really is. That perspective gives her debut victory even greater meaning.

The mental side of golf is often overlooked, but Woad's reflections suggest she has matured as much mentally as technically. Instead of focusing only on trophies, she spoke about learning from every experience, including disappointing finishes. Her tied-16th result at the Amundi Evian Championship may not have met her expectations after leading halfway through the tournament, but she described it as another opportunity to improve rather than a setback. That attitude is common among elite athletes who build long-term success through constant learning.

Returning as defending champion presents a very different challenge compared with arriving as an outsider. Last year, Woad played with relatively little pressure. This year, she arrives as one of the favourites, with fans, media and fellow competitors expecting another strong performance. Defending a title can often be harder than winning it for the first time because every player wants to beat the champion.

The challenge becomes even greater because Woad will again play alongside world No. 1 Nelly Korda. Korda remains the biggest attraction in women's golf, drawing large crowds wherever she competes. Woad acknowledged that reality, noting that fans naturally come to watch the world No. 1. Yet playing with Korda also provides another opportunity to measure herself against the player many consider the standard in women's golf.

Their pairing creates one of the most compelling storylines of the tournament. Last year, Woad stunned the golf world by outperforming one of its biggest stars during her professional debut. This year, she has the chance to prove that result was no accident. Another strong performance would further strengthen her reputation as one of the LPGA Tour's future leaders.

Former major champion Dame Laura Davies described Woad as someone with all the qualities to become a "rock star" of women's golf. While such praise can create additional pressure, Woad has so far handled growing attention with remarkable composure. Her interviews remain measured and humble, focusing on improving her game rather than chasing headlines. That grounded personality could become one of her greatest strengths as expectations continue to rise.

Women's golf is currently enjoying an exciting generation of young talent. Established stars such as Nelly Korda continue to dominate major championships, while emerging players like Woad are pushing the competition to even higher levels. This combination benefits the LPGA Tour by creating fresh rivalries that attract fans and increase interest in tournaments throughout the season.

For British golf, Woad's emergence is especially significant. England has produced several successful golfers over the years, but Woad's rapid rise gives British fans another player capable of competing regularly for LPGA titles and major championships. Her success also provides inspiration for young golfers who dream of following a similar path from amateur success to professional victories.

The Scottish Open itself also gains added importance through Woad's return. Defending champions naturally bring extra attention to any tournament, but Woad's remarkable story gives this week's event an emotional connection. Fans will remember where her professional journey truly began and will be eager to see whether history can repeat itself.

Ultimately, this tournament is about more than defending a trophy. It is about measuring how far Woad has progressed over the past year. Her world ranking, victories and consistent performances already suggest she belongs among golf's elite. A successful title defence would provide even stronger evidence that she is becoming one of the defining players of her generation.

Whether Woad lifts the trophy again or not, her return to Dundonald Links highlights one of the fastest rises in recent women's golf. The course where she announced herself to the sporting world has become a symbol of her remarkable journey, and this week's Scottish Open offers another opportunity to write the next chapter in what is already an extraordinary career.

Source: Sky Sports