Lottie Woad claims history-making win – but prize money goes to rival

It’s easy to forget that Lottie Woad is still a 21-year-old amateur.

The excitement surrounding the next big prospect in English golf was only heightened by a masterclass at Carton House on Sunday, where Woad won the KPMG Women’s Irish Open by six shots.

After rounds of 68 and 67 in windy conditions opened up a strong early lead in County Kildare, Woad carded a four-under 69 to romp home to her first professional title.

This stress-free victory at 21-under par came against a field populated by Solheim Cup stars and major winners – including Charley Hull, Georgia Hall and Leona Maguire.

Woad, who won the 2024 Augusta National Women’s Amateur with a birdie-birdie finish on the fabled course, has now become the first non-professional to win on the Ladies European Tour since Jana Melichova at the 2022 Czech Ladies Open.

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“It felt pretty comfortable overall,” said Woad afterwards – and it looked it.

“There were a few moments at the start of the back nine that could’ve gone wrong but I hung in there and finished with some nice birdies.

“As soon as I birdied the second hole, holed a nice 12-footer there, it settled me in. I hit some good shots today, maybe didn’t hole as many putts as the other days, but it was pretty stress free in the end.

“Obviously I had a big lead coming into today, but I was able to focus. I was being chased by some really good players but happy to get it done.”

The only conceivable setback to Woad’s startling rise is that she is not cashing in on her success.

The Florida State University student’s amateur status means her £58,000 prize money was deferred to the runner-up, the Solheim Cup stalwart Madelene Sagstrom.

But while Woad has long dominated in the non-paid ranks, do not expect to her to stay there too much longer.

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As the world’s No.1 ranked amateur player for over a year, Woad has won five times at Florida State.

She now looks set to earn enough points to accept LPGA membership for next season through the elite amateur pathway onto the premier American circuit.

That card could be deferred by a season if Woad decides to finish her final college year in the Sunshine State.

In the meantime, next up is a 6am Monday morning flight to the Evian Championship.

Woad has been offered a sponsor’s invite to the penultimate major of the season in Eastern France – and on this evidence can be viewed as a serious contender.

Ben Parsons is the Senior Writer at bunkered and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.