Lottie Woad has been thinking about professional debut 'for a long time' ahead of bow at ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open
Lottie Woad is relishing getting her professional career under way so close to home; she will now appear at the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open and the AIG Women's Open as a professional; watch the best golf every week live on Sky Sports or stream contract-free with NOW
Wednesday 23 July 2025 18:37, UK
English amateur star Lottie Woad insisted turning professional has long been on her mind ahead of her pro debut at the ISPS Handa Scottish Open this week.
Woad became the first amateur winner on the Ladies European Tour since 2022 and secured her maiden victory in a professional event with a dominant six-shot victory at the KPMG Women's Irish Open.
The 21-year-old threatened to become the first amateur major champion in 58 years a week later at The Amundi Evian Championship, finishing tied-third in France after a stunning final-round 64.
That performance saw her reach the 20 points necessary to be eligible for LPGA Membership through the LPGA Elite Amateur Pathway (LEAP), with Woad now taking that option and turning professional. This week's Scottish Open is her maiden professional tournament.
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"I am obviously very excited," she said. "I have been thinking about making my professional debut for a long time. Excited to do it more on home soil, as well. It's going to be really fun.
"Evian was cool. Sunday was obviously a really fun day being in contention and being close in the end. Yeah, and then obviously got my LPGA card from that, and so it was a pretty easy decision once I'd spoken to my coaches and my team."
Hull inspired by Woad's rapid rise
Woad won the 2024 Augusta National Women's Amateur and moved top of the amateur world rankings later that summer, before securing the Smyth Salver for being the leading amateur at the AIG Women's Open.
She followed her tied-10th finish at St Andrews by helping Great Britain and Ireland to victory over the United States in the Curtis Cup, with Woad impressing for Florida State and winning multiple college events in America.
Woad finished as leading amateur at the US Women's Open and won the Vagliano Trophy with Great Britain and Ireland this summer, while her performance at the Evian Championship was her last as an amateur.
Charley Hull, who shares a putting coach with Woad, was full of admiration for the 20-year-old's rapid ascent.
"It's really good," Hull said. "Obviously we share the same coach, putting coach, Nic, and he's always said how good she is.
"It's just nice to see someone young coming through and that inspires everyone, do you know what I mean, even the older players on tour."
Hull also praised Woad's passion for the game, adding: "What I like about Lottie as well, she loves golf so much. She's just obsessed with golf, and I love that because I'm the same, and I think she and her dad should be really proud of her."
'I was out for over a minute' - Hull on Evian withdrawal
Hull arrives at the Women's Scottish Open still recovering from a virus that forced her withdrawal from the Evian Championship.
"I was actually playing really solid golf," she explained, "but I felt really dizzy and had cold sweats, no energy. My eyesight and hearing went, and I collapsed. I was out for over a minute.
"They took my blood pressure - it was 80/50 - and my blood sugar was 0.4. I think I just had a really bad virus.
"I've not been to the gym in two weeks and I'm not going to go for another two. I need my immune system to catch up."
Despite not feeling 100 per cent, Hull remains optimistic about her form heading into the week.
"I've still been practising pretty hard," she added. "I love coming to Scotland - it still feels like home soil.
"Beware of the sick golfer, right? That's why I wanted to finish off at Evian."
What's next?
The next event on both the LPGA Tour and Ladies European Tour schedule is the ISPS Handa Scottish Open, taking place at Dundonald Links from July 24-27 and live on Sky Sports.
The women's major season then concludes at the AIG Women's Open from July 31-August 3, with Lydia Ko returning as defending champion at Royal Porthcawl.
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