Lottie Woad’s serene play as a front-runner at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open has put her in a remarkable position to win on her debut as a professional.
The fast-rising England starlet will take a two-shot lead into today’s final round at the Dundonald Links after reaching 17-under-par.
Her third round of five-under 67 kept the chasing pack at bay with more of the accuracy off the tee, sublime wedge play and sure putting that featured in her 67-65 start to the tournament.
Not since American Rose Zhang in 2023 has a young golfer achieved the rare feat of winning on her professional debut on the LPGA Tour.
Woad will have plenty of family cheering her on with her Scotland-based grandma expected to join the galleries for the final 18 holes.
It has become a race in five with Korean Sei-Young Kim and Dane Nanna Koerstz Madsen joint second at 15-under. Korean Hyo-Joo Kim is a stroke further back after a Saturday 66.
American world No.1 Nelly Korda fell five strokes off the pace at 12-under with her 70. She made just two birdies with her short game skills more often working for some fine par saves in her bogey-free round. Korea’s Hye-Jin Choi was only the second golfer to shoot 65 this week, in the third round, but Korda may have to go even lower in the final round to have a chance of catching Woad.
At just 21, Woad’s game is mesmerising. The youngster from Surrey has missed just a handful of greens in regulation all week (six of 54), her wedge play is dialled in and she rammed home her sixth birdie putt on Saturday from inside 2m on the 17th with pure authority.
“I hit a lot of greens again today and probably (played) the best tee-to-green compared to the first two days. I just didn’t hole maybe as many putts but generally I hit a lot of good putts,” Woad said.
If anyone was going to scramble Woad’s calm plotting around the course it was playing partner Koerstz Madsen because she was so wayward at times.
She drove into the long rough left and then, on the 13th, lost her drive right. On the final hole, she needed a TV camera removed from a gorse-covered hillock in front of her when she again speared her drive right and needed to get back into position.
The Dane deserves enormous credit for her 67 when so wild off the tee for much of it. She had as many birdies as she found fairways (five).
She holed a miracle chip over a hump and down a slick slope for eagle on the par five third to briefly join Woad in the lead. The ball might have skated 8m by but for hitting the pin.
On the homeward nine, the Danish golfer holed two massive putts of 10m or more for birdies. She was off to the range to work out her driver post-round.
Playing with her, Woad stayed in own bubble which is what she has to do in Sunday’s final round.
“I definitely stayed patient. Especially when she chipped in for eagle, I had to kind of try and make some birdies. I knew I was hitting it close so I had to just try and keep on doing that, really,” Woad said.
Handling the pressure for her win at the recent Irish Open and third at the Evian Championship will be experiences to call on, as well as sleeping on the lead going into the final round of her 2024 victory at the Augusta National Women’s Amateur.
“I’ve had some experience sleeping on leads whether that be in Ireland or at Augusta. So yeah, I know what to expect. Obviously, there will be some nerves but looking forward to it,” Woad added.
And the possibility of winning on her professional debut?
“Yeah, that would definitely be cool. Obviously, you can’t control what other people are doing. If someone shoots the lights out, fair enough. I’m just going to try and play well, and if I play well, I’ll be happy,” she said.
Korda has been impressed. It’s nine years since she made her own pro debut at 17 in 2016.
“That was so long ago. Gosh, this is my 10th year on tour. Obviously, my professional debut (on the second-tier Symetra Tour) not as in the limelight like her,” Korda said.
“But for her to succeed and to be leading the event is pretty special.”
Sei-Young Kim had her third eagle of a strong week when she stroked in a putt from more than 10m on the par five 14th during her fine 66. She is a 12-time winner on the LPGA Tour although not since 2020. She has the career experience. Woad has the hot form.
“It’s been a while since the last win. I’m waiting long time. I’m still working hard and always, always the goal is to reach and win the tournament. We’ll see,” she said.
