Lottie Woad is Knocking on the LPGA's Door

By a commanding six strokes, Lottie Woad won the 2025 KPMG Women's Irish Open, her maiden Ladies European Tour (LET) title...and yes, I think she's bound to win more.

The 21-year-old and top ranked amateur beat out a field of LET and LPGA regulars including players like Charley Hull, Anna Nordqvist (who will captain the 2026 European Solheim Cup team), and Madelene Sagstrom—an incredible sign for Woad moving forward as she inches closer to earning her LPGA status. She also became the first amateur winner on the Ladies European Tour since 2022.

The 2024 Augusta National Champion has been the topic of discussion for much of the season, not just for her play, but as the player who is the closest to completing the LPGA's new amateur player pathway, LEAP.

Woad is currently two points away from the 20 points required to secure her LPGA Tour membership through LEAP. Prior to this season, without the pathway, Woad could have made the decision to go pro and with this recent victory, she would've had the the option of taking up Ladies European Tour membership, and earn her stripes onto the LPGA through the LET.

"No, I'm not tempted to turn pro yet," Woad said after her win. "I'm still trying to get my final two points for the LPGA [Tour]. I'm trying to get those and then we will see what happens after that."

A top-25 finish in either of the final two women's majors, the Evian Championship and the AIG Women's Open, would earn Woad the remaining two required points, or a made cut at either event (one point is on offer for making the cut).

If she does not earn the points at either major starts, she will have another opportunity to gain the points required with her amateur world ranking after the U.S. Women's Amateur in August. Regardless of how her summer plays out...Woad will be earning her LPGA status.

But once she reaches the required 20 LEAP points, Woad will face another decision: whether to accept LPGA Tour membership immediately and skip her final season at Florida State, or defer her membership to the 2026 season. Her FSU teammate and top-ranked collegiate player Mirabel Ting just announced her decision to go pro and will make her debut at Evian this week.

"It means a lot to get the win," Woad added. "I still had to really focus as I was being chased by some really good players. I'm happy to get it done. It's perfect. I feel like I'm playing well, and I hope to continue that into the Evian [Championship]."