England’s Lottie Woad today upstaged world No.1 Nelly Korda in her opening round as a pro with a fine 67 at the ISPS HANDA Women’s Scottish Open.
Golf is never just about 18 holes in isolation when scripts are written over four rounds, in varying conditions and across taxing seasons in multiple countries. As her first round as a pro on the Dundonald Links on Scotland’s west coast, Woad could not have done any more to impress.
The stage could also not have been bigger because she wasn’t allowed to tip-toe on quietly. She was paired with Korda and English drawcard Charley Hull so the opening day galleries were always going to be drawn to this trio.
Woad (pictured above) fired six birdies in a round of five-under-par 67 that included just the one hiccup when she three-putted for bogey on the 17th. Korda had seven birdies of her own in 68 while Hull’s return to play, after fainting on-course at the Evian Championship, was a 71.
When the dust had settled on the opening round, Woad, just 21, found herself in a five-way tie for second just a shot behind English leader Charlotte Laffar (66), who found eight birdies after bogeying her opening hole.
Laffar’s round was no less a beacon that golf can be about so many different life stories. Laffar (pictured below) has only returned to tournament golf this year after four years away to raise her two young sons.
Was her hot round a surprise?
“Yes and no really. I’ve got no pressure at all. Golf is a lot of people’s lives out here, but my children are my life. So this has become more of a working hobby I suppose you could say. I’ve just got to enjoy every moment. I don’t know how long I’m going to do it for. See how it goes. The kids, I’ve got to show them how I used to play, so, yeah,” Laffar said.
Woad sits second with Ireland’s Leona Maguire, Spain’s Nuria Iturrioz, Japan’s Rio Takeda and Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol after a low-scoring day where 23 players broke 70.
Woad reached the outright lead early in the day at six-under by the par five 14th when she spun a wedge inside 2m and made the birdie.
She was all composure in perfect morning conditions and was unruffled as the wind gained some teeth late in her round. Her recent Irish Open win as an amateur had told the golf world that.
“I just played solid. I was able to play pretty stress free,” Woad said matter-of-factly after missing just two greens in regulation all day.
When asked post-round if it had felt any different playing for a purse rather than as an amateur, the former world No.1 amateur was again understated.
“It didn’t feel too different. I think having all the experience I’ve had in majors and contending gave me all I needed and I didn’t really have to change much,” she said.
It’s true. She may have been playing her first round as a pro but she already had the experience of playing in seven majors to call on.
Her grouping was an upbeat environment too: “It was great. A lot of crowds today, which was nice. Everyone in our group played well so we could feed off each other a little bit.”
For Korda, this is a first visit to the Women’s Scottish Open. She is thoroughly enjoying the setting on the Ayrshire coast but she is also getting her bearings.
“Overall, I’m very happy with my round. I wouldn’t say it’s traditional links conditions with things a little softer (from recent rain) so you can be more aggressive,” Korda said.
She gave Woad full credit for her outstanding form of recent times: “She has had an amazing run the last couple of weeks and deserves where she’s at right now. It’s going to be exciting to see where her career goes.”
After an opening bogey, Korda birdied the second and made another with a two-putt birdie on the par five third.
She birdied all four of the par fives during the round, including the 14th when she rolled just off the green for two with her fairway wood approach. Her chip to tap-in range was typical of the two-time major champion’s skill.
Hull made a birdie to reach two-under on the 17th but gave the shot straight back when she found a bunker off the tee and heavy rough with her third shot on the 18th.
With 15 major champions in the field, a winner could come from anywhere this week. Australia’s Minjee Lee, the Women’s PGA Championship winner, is one on 68.
Certainly, no one made a bolder start than Ireland’s Maguire. She holed her second shot with a nine iron for an eagle on her opening hole, the par four 10th.
Takeda, in her first season on the LPGA Tour, impressed with six birdies.
