Lottie Woad prepares to defend her title at the ISPS Handa Women's Scottish Open, returning to the site of her stunning debut victory as a professional. Last year, the then 21-year-old took a two-shot lead into the final day at Dundonald Links, successfully holding off Hyo Joo Kim and others to secure her win.

This achievement placed Woad among an elite group, making her just the third player in LPGA Tour history to win on her first professional start, joining Rose Zhang (2023) and Beverly Hanson (1951).

Reflecting on her return, Woad expressed excitement, noting how her perspective has changed since last year:

I didn't appreciate at the time... but now I've been playing every week... it definitely feels more special now.

• She mentioned having family present this year, adding to the fun.

Woad’s journey has been remarkable. She first gained attention with a top-10 finish in May 2022 at the Ladies European Tour. She later excelled at Florida State, earning several accolades including WGCA Freshman of the Year. Her rise continued with a win at the Augusta National Women's Amateur in April 2024, eventually reaching the No 1 spot in the World Amateur Golf Rankings.

In addition to her Scottish Open victory last year, Woad has had notable finishes in several majors, including tied-10th at the 2024 AIG Women's Open and a tied-third finish at the Amundi Evian Championship. Currently, she ranks fifth in the Rolex Women's World Rankings and celebrated a second LPGA Tour win at the Kroger Queen City Championship in May.

As she gears up for the Scottish Open, Woad acknowledges the challenges of the past year but remains optimistic:

It's definitely been a long year... I'm trying to take what I can from that.

Grouped again with world No 1 Nelly Korda, Woad is poised to attract attention once more, with Dame Laura Davies previously noting her potential to become a "rockstar of the future." Woad humbly recognizes Korda's star power while hoping for a repeat of last year's success.