Before she was the name on everyone’s lips after her stunning victory at the Women’s Scottish Open, Woad was already making bold statements in the amateur ranks — impressing coaches, dominating tournaments, and carving out a reputation as a disciplined and relentless golfer.
Her journey began during the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. Florida State University coach Amy Bond, unable to recruit in person, took to online scouting. What she found was an English teenager with a polished swing and a relentless drive — both traits evident in the videos Woad posted to social media. Once restrictions lifted, Bond traveled to Carnoustie to see Woad compete in the British Girls Amateur. The impact was immediate.
“The first hole I saw her, she made birdie,” Bond recalled with a smile. “I knew we were going to have a great relationship.”
Woad went on to dismantle her opponent 7-and-6 on the storied links of Carnoustie, a course as unforgiving as any in the game. One week later, she stepped onto the Florida State campus for the first time, launching a collegiate career that would be etched into the school's history. In three seasons, she captured five individual titles, set the all-time school scoring record, climbed to No. 1 in the women’s world amateur rankings, and notched top-10 finishes in 25 of her 30 events.
Still, it was her triumph at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur — rallying with birdies on three of her last four holes — that truly announced her to a global audience. It was a sign of what was to come.
That promise became reality earlier this month in North Ayrshire, where the 21-year-old Woad made her professional debut at the Women’s Scottish Open and promptly stunned the field. Her four days at Dundonald Links were defined by precision, poise, and a startling level of comfort for someone new to the pro circuit. She made just three bogeys over 72 holes and held off a charge from veteran Hyo Joo Kim, finishing with four birdies in her final six holes to close out a two-shot victory.
“Pretty good first week at work,” Woad posted on social media — an understatement if ever there was one.
The win, which came with a $300,000 paycheck, would be impressive on its own. But it followed a dominant six-shot win at the Women’s Irish Open on the Ladies European Tour, and a tie for third at the Evian Championship, where Woad narrowly missed a playoff after failing to birdie the final hole. That result was enough to earn her LPGA status via the Elite Amateur Pathway program — effectively opening the door for her pro debut.
Florida State’s Amy Bond, who was with Woad in France, described the transition as seamless. “She looked eerily comfortable,” Bond noted. “That can be a hard jump for a lot of players, but she’s surrounded by great people — her parents, her swing coach Luke Bone — and that helps everything fall into place.”
In fact, it looked more than comfortable. Woad’s statistical dominance tells its own story: she’s a combined 55-under par across her last three tournaments, averaging just 67.4 strokes per round. That level of consistency and low scoring has already propelled her to No. 24 in the women’s world ranking — after just two weeks as a professional.
Her coach points to one of Woad’s secret weapons: meticulous attention to her wedge play. At Florida State, Woad tracked her yardages daily, recording even the slightest deviations to refine her control. If she aimed for 65 yards and ended up at 68, it went in the notebook.
That discipline showed in Scotland, particularly as she played the opening rounds alongside world No. 1 Nelly Korda and the fiery Charley Hull. Unfazed by the company, Woad held her nerve, ultimately topping a leaderboard packed with established stars.
The timing couldn’t be better for the women’s game. Korda, who dominated 2024 with seven wins, has yet to notch a victory in 2025. Rose Zhang, another high-profile prospect who won her LPGA debut in 2023, is balancing professional golf with her studies at Stanford. Woad’s ascension arrives as a fresh storyline, and the LPGA quickly recognized the moment, securing live television coverage of the Scottish Open’s final round.
Up next: the Women’s British Open at Royal Porthcawl in Wales. Just two weeks into her professional career, Woad enters the championship as the oddsmakers’ favorite at +650, ahead of Korda and Jeeno Thitikul.
She’s still learning the off-course ropes — including how to drive in the U.S. before buying a car with her first paycheck — but on the course, Lottie Woad already looks like a seasoned star.
And, if the past few weeks are any indication, this is only the beginning.