Lottie Woad: When will English newbie star flip skilled after ‘dominant’ KPMG Girls’s Irish Open victory? | Golf Information

If Lottie Woad’s standing as a future star of ladies’s golf was not already blindingly apparent, the English newbie silenced any remaining doubters – in model – by cruising to KPMG Girls’s Irish Open victory.

Woad turned the primary newbie winner on the Girls European Tour since 2022 and secured her maiden victory in an expert occasion with a world-class show, ending six pictures away from Solheim Cup star Madelene Sagstrom.

The 21-year-old has lengthy been predicted to have an enormous future within the recreation, having gained the Augusta Nationwide Girls’s Beginner final April, reached the highest of the ladies’s newbie rankings and already impressed in majors throughout her early profession.

She now has extra kudos than ever, having upstaged potential future Solheim Cup team-mates and Girls European Tour regulars to a victory that many predict would be the first of many within the skilled ranks.

“She [Woad] performed splendidly,” Sagstrom stated. “It was Lottie’s week. It was great to observe her play. I am actually glad along with her and she or he’s going to take European and American golf by storm very quickly.”

How ‘dominant’ Woad claimed Irish victory

Woad opened a three-shot midway lead after rounds of 68 and 67 on the O’Meara Course at Carton Home, then raced seven clear with a third-round 67 and closed out a convincing victory in model.

She confirmed no indicators of Sunday nerves and by no means relinquished management on the high of the leaderboard, mixing six birdies with two bogeys in a final-round 69 to finish the week on 21 below.

“Dominance, from begin to end, by Woad,” former Girls European Tour participant Sophie Walker instructed Sky Sports activities. “We’re not simply taking a look at the way forward for ladies’s golf, we’re wanting at present now. Lottie Woad has arrived.

“She has not simply gained, she’s gained by six. It was an unbelievable 4 days. What she’s received in entrance of her in world golf? Who is aware of, however this week and these final two years that she’s had – it has been a profession in two years.”

When will Woad flip skilled?

Woad, who hails from Farnham in Surrey, has topped the newbie rankings since June 2024 and contended in nearly each occasion performed for Florida State this season, successful a number of instances and ending no worse than tied-third in a event till a share of eighth on the NCAA Championship.

She may simply make the normal change into the skilled ranks now, with the victory giving her the choice of taking over Girls European Tour membership, though she plans to proceed as an newbie in the meanwhile.

Woad is at present two factors away from the 20 required to safe her LPGA Tour membership by means of the LPGA Elite Beginner Pathway (LEAP), a system that provides amateurs factors based mostly on achievements made in quite a lot of occasions.

“No, I am not tempted to show professional but,” Woad stated. “I am nonetheless making an attempt to get my last two factors for the LPGA [Tour]. I am making an attempt to get these after which we’ll see what occurs after that.”

A top-25 end in both of the ultimate two ladies’s majors would earn Woad the 2 required, whereas one level is on provide for making the minimize at both occasion. Even when she doesn’t earn the factors through her main begins, she’s going to achieve the factors required through her newbie world rating after the US Girls’s Beginner.

As soon as Woad reaches 20 factors, she’s going to then face one other determination: whether or not to just accept LPGA Tour membership instantly – and skip her last season at Florida State – or defer her membership to the 2026 season.

2026 is about to be an enormous 12 months for European golf, with Solheim Cup captain Anna Nordqvist seeking to regain the trophy from the USA – on house soil – within the Netherlands. Nordqvist has already indicated that Woad is a possible consideration for that workforce, with the way of the victory in Eire solely strengthening that chance.

Can Woad problem for main success?

Woad completed tied-Twenty third – having been 4 off the midway lead – on her main debut on the Chevron Championship final April, them claimed the Smyth Salver award for ending because the low newbie on the AIG Girls’s Open later that 12 months.

Her tied-Tenth end at St Andrews equalled the perfect efficiency of the week by a European, ending additional up the leaderboard than compatriots Georgia Corridor and Charley Hull, whereas she additionally impressed because the lowest newbie on the US Girls’s Open in June.

The Evian Championship takes place on the Evian Golf Resort this week earlier than the ladies’s main season concludes with the AIG Girls’s Open from July 31-August 3, with each occasions dwell on Sky Sports activities.

“It means so much to get the win,” Woad added. “I nonetheless needed to actually focus as I used to be being chased by some actually good gamers. I am glad to get it completed. It is good. I really feel like I am enjoying nicely, and I hope to proceed that into the Evian [Championship].”

Woad in competition in both main would come as no shock, with extra trophies and success within the months and years forward seeming inevitable. A reputation to be careful for as a possible British star.

Who will win the Evian Championship? Watch all through the week dwell on Sky Sports activities. Dwell protection begins on Thursday from 11am on Sky Sports activities Combine and Sky Sports activities+. Not received Sky? Stream the majors and extra with no contract.