As final putts dropped on Sunday, Lottie Woad emerged triumphant in her first LPGA start – sealing the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open by three strokes with a closing 68, finishing at 21-under par. From the outset, Woad played aggressively. She birdied two of her first three holes to widen a lead she brought into the day. At 13 and 14, back-to-back birdies reasserted control—while a rare bogey at the 16th did little to derail momentum. A precise wedge at 17 set up a winning birdie, followed by a closing par at 18 to seal her place in history.
Hyo Joo Kim proved a formidable opponent. Her final-round 68—also closing at 21 under—was punctuated by seven birdies and one eagle, but bogeys on the back nine eased Woad’s path to victory. Kim held firm, yet ultimately had to settle for solo second at 18-under. In solo third were Julia López Ramirez and Sei Young Kim, both finishing at 14-under (274) with final-round 65 and 73, respectively. They round out a top-five containing Nelly Korda at 13-under and Nanna Koerstz Madsen at 11-under—holding steady into the weekend.
Kernding implications: Woad made history—becoming only the third player in modern LPGA history to win in her professional debut, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951). Her triumph earned her the $300,000 winner’s prize, part of a $2 million purse, and a two-year champion’s exemption on tour.
Woad has arrived. Her flawless tempo, tactical maturity, and clutch short game underline a transition few make look so seamless. Meanwhile, Kim’s veteran tenacity reaffirms her place in the game’s upper echelons. The Scottish Open scripted a chapter of record-setting promise—two championship debuts, one equipped with nerves of steel, the other with resilience etched in experience. Winner, runner-up, and the tight leaderboard behind them all reinforce a Sunday finale where talent and terrain delivered drama—and a debut for the ages.
