Lottie Woad, one of the UK’s most talked-about amateur golf talents, has officially joined the professional ranks and is set to make her debut at the ISPS Handa Women’s Scottish Open this week. The 21-year-old Englishwoman arrives on the LPGA and Ladies European Tour stage after a phenomenal amateur run that has turned heads across the golfing world.
Her decision to turn pro follows a standout performance at the Amundi Evian Championship, where she tied for third, just two shots behind the winner. That impressive showing earned her enough points to qualify for LPGA Tour status via the LPGA’s Elite Amateur Pathway, which grants access to players who accumulate 20 points across designated events. With that milestone reached, the choice to go pro became a natural next step for the former world No. 1 amateur.
Woad has built an impressive resume over the past year. She won the prestigious Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2024, lifted the Smyth Salver as the top amateur at the AIG Women’s Open, and played a key role in helping Great Britain and Ireland secure victory in the Curtis Cup. Her consistent excellence extended across both sides of the Atlantic, with notable college wins while representing Florida State University and strong showings in elite amateur events globally.
Despite her amateur status, Woad showed she could compete with the best, finishing as the leading amateur at multiple majors and even contending for the title in France just last week. The final round 64 at Evian not only proved her readiness for the big leagues but also offered a glimpse of what she might bring to the professional circuit.
The timing of her transition couldn’t be more symbolic. The Scottish Open, played at Dundonald Links from July 24 to 27, will be her first event as a professional. She’ll follow that by teeing it up at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Porthcawl, scheduled for July 31 to August 3—her first major start as a pro.
Woad’s debut comes amid growing excitement around women’s golf in the UK, and she enters the field with momentum, experience, and high expectations. With her combination of power, precision, and maturity beyond her years, Lottie Woad may very well be the next British breakout star in global women’s golf.
